blocked nostrils
I am a 20-year-old young man. Before going to bed my nostrils get completely blocked. The problem compels me to take nasal drops like Sinavest or Otrivin. Is it okay to take them for relief?
The drops that you have been using are known to produce nasal obstruction if used for a long period. This causes drug-induced inflammation in the nose. I suggest you stop using them. Get your nose checked for diseases like deviated nasal septum (deviation of the partition that separates the nasal cavities), sinusitis (a type of inflammation), polyp (any growth protruding from a mucous membrane) and allergy (a hypersensitivity to any external stimuli) by an ENT specialist. If any one of the problems is detected, proper treatment of that ailment may cure your nasal obstruction. As an alternative to Otrivin, I think you can use a nasal spray called Fluticasone.
pus from ears
I am a 25-year-old man. Two months ago my right ear started secreting a foul-smelling pus. I consulted a doctor who detected a hole in the eardrum. He says that I need an operation. But I am scared of surgery. Won?t it worsen my problem? Please guide me.
It seems you have developed a hole in the eardrum due to an infection. If the hole in your right ear is of recent origin (four to eight weeks) and its size is small, then it can be cured. If the hole is an old one, the chances of cure are remote. In that case, an operation called tympanoplasty (surgical reconstruction of a membrane in the middle ear) should be performed. If the operation is not done, infection will infiltrate the middle ear, resulting in repeated ear discharge. This can lead to hearing loss.
sore throat
I am a 40-year-old teacher. I frequently develop a sore throat when the season changes. Can you suggest a remedy?
It seems you are a voice abuser. Please cut down on your voice use. Get in touch with an ENT specialist to exclude certain ailments like ?singers? nodule? (a small white nodule on the vocal cord) and polyp on the vocal cord, which are known to deteriorate the quality of voice. Infections like bronchitis, tuberculosis in the lung or infections in the throat and nose also damage the voice. Possibilities of such infections should be excluded after thorough investigations. Correct any speech defects if you already have any. Don?t talk continuously. Drink enough water and avoid smoking.
ringing sound
I (75) have been suffering from a strange ear problem for the last three years. I hear a constant ringing sound in my right ear. I can?t even sleep well. However, there?s no pain in the ear. Please suggest a remedy.
The problem is called tinnitus. Its exact cause is yet to be understood by medical researchers. Any local disease in the ear or diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes can produce such a ringing sound. Although it?s usually associated with some hearing loss, it doesn?t pose a serious threat to one?s health. Surgery or medicines can treat the hearing loss. But it may not remove the ringing sound. On rare occasions, a lurking brain tumour leads to such a sound. Many patients experiencing ringing apprehend that they have an undetected underlying disease. This results in a lot of anxiety. So thorough investigations should be done to exclude any serious underlying disease.
hearing loss
My son (22) has a hearing problem. A test showed that he is a little deaf in both ears. A doctor has advised a hearing aid in the left ear. Can medicine or surgery correct the problem?
Sensory hearing loss cannot be cured by surgery or any medicines. If it affects only one ear, the question of a hearing aid does not arise. In case of hearing loss in the both ears, the aid is the best alternative. Before availing of that option, a patient should undergo thorough investigations to rule out other diseases associated with such hearing loss.
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