Corticosteroids are used for their anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties to treat a wide spectrum of disease. Indications for use of steroids in otolaryngology include rhinosinusitis, rhinitis, facial nerve paralysis, hearing loss, Menieres’s disease, croup, nasal polyposis, and temporal arteritis. Complications…

Chronic rhinosinusitis is a recurring, persistent inflammation of the nasal and sinus mucosa lasting longer than 12 weeks that is known to cause significant physical symptoms and adversely impact quality of life and daily function. It is successfully treated medically…

A decrease in the sense of smell is common as we age. The Skovde study found it to be present in 19% of people over 20 years and the Epidemiology of Hearing Loss Study found it to be present in…

Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye. This is the membrane covering the white of the eyes and the inside of the eyelids. If something irritates this clear membrane, your eyes may itch, tear, hurt, and become…

The nasal septum is the wall dividing the nasal cavity into halves; it is composed of a central supporting skeleton covered on each side by mucous membrane. The front portion of this natural partition is a firm but bendable structure…

Epistaxis or nose bleeding is an especially common chronic nasal problem in adolescents and young adults. It is most commonly caused by a dry anterior nasal septum that has mucosa and blood vessels that crack and then bleed. It also…

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is a condition in which sensorineural hearing loss occurs in less than 72 hours. It usually affects adults between the ages of 43 and 53 years of age with a sense of fullness in the…

The increasing use of imaging studies has lead to an increased number of incidental findings. One of these is mucous retention cysts which are found in 3 – 35% of the general population. They are dome-shaped cysts of mucous found…

Meniere’s Disease is a syndrome including fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss, episodic vertigo, ear fullness and tinnitus (ringing of the ears). It is caused by hydropic distention of the endolymphatic system (inner ear). It has a prevalence of 218 per 100,000…

Sleep apnea (AP-ne-ah) is a common disorder in which you have one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while you sleep. Breathing pauses can last from a few seconds to minutes. They often occur 5 to30 times or…

What is influenza (also called flu)? The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best…

Good intentions to keep ears clean may be risking the ability to hear. The ear is a delicate and intricate area, including the skin of the ear canal and the eardrum. Therefore, special care should be given to this part…

According to a study published in June 2013, melatonin supplementation reduces pain associated with endometriosis. The National Institutes of Health report that six to 10 percent of reproductive age women—approximately five million women—are affected by endometriosis. However, they also state…

Chronic rhinosinusitis is a recurring, persistent inflammation of the nasal and sinus mucosa lasting longer than 12 weeks that is known to cause significant physical symptoms and adversely impact quality of life and daily function. It is successfully treated medically…

Paul Ratner etal recently published an article looking at how nasal sprays can be combined to better treat allergy symptoms. The most commonly used treatment for seasonal allergic rhinitis are oral antihistamines and topical nasal steroids. Both work but topical…