OBJECTIVES:

Aim of the research was to demonstrate the efficacy of a treatment with thermal water as nasal spray (Salsomaggiore Italy) vs saline on chronic rhinosinusitis with/out nasal polyps.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

55 patients affected by chronic rhinosinusitis with/out I degree nasal polyposis randomised into two groups were enrolled. 30 patients of the study group were treated with thermal water nasal spray 4 times/day for 4 weeks. 25 patients of the control group were treated, with the same protocol, with saline. At the beginning and at the end of the study, in all the subjects the clinical history, objective examination and the instrumental analysis of nasal functions by active anterior rhinomanometry, mucociliary transport (MCT) time determination and nasal cytology were performed.

RESULTS:

At the end of the treatment patients in the study group showed an improvement statistically significant, with respect to the control group, of headache, rhinorrea and hiposmia. Significant differences were also observed between the study and control group concerning objective examination (nasal mucosa appearance and crusts) and instrumental analysis (rhinomanometric values and mucociliary transport times). Nasal cytology (epithelial and goblet cells, neutrophils, eosinophils, bacteria) improved in both groups without any statistical difference.

CONCLUSIONS:

Thermal water (Salsomaggiore Italy) nasal spray showed a greater efficacy with respect to saline in the treatment of patients affected by chronic rhinosinusitis.