If you have consumed cough syrups containing Pholcodine in the past 12 months and are about to go under general anesthesia, make sure you tell your doctors! Pholcodine-containing cough syrups or cough-suppressant lozenges are common in Singapore. These include the Duro-Tuss and Difflam brands which are widely prescribed and consumed. In December 2022, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommended that these products…
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Nasal steroid sprays are frequently prescribed but are they truly safe?

Allergies are extremely common and often manifest in young children and adults. Allergies to inhalant allergens such as house dust mites, animal dander, and pollens often present as sneezing, itching, a runny nose, and breathing difficulties. When allergies affect the nose, the patients are said to have allergic rhinitis. When the main manifestations are breathing difficulties, coughing, or wheezing it is often…
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Nasal fractures are common and they often occur in patients who participate in contact sports and martial arts. Fortunately in Singapore, violence (domestic or bar brawls) accounts for a small percentage of nasal fractures. The nose is made up of a bony outer skeleton in its upper third. The lower two-thirds of the external nose is made up of the upper and…
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Nasal blockage can be frustrating. Suffers feel persistently stuffy, their voices are muffled and they often get very poor quality sleep. One of the common reasons for a blocked nose is enlargement or hypertrophy of the nasal turbinates. Patients are often driven to seek quick remedies to their nasal obstruction. One widely used method is the use of decongestant nasal sprays such…
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Seek a second opinion if your ENT surgeon says this! Unfortunately there is a multitude of myths surrounding common ENT conditions that cause unnecessary anxiety amongst our patients and their parents. We often see patients for a second opinion in our clinic when they have had treatments proposed for their ENT condition. The following is a list of common misleading messages that…
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We’ve all had one of those days when our noses feel congested and blocked up with watery secretions and nasal discharge! But what if your blocked and runny nose keeps on happening everyday and just doesn’t seem to go away? Itchy eyes and itchy nose are also some common symptoms of nasal allergy or allergic rhinitis, in addition to the blocked nose…
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