

Li Rui

About me
Graduated from Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, engaged in otorhinolaryngology head and neck surgery for more than four years.
Proficient in diseases
Diseases diagnosis and treatment in otolaryngology. Specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic sinusitis, otitis media, head and neck tumors, and other diseases.

Voices

What tests are done for nasopharyngeal carcinoma?
The examination items for nasopharyngeal carcinoma are mainly divided into three types. The first type is imaging examinations, the second type is blood tests, and the third type is endoscopic pathological biopsy. Imaging examinations mainly involve CT or MRI of the nasopharynx and the whole body. If necessary, PET-CT may also be considered to clarify the extent of the condition and determine the presence of neck or distant metastases, which is helpful for diagnosis and adjuvant therapy. The second type involves blood tests, mainly including general biochemical blood tests and virus detection, which can assess the basic functional status of the body. The third type is the endoscopic pathological biopsy, which involves performing a pathological biopsy under nasal endoscopy, primarily to confirm the diagnosis and observe the extent of the lesion in the nasopharynx.

What is acute pharyngitis?
Acute pharyngitis is mainly caused by acute viral or bacterial infection, leading to inflammation and resulting in the swelling and reddening of the mucous membrane in the throat. Common symptoms include sudden onset of throat pain and swelling. If the inflammatory response is significant, it may also be accompanied by fever, difficulty swallowing, a sense of obstruction, or breathing difficulties. Generally, it is a common disease. It may be advisable to conduct a laryngoscopy to inspect the extent of inflammation in the throat and perform a routine blood test to determine whether it is an acute bacterial or viral infection. In terms of treatment, oral medication is usually preferred, and nebulization or traditional Chinese medicine can be considered to target the infection. (Please use medication under the guidance of a professional physician and do not self-medicate.)

How to cure pharyngitis completely?
Pharyngitis is divided into several types, with chronic pharyngitis and acute pharyngitis being the more commonly encountered in clinical settings. In terms of treatment, chronic pharyngitis is currently difficult to cure completely. Generally, treatment focuses on controlling the condition, alleviating inflammation, and improving symptoms. The existing treatment methods primarily involve oral traditional Chinese medicine formulas, and may also include nebulization and dietary adjustments. Some patients may opt for traditional Chinese medicine treatments. However, overall, treatment mainly aims at control and relief, and it is still challenging to completely cure chronic pharyngitis with existing medical approaches. Acute pharyngitis, on the other hand, is generally treated with antibiotics or antiviral medications, typically over a period of about one week. Overall, the treatment results are quite good, but there can still be a certain degree of recurrence.

Is hyperbaric oxygen effective for otolithiasis?
Ear stone disease, also known as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, does not recommend the use of hyperbaric oxygen for treatment, as the treatment effect of hyperbaric oxygen is not good for ear stone disease and is not clinically recommended. Patients with ear stone disease may consider manual repositioning treatment, which generally has a good treatment effect, and most patients are able to recover. If the manual repositioning treatment is not effective, oral medication may be considered in combination with machine chair repositioning. Through this comprehensive treatment, vertigo symptoms can generally be gradually controlled and alleviated. However, there are a small number of patients with severe conditions for whom conservative treatment is ineffective, and surgery may need to be considered.

How to distinguish between rhinitis and a cold
The distinction between rhinitis and a cold primarily hinges on the following aspects: first and foremost, the specific onset time of the illness. Colds generally occur suddenly and last for a relatively short duration, about a week; whereas the duration of rhinitis may be longer, and some individuals might even experience chronic rhinitis, meaning the onset duration for rhinitis is relatively longer. The second aspect is the symptoms. Cold symptoms may include nasal congestion and a runny nose, but most patients will also exhibit other uncomfortable symptoms, such as sore throat, body aches, or fever. In the case of rhinitis, the primary symptoms are usually nasal, such as congestion, runny nose, and sneezing, and generally, there are rarely any whole-body symptoms. The third method is through an examination of the nasal cavity, which is primarily based on the doctor's experiential judgment. These three aspects essentially allow for the differentiation between rhinitis and a cold.

How is Meniere's disease diagnosed?
Ménière's disease is a relatively common otolaryngology condition. It is recommended to visit an otolaryngology clinic upon onset, where various supplementary tests should be conducted. Commonly used tests include hearing tests, cochlear electrograms, and MRI of the inner ear. Some patients may also need to undergo vestibular function tests. With these supplementary tests and clinical symptoms, combined with the doctor's experience, a definitive diagnosis can be made. In terms of treatment, most patients may opt for conservative medication. Oral medications are commonly used, but for some patients with severe conditions and clear clinical symptoms who do not respond well to standard medical treatment, surgery may need to be considered.

Can hypertrophic turbinates be seen with the naked eye?
Enlarged turbinates are a relatively common clinical manifestation and can usually be seen through visual inspection. Generally, the enlargement is primarily of the inferior turbinates. With the use of an anterior rhinoscope to open the nostrils, one can directly observe the extent of inferior turbinate enlargement. This also helps to clarify its relationship with the nasal cavity and aids in the diagnosis of potential rhinitis or sinusitis. In terms of treatment, if the enlargement is simply physiological without significant clinical symptoms, treatment might not be necessary, but regular follow-ups to monitor the condition are advised. If the enlargement is due to an inflammatory reaction, consideration may be given to oral medications and nasal sprays, along with rinsing the nasal cavity with saline solution. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)

Is acute pharyngitis serious?
Acute pharyngitis is a relatively common ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) disease. Whether it is severe or not depends on the extent of the inflammatory response. Generally, most patients are not too severe, mainly because it is caused by an acute bacterial or viral infection. In clinical practice, bacterial infections are more common. The main symptom is sudden throat pain. If the inflammatory response is more severe, it can cause more serious pharyngitis, which may affect swallowing and breathing, and cause edema in the mucous membrane of the throat. If it is particularly severe, fever may also occur. It is necessary to visit the ENT department to check the specific extent of infection and inflammation in the throat, conduct a routine blood test, and make a more accurate comprehensive assessment.

Permanent cure for allergic rhinitis
Currently, most cases of allergic rhinitis are difficult to cure completely. According to existing medical methods and research, if it's solely a mite allergy, some patients can consider undergoing desensitization treatment, which involves taking medication subcutaneously or sublingually over a long period, approximately two to three years. Overall, some patients can achieve a cure, but if it's other allergies or if the allergen cannot be clearly identified with current medical methods, the primary approach is control of symptoms using conventional medications. Whether it's medical treatment or surgical intervention, it's still difficult to achieve a complete cure. Thus, generally speaking, the treatment of most cases of allergic rhinitis focuses on control and alleviation.

Can people with chronic rhinitis swim?
People with chronic rhinitis can swim, but it is advisable to refrain from swimming during an acute flare-up. If it's just ordinary chronic rhinitis without noticeable acute inflammation, swimming is possible and may even be somewhat beneficial for rhinitis. However, attention should be paid to the cleanliness and hygiene of the swimming pool. If the pool is not up to hygiene standards, water entering the nasal passages can exacerbate existing rhinitis or trigger an acute flare-up. Therefore, this is a point of concern. If it's just ordinary chronic rhinitis and the pool meets swimming standards, swimming should be fine and not particularly harmful to either rhinitis or overall health.