Have you imagined living without a nose? Or maybe the sense of smell. You can’t smell the blooming flowers in spring or the grilling steak on Sundays. Perhaps, you did once when you had a severe allergy and cold, and your snot ruined your olfactory sense. Frequently, you don’t need a sinus specialist in Singapore to check on you. Rest and medication are enough. But how will you know if your runny nose is already something else?
This article will help you determine the signs of needing to visit an ENT specialist in Singapore.
All You Need To Know About Allergies, Cold, And Flu
ENT specialists provide various procedures, from ear irrigation to snoring treatment in Singapore. But perhaps the most common problems they encounter are sinus problems.
And when it comes to sinus problems, allergies, colds, and flu are the most familiar issues we encounter almost every day.
1. CAUSES
Allergies rhinitis
Allergies are the immune system’s response to allergens. Allergens, including dust, pollen, pet dander, and spores, trigger an overactive immune system, causing the person to sneeze and have an itchy and runny nose.
Allergic rhinitis is the allergic reaction affecting the sinuses. An ent clinic singapore provides treatment for allergic rhinitis.
Common Cold
Rhinoviruses cause common colds. This virus is spread by breathing in a sick person’s respiratory fluids and touching fomite.
People usually don’t need to visit an ENT doctor in Singapore, as colds can be treated using over-the-counter medicine.
Flu
Like common colds, various influenza viruses cause flu and respiratory diseases. Flu is highly contagious; you can contract it through respiratory fluids and fomite.
2. SYMPTOMS
Allergic Rhinitis
Its symptoms include runny and itchy nose, sneezing, sinus drainage, headache due to sinus pressure, watery or swollen eyes, and ear congestion.
A person with allergic rhinitis may also feel a slight sore throat and fatigue.
Common Cold
The common cold symptoms include sneezing, stuffy nose, sinus drainage, sore throat, mild cough and chest discomfort, and ear congestion.
Rarely, a person with a common cold may also experience watery eyes, headache, chills, mild fever, slight weakness and body pains.
You can treat the common cold without visiting a sinus specialist in Singapore.
Flu
Flu symptoms are more severe than allergic rhinitis and the common cold. Sneezing, itchy, and a runny nose are mild in the flu. A person with flu may experience fever, intense headache, severe body pains, extreme fatigue that lasts up to weeks, exhaustion, and chest discomfort.
3. TREATMENT
Allergic Rhinitis
Antihistamine medication relieves allergic rhinitis, whilst saline solution and Neti pots help alleviate symptoms, including nasal congestion.
But you can prevent allergic rhinitis by wearing a face mask and getting rid of allergens, such as dust, pollen, spores, and pet dander.
You can ask for this treatment at an ear, nose, and throat clinic in Singapore.
Common Cold
Over-the-counter decongestants, cough medicine, pain relievers, plenty of rest and increased fluid intake treat the common cold and its symptoms.
Flu
Over-the-counter fever medicine, decongestant, cough medicine, antiviral drugs, pain relievers, plenty of rest, and increased fluid intake treat flu.
An ENT doctor in Singapore may prescribe antibiotics for severe flu.
Allergies, cold, and flu are the most common nasal conditions, but did you know that your runny nose may indicate other conditions more severe than these three? It includes chronic sinusitis and nasal polyps.
Unlike allergies, colds, and flu which can be treated at home with over-the-counter medicine, chronic sinusitis and nasal polyps require immediate medical attention from a sinus specialist in Singapore.
Signs That You Need To Visit A Sinus Specialist In Singapore Immediately
People are more familiar with allergic rhinitis, common cold, and flu and are unaware of chronic rhinosinusitis, sinusitis, and nasal polyps. Hence, they get delayed medical treatment from an ENT doctor in Singapore.
Sinusitis happens when fluids accumulate in the sinuses, allowing viruses and bacteria to grow and cause infection. Left untreated, it could lead to chronic sinusitis and chronic rhinosinusitis.
On the other hand, nasal polyps are grape-like noncancerous growth in the sinuses due to inflammation and recurring infection of the nasal passages.
People with recurring allergic rhinitis, asthma, and the common cold have a higher chance of developing chronic sinusitis, rhinosinusitis, and nasal polyps. You need to visit your ear, nose, and throat clinic in Singapore for a proper diagnosis.
Here are the signs that you possibly have one of these three conditions:
1. Discoloured nose discharge
Allergies have clear nose discharge, whilst cold and flu may have yellowish discharge.
Sinusitis has thick, yellowish and greenish discharge with traces of blood. The person may also feel drainage or drip down at the back of their throats (post-nasal drip).
2. Severe headache and facial pain
Flu and cold may cause a headache that goes away hours or a day after taking medicine. However, if you feel severe pain in your forehead, both sides of the nose, between your eyes, neck, and upper jaw and teeth, it can be a sign of chronic rhinosinusitis, sinusitis, and nasal polyps.
Consult your sinus specialist in Singapore immediately.
3. Loss of sense of smell and taste
It is typical to lose appetite when you have a cold or flu. But if you lose or weaken your sense of smell and taste, it could be a sign of sinus infection and nasal polyps.
4. Halitosis (bad breath)
The infection produces a foul odour that mixes with your mucus. When the person experiences post-nasal drip, it may result in halitosis.
Consult your ENT specialist in Singapore if you have this symptom.
5. Fever
Fever is a sign that your body is fighting an infection. If fever coincides with the other symptoms mentioned, it is possible that you have a sinus infection.
6. Persisting symptoms for over two weeks
Generally, flu and cold symptoms last five days to a week, while allergies could last a month; however, it does not manifest symptoms such as fever, discoloured discharge, and loss of taste and smell.
If the mentioned symptoms persist for over two weeks despite over-the-counter medication, you need to visit an ear, nose, and throat clinic in Singapore.
Conclusion
You can avoid sinus problems, from allergies to nasal polyps, by having a regular checkup with your ENT specialist in Singapore. Remember, prevention is better than cure.
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