Viral infection a major cause of Sinusitis
By our correspondent
KARACHI: “Sinusitis can produce a range of symptoms including fever, fatigue, night cough, runny nose, nasal congestion, post-nasal drip loss of the sense of smell, swelling of eyelids and tenderness of the nose and an early morning headache is often a sign of sinus trouble”.
This was stated by Dr Mubasher Ikram, Assistant Professor, Section of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) on Sunday.
He was speaking at a programme on Otolaryngology (ENT) issues held under the Hospital’s ‘Sign, Symptoms and Care’ series.
He explained that most sinusitis cases are indirectly caused by viral infections such as the common cold.
In the presentation titled ‘Common Nasal Diseases: Recent Advances in Treatment’, he cautioned that airborne pollutions including cigarette smoke increase inflammation of the sinuses.
Dr Ikram noted that the treatment of nasal and sinus diseases has changed with technological advantages, and that endoscopic examination techniques and CT scan facilities were available at the AKUH.
He also spoke on FESS (Functional Endoseopic Sinus Surgery), a state-of-the-art corrective surgery for chronic sinus inflammation and pointed out that this is a common procedure today.
Dr Mumtaz Khan, Associate Professor and Head of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery Section, AKUH, observed that the incidence of head and neck cancer is increasing dramatically, primarily due to increasing addiction to cigarette smoking, pan, chalia, tobacco, gutka, sheesha and alcohol.
He added that early detection and management are the most important aspects of treatment and called for an awareness of the several signs and symptoms of head and neck cancer.
Dr Shehzad Ghaffar, Consultant Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgeon, AKUH, said in his presentation on chronic ear diseases that ears do not need regular cleaning and that wax accumulates more frequently in those who do so.
He stated that patients mostly seek advice for earache, ear discharge, decreased hearing, tinnitus (ringing in ears) and vertigo.
Dr Ghaffar also spoke on common ear problems in children pointing out that pain and discharge from the ear is mostly seen in children, who are bottle-fed while lying flat or who are breast-fed with mothers also lying down.
He advised that in any kind of feeding the child’s head should be in a propped-up position.
Ismailimail 