Nose Diseases
Ear Nose Throat Diseases
What is the Function of the Nose?
The nose is an organ that plays a crucial role in our sense of smell, aids in breathing, and helps in warming the inhaled air to approximate body temperature. It also serves as a barrier to prevent harmful particles in the air from entering the body.
While its role in olfaction (the sense of smell) is particularly important, nasal congestion can lead to various health issues, as it reduces the amount of air that can be taken in through the nose.
Nose Diseases
Nasal diseases can be categorized into the following main groups:
Upper respiratory tract diseases such as colds and the flu.
Acute and chronic sinusitis.
Allergic rhinitis.
Disorders related to the sense of smell.
Deviation of the nasal septum.
Hypertrophy of nasal turbinates.
Nasal and sinus polyps.
Nasal and sinus tumors.
Congenital disorders like choanal atresia.
Nasal deformities.
The most commonly encountered diseases include the common cold, the flu, upper respiratory tract diseases like sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, nasal septum deviation, nasal turbinate hypertrophy, and nasal polyps.
Symptoms of Nose Diseases
Symptoms of nose diseases may include:
Fever, weakness, runny nose, cough – typical symptoms of infectious diseases like the common cold and the flu.
Nasal congestion – the most common complaint in all nose diseases.
Headache.
Dissatisfaction with nasal appearance.
Diagnosis of Nose Diseases
The diagnosis of nose diseases is often based on physical examination, occasionally supplemented with laboratory tests or radiological studies. Upper respiratory tract diseases like the common cold and the flu are relatively easy to diagnose through clinical examination, but in recent years, misinformation through visual and written media has led to unnecessary anxiety and unjustified medical tests (such as concerns about bird flu or swine flu).
Acute sinusitis can usually be diagnosed with a proper physical examination, while chronic sinusitis may require computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to visualize any abnormalities in sinus anatomy.
Conditions like a deviated nasal septum, nasal turbinate hypertrophy, nasal polyps, or tumors are usually diagnosed through physical examination, but a CT or MRI may be required for better visualization and surgical planning.
Allergic rhinitis has many subtypes and is generally diagnosed through physical examination. However, identifying the specific allergen and determining the appropriate treatment or immunotherapy may require blood tests or skin tests.
Treatment of Nose Diseases
The primary goal in treating nose diseases should be to relieve nasal congestion since the nose is essential for both the sense of smell and breathing.
Treatment of upper respiratory tract diseases involves symptomatic relief, such as reducing fever, decreasing nasal discharge, and alleviating weakness. As viral agents are responsible for about 95% of these diseases, antibiotics should not be used.
In cases of acute sinusitis, especially when there is thick yellow or green nasal and postnasal discharge, antibiotics may be added to the treatment.
Chronic sinusitis should initially be managed medically, with surgery considered only if symptoms persist despite appropriate medical treatment.
Nasal polyps that do not respond to medical treatment may require functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS).
For cases with a significant deviation of the nasal septum and turbinate hypertrophy causing severe nasal obstruction, surgical intervention may be necessary.
Nasal and sinus tumors should be treated based on their pathology, often requiring surgical or oncological intervention.