Nasal physiology in swimmers and swimmers' sinusitis

To investigate the pathogenesis of swimmers' sinusitis we questioned and examined a group of 20 swimmers and 20 controls. Clinical examination was followed by rhinomanometry, sonography of the maxillary sinuses, a saccharine test to assess mucociliary transport in the nose, and a viable cytological sampling of the nasal mucosa. The history showed a preponderance of symptoms of sinusitis and chronic rhinitis in the swimmers' group, as well as a reddening of the nasal mucosa and a swelling of the adenoids. Sonography showed mucosal thickening in the antrum in more cases among the swimmers. Rhinomanometry, saccharine test, and viable cytological sampling revealed no differences of significance between the groups. It is discussed that pathogenesis is more probable through cooling of the skin of the face and the whole body than by entrance of water into the upper respiratory tract.