title: Sulphurous thermal water inhalations in the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of sulphurous thermal water in the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty patients with CRS were included and randomly assigned into two groups. Patients underwent a 12-day course of warm vapour inhalations and nasal irrigations with sulphurous thermal water in group A, and a physiological solution in group B.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with group B, in group A the results were as follows: serum concentration of IgE was significantly lower (p<0.05) 12 days (76.27+26.3 mg/dl vs. 97.44±45.4) and 3 months after the beginning of the treatment (75.48+26.1 mg/dl vs. 98.37±41.4); IgA titers were not significantly higher 12 days (231.09±120.3 mg/dl vs. 220.44+114.4 mg/dl) and 3 months after the beginning of the treatment (235.44±118.5 mg/dl vs. 214.51±111.8 mg/dl); VAS scores were significantly (p<0.05) improved at 12 days (1.7+0.18 vs. 6.9±0.51) and 3 months after the start (1.8+0.22 vs. 7.1±0.59); NMIT was normal at 12 days (11.54±1.59 min vs. 17.38+1.83 min) and 3 months after the beginning of the treatment (11.46+2.07 min vs. 17.43±2.01 min); total nasal resistances were significantly (p<0.05) decreased at 12 days and 3 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate the efficiency and applicability of sulphurous thermal water in the treatment of CRS.
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salami
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dellepiane
authors.forename: Flavio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Strinati
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guastini
authors.forename: Renzo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mora
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008900:Mineral Waters / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000628:therapy*; D025363:Rhinomanometry; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000628:therapy*; D013457:Sulfur Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D014835:Volatilization; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D008900:Mineral Waters; D013457:Sulfur Compounds; D014867:Water