Ask the doctor - ear infection?

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I have a feeling of pressure in my left ear with fuzzy hearing. Could it be an inner-ear infection?
Infection of the inner ear (labyrinthitis) is usually caused by a virus. Symptoms include severe dizziness (vertigo), nausea, vomiting, tinnitus and loss of hearing. It is more likely that you have a build-up of mucus in the middle ear (glue ear) or a build-up of wax in the outer ear. Do see your doctor for a check. In the meantime, you may find decongestant tablets or essential oils helpful. Your pharmacist can advise you.
Dr Sarah Brewer, Prima (Apr 12) 

I took my baby to the doctor with a bad cold and she turned blue in the surgery. She was rushed to hospital and diagnosed with bronchiolitis. She seems fine now, but can the same thing happen again?
Bronchiolitis affects one in three babies before their first birthday. It’s caused by a viral infection of the small airways in the lungs and causes cold-like symptoms with fast, shallow breathing, rasping cough, high temperature and difficulty feeding. Most cases occur between October and March and although the majority are not serious, newborns and those born prematurely can develop severe breathing dificulties. Hopefully your daughter will have built up an immunity to the virus, but it is possible to develop symptoms more than once during the same winter. Always tell your doctor if a baby develops signs of a cold with a rasping cough. Keep babies away from children and adults who are sick, wash hands and toys regularly and ensure babies are kept away from tobacco smoke. For more information on bronchiolitis, visit www.morethanacold.co.uk.
Dr Sarah Brewer, Prima (Feb 12) 

My doctor suspects I have fibrosing alveolitis. What’s caused it? I’ve never smoked and can’t understand why I’m getting more and more breathless.

Fibrosing alveolitis is a progressive thickening of the walls of air sacs in the lungs which then become less elastic. This reduces the movement of oxygen from the lungs into your blood, leading to increasing shortness of breath. It has been linked with exposure to metal or wood dusts, autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, and to radiotherapy or chemotherapy, but in half of cases no obvious cause is found. Some people with mild, stable symptoms need no treatment, but corticosteroids may be suggested along with home oxygen treatment. For further information, call the British Lung Foundation’s helpline on 0845 850 5020 or visit www.lunguk.org.
Dr Sarah Brewer, Prima (Nov 11) 

My husband has started snoring more and more as he gets older. What can I do to stop him?

You could try one of the anti-snoring sprays, which contain oils that lubricate and tone tissues in the mouth and throat, such as< Asonor (£14.99 for a month’s supply from www.asonor.co.uk). Alternatively, a new device called Brez claims to reduce snoring by over 50 per cent. It works by inserting two soft, pliable hoops, joined by a thin bridge, into the nostrils to support the tissues inside the nose and open the airways (£13.27 for 14 disposable devices from www.boots.com).
Dr Sarah Brewer, Prima (Aug 11) 

I’m so embarrassed about my snoring. It’s worse during summer, and I dread going to stay with friends on holiday as I’m sure everyone can hear me. What can I do about it?

You’re not alone, as around one in four UK adults snore. It’s usually caused by the muscles around the throat relaxing in sleep, blocking the airways. Breathing in vibrates the soft palate, causing the snoring sound. Anything that reduces the size of your airway increases your risk of snoring. That includes being overweight and having allergies like hayfever, which may account for your seasonal symptoms. Alcohol makes the airways more ‘floppy’ and can exacerbate the problem. So can smoking. In extreme cases, snoring can be a symptom of ‘sleep apnoea’, where you stop breathing for several seconds then ‘jerk’ awake. It can leave you feeling constantly tired and unrested after sleep. If it’s not causing tiredness but just embarrassment, losing weight, avoiding smoky atmospheres or limiting alcohol can help. If you suffer from hayfever, antihistamine tablets or nasal sprays may reduce the obstruction. A nasal spray called Asonor (www.asonor.co.ukk) has also shown promising results.
Dr Sarah Jarvis, Good Housekeeping (Jul 11)

My ex-husband’s new partner smokes, and I’m worried about the effects of passive smoking on my children when they go to stay. How serious is the risk?

