Otolaryngology: Nasal Allergies and Chronic Sinusitis

Allergies can be caused by something in your environment or that you digested, or it can be an inherited condition in which your immune system reacts to something that does not affect most other people.

Allergy is often regarded as only "hay fever", with rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, sneezing, pruritic and watery eyes.

However, there may be an association between allergies and other diseases as chronic sinusitis, post nasal drip, cold symptoms, recurring otitis media and externa, the dizziness of Meniere's syndrome, hearing loss, tinnitus, chronic cough, asthma, headaches.

Even chronic fatigue and skin eczema are included in this list of associated medical conditions.

Some allergy symptoms may in fact be caused by a condition known as non-allergic rhinitis, also known as a hypersensitive nose. It afflicts as many as one-third of Americans, who mistakenly treat themselves inappropriately with over-the-counter allergy medications.

The following physicians specialize in the medical management and surgical care for adults and children with ear, nose and throat disorders.

• Anne Getz, MD

• Maggie Kramper, RN, FNP

• M. Allison Ogden, MD
  
  
• Jay Piccirillo, MD

• Stanley Thawley, MD

Before you start self-medicating for something you think is an allergy-based condition, you may want to see a doctor. Find out more about allergies, chronic sinusitis and sinus surgery at the Washington University Sinus Institute web site.

FOR APPOINTMENTS CALL 314-362-7509.

Four Convenient Locations Are Available

PEDIATRIC PATIENTS

St. Louis Children's Hospital
One Children's Place
St. Louis, MO 63110

ADULT & PEDIATRIC PATIENTS

Ear, Nose & Throat Center
Center for Advanced Medicine
4921 Parkview Place
St. Louis, MO 63110

West County Office
605 Old Ballas Road, Ste 130
Creve Coeur, MO 63141

Bonne Terre Office
7245 Raider Road
Bonne Terre, MO 63628