Gli effetti delle acque bicarbonato-solfato-alcalino-terroso-carboniche ("acqua santissima" di Chianciano Terme) nelle affezioni catarrali delle vie aeree superiori [The effects of bicarbonate-sulphate-alkaline-carbonic waters ("santissima water" of Chianciano Thermae) in catarrhal diseases of upper respiratory ways]

The aim of the present study is to quantify the alterations of clinical and instrumental parameters after a crenotherapic cycle with bicarbonate-sulphate-carbonic waters in cararrhal disease of upper respiratory ways (rhino-sinutsitis, rhino-pharyngitis, rhino-otitis). The study was carried on 50 patients enrolled at the Thermae, affected by rhino-pharyngo-tubaric disease (Group A); as control group were enrolled 50 patients affected by chronic and sub-acute disorders of upper respiratory tract (Group B). The patients of the two groups showed similar clinical and demographic patterns. Each subject of Group A underwent a 12 days crenotherapic cycle with aerosol and inhalations and each patient of group B underwent, for the same period, a treatment with microfine nasal washing with isotonic saline solution. Measurements have been done before and after therapy: 1) symptomatologic subjective score; 2) "objective Score" evaluated by the physician; 3) nasal mucociliary transport time (tTMC); 4) nasal patency evaluated by Active Anterior Rhinomanometry; 5) liminar tonal audiometry; 6) timpanometry. In the B group (placebo) for each pattern any statistical variation has been found. On the other hand in the A group we noticed a statistical significant difference of each pattern with the exception of tympanometric and audiometric ones. Our study demonstrates the beneficent effects of the bicarbonatesulphate-alkaline-carbonic waters and introduce it as a valid therapeutic choice in the treatment of upper respiratory ways diseases.