Sunday, June 01, 2008
Allergic Attacks, Throat Discomfort, Chicken Pox Scar
Questions on Allergic Attacks, Throat Discomfort and Chicken Pox Scars.
Experts answer on the following questions:
Question 1:
ALLERGIC ATTACKS IN YOUNG CHILD
I have a five-year-old daughter who was diagnosed with a nose allergy when she was two. Whenever she has an attack, she has a severe coughing fit and her nose runs. She coughs a lot when she lies down. The GP said that this is due to back drip from the nose. She takes all kinds of medicine but this gives her only temporary relief. She uses nose sprays and Ventolin.
I do not have any carpets, pets and soft toys at home. What triggers her attacks and why can't they be controlled?
Answer:
A I agree that your child is likely to have allergies. As she has not experienced relief after taking allergy medication, there could be additional reasons to account for her problem.
Young children with allergies often have associated adenoid enlargement and or sinusitis. These can cause significant and prolonged flu-like symptoms. These children may have constant runny noses, nose blocks, heavy/audible breathing and may also snore. It is often the case that their history would be one of multiple clinic visits and poor response to many different medications.
The way to resolve this problem is to first make the correct diagnosis. It would be best to visit an ear, nose and throat doctor. With the correct diagnosis, the most appropriate treatment for allergy and/or enlarged adenoids and/or sinusitis can be given. In virtually all cases, excellent improvement in the child's condition will be achieved.
Dr Stephen Lee
DISCOMFORT IN THROAT
<Question:
I'm a woman of 38 and I have suffered discomfort in the throat for more than two months. I think I accidentally swallowed a small chicken bone. But I've had an X-ray which showed nothing. Why do I still have this feeling?
Answer:
A Anyone who has discomfort in the throat with a possible history of having ingested a foreign body should have that cause excluded. An X-ray of the neck may not show the foreign body if it is lodged in the throat where bony structures of the jaw may obscure it or if it's lower down in the chest. An oral examination and an endoscopic examination of the throat needs to be done. A CT scan can be used to assess deep or migrated foreign bodies like chicken or fish bones in the neck and chest. These need to be removed as they can lead to severe infections.
If a foreign body is excluded, then other causes may be considered. A throat infection like laryngitis and pharyngitis may cause throat discomfort. Acid reflux from the stomach can irritate the throat causing inflammation and vocal cord polyp formation. If a nasal endoscopy suggests acid reflux to be the cause, medications may relieve the symptoms.
Lifestyle modifications like avoiding foods that increase the risk of reflux (fatty foods, large meals and caffeine), not eating before sleeping and not smoking can reduce the symptoms of reflux in the throat.
Another common cause is globus pharyngeus where patients often complain of a sensation of a lump in the throat with no swallowing problems. An endoscopic examination may show no abnormal findings. Gastric acid reflux into the throat, food allergies or a tight upper oesophageal pressure may have caused such a sensation.
I suggest you see an ear, nose and throat specialist so that appropriate treatment can be rendered.
Dr Raymond Ngo
GETTING RID OF CHICKEN POX SCARS
Question:
My little girl who is two years old has just had chicken pox. She didn't scratch the scabs. But some of them were rubbed off accidentally, or they just fell off. I can see that there are little indentations where that occurred. Does that mean she'll have deep scars? She has a couple on her forehead and a few on her body. Is there any cream I can use to minimise scarring?
Answer:
Indentation scars are quite common after a chicken pox infection. Some are more severe while others are milder. It is hard to predict now how deep her indentations are going to be while healing is taking place. You may want to consult a doctor before applying any medication on the scars. There are over-the-counter scar improvement creams e.g. ScarFade and Dermatix. Prescription-only creams are generally better than over-the-counter ones.
Associate Professor Wong Soon Tee
Labels: allergic attack, allergic attacks, chicken pox scars, throat discomfort
