ClariFix - Surgical Treatment for the Persistent Runny Nose

Our office now offers ClariFix, a surgical treatment for the persistent runny nose due to non-allergic rhinitis as well as severe allergies . This procedure is performed in the office under only local anesthesia. Watch the video above to see how it works. Patient who are candidates for this procedure include: • Be over 18 years old • Suffer from an intractable runny nose in spite of medications (or desire to reduce the number medications to treat the runny nose) • Have no significan…

10/16/2018 0

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What is Found in Normal Nasal Fluid in a Healthy Human Being?

Table from this Reference Contrary to common belief, normal nasal fluid is not water... It is in fact more similar to sweat than water. Nasal fluid is normally produced by submucosal glands, seromucous glands, goblet cells, transsudation of blood plasma, mucosal tissue fluid, and tear fluid. The table shown is a description of what electrolytes are contained in normal nasal fluid produced by a normal, healthy human being. Along with these electrolytes, nasal fluid also contains glycopro…

12/22/2017 0

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What Does the Uvula Do?

Given how frequently doctors look in peoples' mouths, physicians probably get asked this question a dozen times a day by curious patients.  This question of uvular function also extended into ancient times with a variety of theories proposed over the years... Hippocrates and Aristotle in the 4th century B.C. and Berenargio da Carpri in 1900 referred to the uvula only as a source of possible inflammation and edema capable of causing suffocation. Galen (122-199 A.D.) considered it to be…

5/31/2015 0

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Sinus Infection Leads to Skull Removal in Child

The UK reported a 9 years old boy who had an extremely rare sinusitis complication that ultimately resulted in the left skull being removed temporarily. Briefly, in Feb 2013, the child developed headaches and a droopy eyelid. Surgeons ultimately had to remove his left skull due to brain swelling and concern the bone itself was infected. Over the next few months, the child had to wear a bike helmet to protect his brain which was no longer protected by his skull. A few weeks ago, he underwe…

8/29/2013 0

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When Your Child Has a Draining Ear

Guest Blog Post by Dr. Julie Wei, MD, FAAP One of the most common and simple procedures that Otolaryngologists (ear, nose, and throat specialists) perform is that of putting “tubes” in children’s ears. General and pediatric otolaryngologists alike perform thousands of these simple and quick procedures every year, often several times in a single hour! Most children who need and get “tubes” in their ears are toddlers and those in preschool age. What continues to surprise me is how often pare…

4/11/2013 16

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Why Do Culture Results Take So Long? [video]

One of the most common questions I get after obtaining a culture of pus whether from the ear or the nose is how long it takes before the culture results are back... especially when MRSA is a concern. Does it take a few hours? 24 hours? Days? Disappointingly, it can take up to 5+ days if not longer. You want to know why? Well, rather than explaining, watch a  6-minute video  that explains the numerous steps that goes into providing a diagnosis after a culture has been obtained... in th…

4/02/2013 0

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The Facial Triangle of Danger (Even Death)

Image by SpooSpa from Wikipedia If you draw a line between the eyebrow to the corners of the lip, a triangle is created which delimits a region esoterically known as the "danger triangle". Why is this region considered dangerous? It's because infections within this region can lead to infections of the brain (rarely). Why? The blood supply within this triangular area communicates with the cavernous sinus found at the bottom of the brain. This anatomic structure is a major …

3/05/2013 0

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How Can Nasal Obstruction Cause Post-Nasal Drainage?

Before talking about the nose, consider the way some home humidifiers work. There is a sponge, water supply, and airflow. Humidification occurs by having a fan blow air though the sponge that is soaked by a constant water supply. As the air passes through the wet sponge, evaporation occurs resulting in air humidification. Well, the same thing occurs inside the nose. In a normal nose, about one liter of moisture is produced by the nasal mucosa every day (water supply). This nasal moisture p…

12/20/2012 1

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To Ear Plug or Not to Ear Plug

