World-first clinical trial could see nasal spray treatment reduce snoring in children

Associate Professor Gillian Nixon

Researchers at Monash Children’s Hospital and the Royal Children’s Hospital are collaborating on a world first clinical trial to see if a simple nasal spray can reduce the need for surgery for snoring in children. 

Snoring and difficulty breathing while asleep is common problem affecting about 10% of children, and can cause poor sleep and concentration and behaviour problems in the day time. Currently, the main treatment for snoring is to have surgery to remove the tonsils and adenoids, however this is invasive and can mean long waiting times to seen a specialist and undergo surgery.

The MIST trial is testing the effectiveness of a simple anti-inflammatory spray (mometasone furoate) to reduce snoring, improve sleep, and determine whether the spray can ultimately reduce the need for surgery.

Associate Professor Gillian Nixon from the Department of Paediatrics at Monash University and Monash Children’s Hospital, and Dr Kirsten Perrett from the Melbourne Children’s Trial Centre at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute are leading the trial. The collaborative study includes all children across the state who have been referred to a specialist for their snoring.

The study has recently received funding support from the Monash Health Foundation.

More information about the trial can be found here