Inhalation therapy with sulfur-rich thermal water for rhinogenic deafness: a series of case reports

Abstract

The study analyzed the effectiveness of a two-week cycle of sulfurous water therapy at Frasassi Thermal Springs ("Terme di Frasassi - S. Vittore", located in the Province of Ancona, Italy) on 8 patients suffering from rhinogenic deafness caused by chronic rhinosinusitis associated with nasal polyps and respiratory allergies. Patients underwent 12 sessions of sulfurous aerosol therapy and 12 bilateral tubal insufflations (1 aerosol and 1 insufflation per day). Pre- and post-treatment assessments included tympanometric measurements and a subjective evaluation of symptomatic improvement on a scale from 1 to 10. The median reported improvement was 9.5 (min: 7; max: 10). By the end of the treatment, all patients achieved a bilateral type A/A tympanogram, indicating restored tubal function. The results suggest that sulfurous water thermal therapy can be a useful treatment for rhinogenic deafness associated with chronic rhinosinusitis, nasal polyps, and respiratory allergies, with significant improvements in both auditory function and quality of life. Further studies are needed to compare this treatment with other therapies and to precisely evaluate the duration of the benefit over time.

Keywords: Chronic rhinosinusitis; Hydrothermal therapy; Rhinogenic deafness; Sulfurous waters; Tympanogram.