6 research outputs found
Chronic renal failure for bilateral spontaneous kidney rupture in a case of tuberous sclerosis.
Sulfurous-arsenical-ferruginous thermal water nasal inhalation and irrigation in children with recurrent upper respiratory tract infections: clinical outcomes and predictive factors
Purpose: Recurrent upper respiratory disorders (RURD) are among the most common problems diagnosed
in pediatric otolaryngology practice. Although several preliminary studies have demonstrated beneficial
effects of thermal water inhalations for RURD, inhalation of thermal water has not been included among
validated management protocols. The effects of sulfurous-arsenical-ferruginous thermal water nasal irrigations
have been confirmed also in prospective, randomized studies. The main aim of this explorative, retrospective,
observational study has been to compare the clinical outcome in pediatric patients with RURD
treated with sulfurous-arsenical-ferruginous thermal water inhalation versus combined inhalation and
nasal irrigation.
Methods: Two hundred and fifty-three pediatric patients with RURD were considered; 231 underwent
thermal water inhalations (inhalation of hot humid air and aerosol) only, while 22 underwent nasal irrigations
combined with inhalations. Subjective overall efficacy perception and treatment tolerability
were scored as categorical variables (from 0 = no efficacy/worst tolerability to 3 = maximal efficacy/
best tolerability).
Results: Nasal obstruction, sneezing, serous, mucous, and purulent rhinorrhea, cough, and snoring improved respectively
in 80.2%, 72.9%, 79.0%, 93.8%, 92.3%, 64.8%, and 60.4% of patients referring these symptoms at
presentation, respectively. No statistically significant differences between inhalations alone and combined inhalations
and irrigations emerged. The median overall efficacy perception score was 2 while the median treatment
tolerability score was 3.
Conclusions: This investigation found that sulfurous-arsenical-ferruginous water treatment was a welltolerated
therapeutic option for selected pediatric patients with RURD. These promising preliminary results
should be confirmed in prospective, randomized, double-blind settings, also using minimally invasive
but objective and quantitative evaluation methods