ENT Insights and Blogs

A blocked nose, constant sneezing, itchy eyes — many people put up with these symptoms for years, assuming it is just how they are. In Singapore, where house dust mite allergens are present year-round, allergic rhinitis is one of the most common conditions I see in clinic. Yet it remains significantly underdiagnosed — and undertreated. Yet it remains significantly underdiagnosed.

The maxillary sinuses are the largest of the four sinus pairs and the most commonly affected in sinusitis — causing cheekbone pressure, nasal blockage, and tooth pain that is frequently misattributed to dental problems. Dr Vyas Prasad explains the causes, including the underrecognised dental connection, how maxillary sinusitis is diagnosed, and when surgery is the right next step.

A deviated nasal septum — where the cartilage dividing the nose is off-centre — is extremely common and in most people causes no symptoms. When it causes persistent nasal obstruction affecting breathing, sleep, or exercise, surgical correction (septoplasty) performed entirely through the nostrils can provide lasting improvement.