Seems like a fairly simple question... but oh what controversy it stirs up when regarding a patient with ear tubes who wants to go swimming. There are two schools of thought... 1) Based on evidence and research, no need to wear ear plugs... ever. The argument... Well, here's the research: A meta-analysis of swimming and water precautions. Water precautions and tympanostomy tubes: a randomized, controlled trial. A meta-analysis of swimming and water precautions. The effect of w…

7/20/2012 2

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Recipe How to Make Snot Boogers

British researchers are at it again! The British Society for Immunology have developed a recipe  to make your very own authentic-appearing snot of various colors of tan thru green. Of course, you can make your own the natural way, but here's a more sanitary way with kitchen supplies. You need: 1 tbsp Gelatine powder 1 tbsp Hot water 2 tbsp Sugar syrup (corn syrup or golden syrup) Food colouring A plastic container/bag Paint brush or dropper To make your own snot: 1) In a…

3/24/2012 0

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Novel Treatment for Glue Ear?

Glue ear is the layman's term for thick mucoid effusion of the middle ear, usually due to chronic ear infections . The fluid itself is like maple syrup and usually treated with  ear tube placement followed by suctioning as much of the fluid out as possible. However, given there is always some residual present, antibiotic ear drops with steroids is often prescribed. Unfortunately, these patients are at higher risk of requiring repeated sets of tubes after the body spits them out. W…

8/04/2011 0

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R&B Singer R. Kelly Undergoes Peritonsillar Abscess Drainage

Reuters on July 20, 2011 reported that R&B singer R. Kelly suffered from a peritonsillar abscess that required emergency drainage. Peritonsillar abscess is when a pus collection develops within the tonsil causing it to swell. This may occur over a period of 24 hours resulting in a severe sore throat and trouble swallowing. This condition is in contrast to tonsillitis which is when the tonsil itself is infected, but no pus collection is present. On exam, the affected tonsil may be …

7/20/2011 0

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Got Allergies? Maybe It's Actually Non-Allergic Rhinitis

USA Today published a story on Aug 22, 2010 describing a condition called "Non-Allergic Rhinitis" or "Vasomotor Rhinitis" which essentially is having pretty much all the symptoms of classic nasal allergies, but caused NOT by allergies! Such symptoms include: - Runny nose - Nasal congestion - Post-nasal drainage - Nasal obstruction - Sinus pressure - Sneezing etc These individuals also report that their nasal symptoms are triggered not only by pollen and dust,…

8/22/2010 0

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New Video Produced on Proper Ear Drop Administration

We have recently produced and uploaded on to our YouTube channel a new video describing how to properly administer ear drops. This video is especially pertinent in patients who have ear tubes . Watch the video below:

10/09/2009 0

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NYT: Does Snotty Colored Discharge Require Antibiotics? No!!!

The New York Times published a story on Oct 6, 2009 entitled " The Claim: With a Runny Nose, Green Calls for an Antibiotic ." It actually is a pretty good article though I'm not sure how much impact this will have in clinical practice. The story reports that green discharge from the nose is NOT indicative of a bacterial sinus infection and as such, this symptom should not be the sole reason why antibiotics should be prescribed. It does reference a research paper that backs …

10/06/2009 0

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Treatment of Chronic Draining Ear Infections Using Antibiotic Powder

Rarely, some unfortunate souls have chronic draining ear infections that do not respond well to oral antibiotics nor antibiotic ear drops. What many people and even physicians are unaware of is that there are alternative ways of addressing the chronic draining ear including use of antibiotics in powder form. The method I like best is by using the Sheehy-House Powder Insufflator Bulb . The pharmacy will make up gelcaps containing antibiotics (anti-bacterial as well as anti-fungal) and even s…

10/01/2009 6

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Mucus in Throat or the Phlegmy Throat!!!

NOTE: A more complete discussion on this topic can be found here . A common complaint of patients seeing an ENT doctor is for a persistent phlegmy throat or sensation of mucus in the throat. Other symptoms that a patient may complain of include constant throat-clearing, cough , raspy voice, and a lump sensation in the middle of the throat (aka, globus ). Reflux (Acidic or Non-acidic) In the VAST majority of patients with this complaint, it is due to a disorder called " laryngophary…

3/11/2009 0

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