Sulphurous water inhalations in the prophylaxis of recurrent upper respiratory tract infections.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and the effect of sulphurous thermal water inhalations in the treatment of the recurrent upper respiratory tract (RURT) infections in children.


METHODS
A total of 100 children with RURT infections were included. All children underwent a 12-day course warm vapour inhalations. For the inhalations, we used sulphurous thermal water in the group A, while physiological solution in the group B. At the beginning, at the end and 3 months after start, all children underwent medical history, ENT examination, plasma levels of immunoglobulins class E, G, A, M (IgE, IgG, IgA, IgM), subjective assessment of symptoms (VAS), nasal mucociliar transport time (NMTT) determination, and evaluation of frequency, duration, severity and social impact of RURT episodes.


RESULTS
Compared with group B, after the treatment and at the end of the study, in children treated with sulphurous thermal water, the serum concentration of IgE was significantly (p<0.05) lower (75.13+/-27.1mg/dl vs 96.87+/-41.3mg/dl; 74.23+/-26.2mg/dl vs 98.24+/-42.7 mg/dl), IgA titers were higher (238.14+/-122.1mg/dl vs 218.62+/-115.8 mg/dl; 239.72+/-119.7 mg/dl vs 210.46+/-107.3mg/dl), serum concentrations of IgG and IgM unchanged, VAS scores presented a significant (p<0.05) improvement (1.8+/-0.19 vs 6.8+/-0.54; 1.9+/-0.21 vs 6.9+/-0.61), NMTT was normal (11.15+/-1.59 min vs 17.63+/-2.17; 11.25+/-2.10 min vs 17.77+/-2.19 min) and frequency, duration, severity and social impact of RURT episodes were significantly (p<0.05) lower.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings indicate that, in addition to their known effects, the sulphurous water also have an immunomodulant activity that contributes to their therapeutic effects.
Salami
Angelo
A
ENT Department, University of Genoa, Via dei Mille 11/9, 16147, Genoa, Italy.
Dellepiane
Massimo
M
Crippa
Barbara
B
Mora
Francesco
F
Guastini
Luca
L
Jankowska
Barbara
B
Mora
Renzo
R
D000041:Absenteeism; D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008900:Mineral Waters / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013457:Sulfur Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014835:Volatilization
D007136:Immunoglobulins; D008900:Mineral Waters; D013457:Sulfur Compounds