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AKUH:
'Signs, Symptoms and Care'
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Many
cases of sinusitis related to allergic reactions
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.
An early morning headache is often also a sign of sinus trouble.
This was stated by Dr Mubasher Ikram, Assistant Professor, Section
of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, at Aga Khan University Hospital
(AKUH), Karachi during 'Signs, Symptoms and Care', a public health
awareness programme organised by AKUH on January 1, 2005.
"As most cases of sinusitis are indirectly caused by viral infections
such as the common cold, inflammation of the sinuses tends to clear
up within roughly the same time it takes to get over a cold, which
is about two weeks," explained Dr Ikram in his presentation titled
'Common Nasal Diseases: Recent Advances in Treatment'.
Airborne pollutants including cigarette smoke increase inflammation
of the sinuses and should be avoided, said Dr Ikram. He pointed out
that alcohol also causes the sinuses to swell, adding that chlorine
added to swimming pools can greatly irritate the nasal passage and
sinuses. At the same time, many cases of sinusitis are related to
allergic reactions to dust, mould, pollen and certain foods. "Deviated
nasal septum (DNS) is seen in a majority of patients but is not considered
a disease unless it causes nasal obstruction. So every patient does
not need treatment for DNS," observed Dr Ikram. "Endoscopic examination
techniques and CT scan facilities, which are considered the gold standard
for diagnosis of sinusitis the world over, are available at AKUH," he continued.
The treatment of nasal and sinus disease has changed with advances
in technology and with better understanding of these conditions. "State-of-the-art
equipment is available at AKUH, and with better training and expertise
we are now carrying out FESS (Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery)," said Dr Ikram.
FESS is today the most common corrective surgery for chronic sinus
inflammation. Performed under the magnification of a small telescopic
endoscope, FESS is precise enough to remove diseased tissue and bone,
open the sinuses, and help restore the nose and sinus to health. FESS
is much less invasive than older conventional surgical methods that
were once the standard. There is very little postoperative discomfort
and FESS also reduces recurrence of sinusitis. Risk is lower, discomfort
is minimal and recovery times are shorter with FESS.
As part of its outreach programme and societal commitment to creating
awareness of early diagnosis and timely treatment, AKUH has organised
over 160 'Signs, Symptoms and Care' programmes in Karachi, Hyderabad
and the UAE, benefiting more than 35,000 people. Similarly, Aga Khan
University Hospital's Patient Welfare Programme offers financial assistance
to those patients who are unable to afford the medical cost of treatment.
In 2003, 74 per cent of all patients treated at AKUH were from low-
to middle-income groups. Since the inception of this welfare programme
in 1986, over Rs. 1.05 billion has been disbursed to more than 200,000
needy patients.
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