Ent and Allergy Specialists

  Thin Secretions: Increased thin clear secretions can be due to colds and flu, allergies, cold temperatures, bright lights, certain foods/spices, pregnancy, and other hormonal changes. Various drugs (including birth control pills and high blood pressure medications) and structural abnormalities can also produce increased secretions. These abnormalities might include a deviated or irregular nasal septum (the cartilage and bony dividing wall that separates the two nostrils). Thick Secretions: Increased thick secretions in the winter often result from dryness in heated buildings and homes. They can also result from sinus or nose infections and allergies, especially to foods such as dairy products. If thin secretions become thick, and turn green or yellow, it is likely that a bacterial sinus infection is developing. In children, thick secretions from one side of the nose can mean that something is stuck in the nose such as a bean, wadded paper, or piece of toy. If these symptoms are o...

Allergic rhinitis typically results from two conditions: family history/genetic predisposition to allergic disease and exposure to allergens. Allergens are substances that produce an allergic response. Children are not born with allergies but develop symptoms upon repeated exposure to environmental allergens. The earliest exposure is through food — and infants may develop eczema, nasal congestion, nasal discharge, and wheezing caused by one or more allergens (milk protein is the most common). Allergies can also contribute to repeated ear infections in children. In early childhood, indoor exposure to dust mites, animal dander, and mold spores may cause an allergic reaction, often lasting throughout the year. Outdoor allergens including pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds primarily cause seasonal symptoms. The number of patients with allergic rhinitis has increased in the past decade, especially in urban areas. Before adolescence, twice as many boys as girls are affected; however, aft...

Many patients wonder when they need to seek the assistance of a specialist. An ENT (ear, nose, and throat) doctor, or “otolaryngologist,” is a specialist who focuses on problems that impact these three areas. This may include anything from tonsillitis to swimmer’s ear. Otolaryngology is a medical specialty that pays close attention the neck up, helping patients who have conditions and disorders that impact these main areas. What does an ENT specialist do? Otolaryngologists are professionals who have not only attended and graduated from medical school, but have completed extra specialty training and passed certification examinations. They are experts in conditions of the ear, nose, throat, head, and neck, and focus primarily on these areas. Why is an ENT better than a primary care physician? Primary care physicians are doctors that have knowledge in a wide range of areas, but don’t specialize in any of them. An otolaryngologist is a doctor with specific training of the conditions that i...

What are the causes of recurring nosebleeds? Allergies, infections, or dryness that cause itching and lead to picking of the nose Vigorous nose blowing ruptures superficial blood vessels Clotting disorders that run-in families or are due to medications Drugs (such as anticoagulants or anti-inflammatories) Fractures of the nose or the base of the skull. Head injuries that cause nosebleeds should be regarded seriously. Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, a disorder involving a blood vessel growth like a birthmark in the back of the nose Tumors, both malignant and nonmalignant, must be considered, particularly in the older patient or in smokers When should an otolaryngologist be consulted? If frequent nosebleeds are a problem, it is important to consult an otolaryngologist. An ear, nose, and the nose, prior to making a treatment recommendation. Two  of the most common treatments are cautery and packing the nose. Cautery is a technique in which the blood vessel is burned with an el...

  Cerumen or earwax is healthy in normal amounts and serves as a self-cleaning agent with protective, lubricating, and antibacterial properties. The absence of earwax may result in dry, itchy ears. Most of the time the ear canals are self-cleaning; that is, there is a slow and orderly migration of earwax and skin cells from the eardrum to the ear opening. Old earwax is constantly being transported, assisted by chewing and jaw motion, from the ear canal to the ear opening where it usually dries, flakes, and falls out. When should the ears be cleaned? Under ideal circumstances, the ear canals should never have to be cleaned. However, that isn’t always the case. The ears should be cleaned when enough earwax accumulates to cause symptoms or to prevent a needed assessment of the ear by your doctor. This condition is call cerumen impaction, and may cause one or more of the following symptoms: Earache, fullness in the ear, or a sensation the ear is plugged Partial hearing loss, which may ...

During the Summer evening of the Fourth of July, you’re most likely going to see fireworks in the sky. Whether you are watching professional fireworks or have purchased your own fireworks, hearing loss is a real risk to yourself and those around you. Babies should never be exposed to fireworks. An infant’s ear canal is much smaller than older children or adults. Therefore, the sound pressure roaring into the ear is much greater. To an infant, a sound that is not that loud to an adult may be 20 decibels louder to an infant. How to Protect Your Hearing Keep Distance from You and the Fireworks. Skip home displays and watch professional displays from a distance Bring earplugs, earmuffs and/or noise cancelling headphones Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) One of the top ways Americans lose their hearing is from noise induced activities. This may be a result from one’s occupation that include construction, airport attendant, nightclub worker, or even a racecar driver. This may cause tinnitus...

  If you have a food allergy, your immune system overreacts to a specific protein found in that food. Many food allergies are diagnosed in young children, though they may also appear in older children and adults. Many people with environmental allergies also have food allergies. Food allergy reactions can be life-threatening, and can come on suddenly, usually within minutes to a couple of hours after eating the trigger food. Symptoms of a food allergy can include: Hives or red, itchy skin Stuffy or itchy nose, sneezing or itchy, teary eyes Vomiting, stomach cramps or diarrhea Angioedema or swelling In some cases, food allergy can cause a severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis. Signs include: Hoarseness, throat tightness or a lump in the throat Wheezing, chest tightness or trouble breathing Tingling in the hands, feet, lips or scalp Many people who think they are allergic to a food may be intolerant to it. Some of the symptoms of food intolerance and food allergy are similar...