[Possible pathogenesis of swimming sinusitis].

To investigate the pathogenesis of swimmer's sinusitis, a group of 20 swimmers and 20 controls were interviewed and examined. Clinical examination was followed by rhinomanometry, sonography of the maxillary sinuses, a saccharin test to assess mucociliary transport in the nose, and a viable cytological sampling of the nasal mucosa. Anamnesis showed a preponderance of symptoms of sinusitis and chronic rhinitis in the swimmer 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, the saccharin test, and viable cytological sampling revealed no significant differences between the groups. It is argued that pathogenesis is more probable through cooling of the skin of the face and the whole body than through entrance of water into the upper respiratory tract.