Sinusitis is on the rise, no longer seasonal due to environmental pollution

In recent years, the number of patients suffering from sinusitis and respiratory tract infections has increased. Previously, acute sinusitis mainly occurred when the weather changed, but now the disease occurs year-round.

The international conference on otolaryngology and head and neck surgery ENT Masterclass® received great attention from doctors - Photo: TM

This is the sharing of Associate Professor, Dr. Lam Huyen Tran - Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Otorhinolaryngology Association on the sidelines of the International Conference on Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery ENT Masterclass® on March 31st held at Hong Ngoc General Hospital, Hanoi .

Speaking at the conference, Mr. Ha Anh Duc, Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management, Ministry of Health, said that according to unofficial statistics, up to 20% of the population in Vietnam currently has problems with the jaw, face, and sinuses.

Of these, there is a 10% risk of developing into cancer. He also emphasized the need to increase the application of science and learn from treatment experiences from countries around the world, thereby improving people's health care.

Sharing about sinusitis - one of the most common ear, nose and throat diseases in our country, Dr. Tran said that air pollution is directly affecting this disease.

At the ENT Hospital of Ho Chi Minh City, sinus-related diseases account for about 30-35% of the total number of patients visiting the hospital each year.

"When the air is polluted, the nasal and throat mucosa is more easily irritated. Even people with allergic rhinitis or normal sinusitis, when exposed to polluted air, will become a burden on the nasal mucosa, causing inflammation and acute sinusitis episodes.

In the past, acute sinusitis often occurred when the weather changed, when exposed to pollen... but now acute sinusitis occurs year-round. In fact, in recent years, the rate of patients with sinusitis and respiratory infections has increased due to air pollution," said Dr. Tran.

Air quality in Hanoi is often at a bad level - Illustration: D.LIEU

Dr. Tran also said that people in big cities with high population density have a higher risk of sinusitis. The reason is that in big cities there is little green space, emissions from factories, vehicles, etc., increasing environmental pollution.

To prevent respiratory diseases in general and sinusitis caused by environmental pollution, Dr. Tran recommends that people should protect themselves by wearing masks regularly when going out. In addition, it is necessary to keep the house clean and airy, and can use an air purifier.

"Many people are reluctant to treat sinusitis because they think it is a chronic disease that cannot be cured completely. However, treatment will help improve the quality of life, especially for children.

Not to mention chronic sinusitis can also become worse when there is an acute episode or secondary infection. For example, sinusitis can cause complications such as meningitis, brain abscess, periorbital inflammation or affect the optic nerve, even endangering life. Therefore, patients need to monitor and treat to reduce the risk of complications occurring," Dr. Tran emphasized.

The conference attracted more than 100 attending physicians, with 33 presentations by 14 international experts and 7 Vietnamese physicians. The experts shared advanced techniques such as voice preservation in thyroid surgery; control of olfactory disorders; techniques for treating invasive fungal infections of the nose and sinuses, etc.

Advanced techniques and clinical practice experience help otolaryngologists apply them in practice, gradually improving the quality of comprehensive health care for Vietnamese patients.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/viem-mui-xoang-gia-tang-khong-con-theo-mua-do-o-nhiem-moi-truong-20250331122341461.htm