Exposure to cigarette smoke is harmful to children, and has been linked with a number of problems, including glue ear, asthma, infections and even some childhood cancers. Hopefully, your ex-husband will ask his partner not to smoke in the same room or car as the children. If he’s a non-smoker himself, he will probably want to encourage her to quit, and avoid smoking in the house, too. Have a tactful word with him. Advice is available from www.quit.org.uk or call 0800 002200.
Dr Sarah Brewer, Prima (Apr 11)

I’ve suffered from sinusitis for years, but usually the pain settles quite quickly. For the past few weeks I’ve had the same horrible taste in my mouth, but only a mild ache in my sinuses. My nose is more blocked than usual too. Is it still sinusitis?

Doctors diagnose chronic sinusitis when you’ve had a blocked nose or a discharge (either a runny nose or a nasty taste dripping into the back of your throat) along with pain or pressure over your sinuses for three months or more. In chronic sinusitis, sinus pain is often less severe than it is in acute sinus infections, but your sense of smell is more likely to be affected. If your nose is blocked even when you don’t have sinusitis, you may also have an allergy like hayfever – treating this with a nasal steroid spray for a few months will often settle your sinus symptoms. Antibiotics usually don’t speed up your recovery, but if you find your symptoms getting worse, using a nasal decongestant for up to a week and painkillers or a warm (not hot!) face compress can help.
Dr Sarah Jarvis, Good Housekeeping (Apr 11)

There is an outbreak of glandular fever at the university where I teach. Am I likely to get it? Is there a natural treatment?

Glandular fever is a viral infection that mainly affects teenagers, because this is the time when the immune system is most vigorous and many of the symptoms are due to the body overreacting to infection. Glandular fever is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which is passed on in saliva and can be spread by coughing, sneezing, kissing and sharing toothbrushes. Someone who has had glandular fever can remain infectious for several months, but only around half those who catch the virus develop symptoms. It is important to take things easy for several months after glandular fever and it’s best to avoid alcohol. Herbal remedies such as echinacea or maitake are best taken under the supervision of a qualified herbalist.
Dr Sarah Brewer, Prima (Dec 10) 

I have allergic rhinitis, which gives me a constantly blocked, itchy nose, especially in winter. I don’t want to take steroid sprays all the time – are there any natural alternatives?

A Lots of my patients worry about steroids. In large doses they can certainly cause problems – ranging from high blood pressure and diabetes to thinning of the bones and skin. However, the dose of steroid in nose sprays (and most inhalers for asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease) is tiny compared with the amount in steroid tablets, and the risk of side effects is extremely small. Antihistamines are an option, as allergic rhinitis is usually caused by an allergy to house dust mites. Most natural alternatives don’t have the same scientific evidence from big trials as drugs, but as long as they’re safe, they are certainly worth a try. The Qu-chi acupressure band, worn over your elbow, seems to help for hayfever. Otherwise, apply Vaseline or Haymax nasal balm to your nostrils regularly to try to reduce the number of allergens getting into your nose. You can buy them from pharmacies and supermarkets or online.
Dr Sarah Jarvis, Good Housekeeping (Oct 10)  

I've been diagnosed with tinnitus, which causes a hugely distressing ringing in my ears all the time. My doctor says there isn't a cure, but I can't imagine living with this for ever. What can I do?

This is amazingly common - up to 1 in 6 people get tinnitus at some point, and about 1 in 100 find their life really disrupted by it. My patients talk about ringing, whistling, buzzing, roaring or humming - the common theme is an abnormal noise coming not from outside but from inside the head. It can be brought on by hearing damage from loud noise, but often no cause is found. It can't be cured, but that certainly doesn't mean it can't be treated. Tinnitus tends to be worse in quiet surroundings, so simply having pleasant background noise to distract your brain can help hugely. It may be worth considering a ‘sound generator', which you wear like a hearing aid - find out more at rnid.org.uk. If your symptoms are very distressing, Tinnitus Retraining Therapy helps about three-quarters of people - ask your GP about referral to a tinnitus clinic.
Dr Sarah Jarvis, Good Housekeeping (Aug 10)

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