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AKUH 'Signs, Symptoms and Care' Programme
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Common Diseases of Ear, Nose and Throat - Advances in Treatment
"Sinusitis can cause a range of symptoms including fever, fatigue,
night cough, runny nose, nasal congestion, post-nasal drip, loss of
the sense of smell, swelling of the eyelids and tenderness of the
nose. Early morning headache after waking is often a sign of sinus
trouble.”
This was stated by Dr Mubasher Ikram, Head, Section of ENT-Head and
Neck Surgery, Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), while giving a
presentation on ‘Common Nasal Diseases’. Dr Ikram was
one of three speakers at the ‘Signs, Symptoms and Care’
programme organised by the University Hospital in Hyderabad on July
8, 2005. Other AKUH Consultant ENT-Head and Neck Surgeons who spoke
on this occasion were Dr Mohammad Sohail Awan, Assistant Professor,
and Dr Shehzad Ghaffar, Senior Instructor.
Dr Ikram said, “As most cases of sinusitis are indirectly caused
by viral infections, such as the common cold, the inflammation of
the sinuses tends to clear up within about the same period it takes
to get over a cold, i.e. about two weeks. Airborne pollutants including
cigarette smoke increase inflammation of the sinuses and should therefore
be avoided.” He added that alcohol also causes sinuses to swell.
“Chlorine added to swimming pools can also greatly irritate
the nasal passage and sinuses. Many cases of sinusitis are related
to allergic reactions to dust, moulds, pollens and certain foods,”
he noted. For diagnosis of sinusitis, he continued, endoscopic examination
techniques and CT scan are available at AKU, and these are now considered
the standard the world over. The treatment of nasal and sinus disease
has changed with advancement of technology and with better understanding
of disease, he pointed out. Dr Ikram said that with the state-of-the-art
technique and equipment available at AKUH, and with better training
and expertise, FESS (Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery) is being
done, which promises best results, causing a marked reduction in the
recurrence of sinusitis.
Underscoring the viability of a cochlear implant, Dr Mohammad Sohail
Awan said that cochlear implant is a “very significant advancement
in the medical history to help those who have severe to profound hearing
loss and do not receive any benefit from hearing aids. “Cochlear
implant systems convert everyday sounds into coded electrical impulses.
These electrical pulses stimulate the hearing nerve, and the brain
interprets them as sound,” he explained. A cochlear implant
system consists of two main parts: one is an internal implanted part
called the implant and the other is an external part known as the
speech processor. “Both children and adults can use cochlear
implants effectively whether they are born deaf or suffer hearing
loss later in life,” he informed the audience.
Dr Shehzad Ghaffar said that the incidence of head and neck cancer
was on the increase. “In this part of the world, it is the second
most common cancer of the entire body,” he disclosed. The exact
etiology of this morbid condition is not known but it is commonly
seen in patients who are in the habit of consuming paan, tobacco,
chalia, betel quit, slake lime, naswar, alcohol and other such products,
observed Dr Ghaffar. “Early diagnosis of head and neck cancer
is the key point. The outcome of the patient is far better if diagnosed
earlier than in advanced stages.” Treatment mainly comprises
surgery which can be combined with radiation, if necessary. Dr Ghaffar
suggested regular follow-ups in the management of head and neck cancer,
and placed special emphasis on creating awareness of tobacco hazards.
“Early identification and proper treatment can lead to long-term,
disease-free survival,” he assured.
As part of its outreach programme and societal commitment of creating
awareness of early diagnosis and timely treatment, AKUH organises
such programmes. The Hospital has organised over 180 ‘Signs,
Symptoms and Care’ programmes in Karachi, Hyderabad and the
UAE, benefiting more than 37,000 people.
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