Nose & Sinus Conditions
A blocked nose, ongoing sinus pain or a sudden loss of smell can all point to a problem worth investigating. Dr Mzoto assesses nose and sinus conditions for adults and children at his ENT practice in Benoni, looking beyond the immediate symptom to understand what is causing it.
What Nose And Sinus Conditions Are Assessed?
The nose and sinuses do more than allow air through. They filter, warm and humidify it, and play a role in smell and drainage. When something goes wrong here, it often affects sleep, concentration and general comfort. Conditions include:
- Sinusitis, both short-term and chronic
- Allergic rhinitis
- Nasal obstruction and a persistently blocked nose
- A deviated septum
- Nasal polyps
- Recurrent nosebleeds
- Loss of smell
- Facial pain linked to the sinuses
- Nasal fractures following injury
Who Should Consider A Nose Or Sinus Assessment?
Patients often begin searching for an ENT surgeon when sinus pain or a blocked nose has lasted longer than expected. The following symptoms should be assessed:
- Sinus symptoms lasting more than a few weeks
- A nose that is blocked on one side more than the other
- Facial pain or pressure that will not settle
- Loss of smell
- Repeated nosebleeds without an obvious cause
Loud snoring caused by nasal obstruction is also worth assessing, since it often overlaps with throat-related sleep concerns.
Anyone experiencing these symptoms should not wait too long before seeking an assessment, since many nasal conditions are easier to manage when caught early.
What Happens During A Nose Or Sinus Consultation?
The consultation usually includes a discussion of your symptoms followed by a flexible nasendoscopy. This uses a thin camera passed gently through the nose to look at the nasal passages and sinus openings. If more detail is needed, a CT scan of the sinuses may also be arranged.
What Treatment Options Are Available?
Many nasal and sinus conditions respond well to medical treatment, including targeted sprays, allergy management or a course of medication, and this is usually tried first unless there is a clear structural cause.
Where medical treatment is not enough, surgical options include septoplasty to correct a deviated septum, turbinate reduction to improve airflow, nasal polypectomy to remove polyps, and Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) for chronic sinusitis that has not responded to other treatment. These procedures are performed at Netcare Linmed Hospital, with the specific approach explained in detail beforehand, including how long recovery typically takes and what aftercare involves.
What Should You Expect?
Most nasal and sinus problems improve significantly once properly treated, though some conditions, particularly allergic rhinitis, are managed on an ongoing basis rather than cured outright.
Dr Mzoto talks through realistic timeframes and next steps at each consultation, so expectations are clear from the outset, whether the plan involves medication, monitoring or surgery. Follow-up appointments are used to check how well a treatment is working and to adjust it where needed.
How Should You Prepare For A Nose Or Sinus Consultation?
To help make the assessment as useful as possible, consider bringing along:
- A note of your main symptoms and how long each has been present
- Any known allergies and whether they follow a seasonal pattern
- A list of nasal sprays, antihistamines or other medication already tried
- Any previous sinus scans or imaging, if these have been done before
Is Sinus Surgery A Last Resort?
Surgery is generally considered once medical treatment, such as sprays, rinses or a course of medication, has been given a fair trial without enough improvement, or where a structural problem such as a badly deviated septum is unlikely to respond to medication alone. It is not the first step for most nasal or sinus complaints, but for the right patient it can make a meaningful difference where other approaches have not worked.
If you are looking for an ENT surgeon for nasal or sinus symptoms, get in touch to arrange an assessment.