

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

Do people with nasopharyngeal carcinoma lose weight?
Some patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma may experience weight loss, but individual differences exist. This is somewhat related to the condition itself as well as to the individual's resistance and their baseline physical fitness. If the condition is detected early and the clinical symptoms are not particularly obvious, most patients will not show significant weight loss, and many people may not have noticeable symptoms. If the condition is severe, and diet and nutrition are not properly managed in a timely manner, patients may experience weight loss, especially in advanced stages of the illness. This can result in a cachectic-like state, which poses greater challenges for treatment. It is necessary to seek medical attention promptly, assess the physical condition, and consider the need for radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

How long does acute pharyngitis take to heal by itself?
The recovery time for acute pharyngitis is generally about a week. Some patients can recover on their own, which typically takes about a week. However, some patients cannot recover on their own, especially those with severe acute inflammatory responses and prominent clinical symptoms, particularly when accompanied by significant acute bacterial or viral infections. In such cases, medication treatment is likely necessary. Relying solely on one's natural immunity might be relatively ineffective; therefore, considering timely targeted medication treatment is necessary. Additionally, the use of nebulization and traditional Chinese oral medications, regular blood tests, and laryngoscope examinations to monitor recovery are recommended. It is also advised to maintain a light diet and avoid smoking and drinking. (Note: Medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor based on the specific circumstances.)

Can nasopharyngeal cancer be cured?
A portion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients can meet the criteria for clinical cure. It largely depends on the specific staging and type of the cancer. Patients with higher differentiation and earlier stages, especially stages one and two, tend to have better treatment outcomes. Currently, radiation therapy is the primary treatment, and some patients may also need to undergo chemotherapy. Overall, chemotherapy is quite effective for most patients. However, whether clinical cure can be achieved primarily depends on the extent of the disease and individual differences. Some people respond better to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which in turn increases their chances of clinical cure. The five-year survival rate is considered the most important indicator.

Do you need injections for acute pharyngitis?
Acute pharyngitis does not necessarily require injections. The decision to administer injections should consider the condition and the patient's own state comprehensively. Generally, for most patients with mild inflammatory responses and not particularly obvious symptoms, the first consideration is still drug treatment. Currently, the main treatments are oral antibiotics and traditional Chinese medicine. It is also recommended to complement treatment with nebulization. Attention should also be paid to diet; smoking and drinking alcohol should be avoided, as should spicy and irritating foods. It is preferable to stick to soft, liquid or semi-liquid diets, with lighter foods being better. If the inflammatory response is particularly severe and conservative treatment with oral medications is ineffective, then injections or intravenous therapies may be considered.

Can sinusitis cause a fever?
Sinusitis can potentially cause fever, primarily seen in cases of acute sinusitis or acute exacerbation of chronic sinusitis. Additionally, some cases are due to a systemic or localized inflammatory response caused by fungal sinusitis, leading to related changes in the condition. For fever, it is first necessary to check the body temperature. If the temperature is below 38.5 degrees Celsius, physical cooling methods are generally recommended. If the temperature exceeds 38.5 degrees Celsius, antipyretic medications should be considered. In cases of acute bacterial infections, timely antibiotic treatment for infection should be considered, along with using saline solution to wash the nasal cavity. If inflammation occurs repeatedly and conservative medication treatment is not effective, surgery may need to be considered.

What are the symptoms of early-stage throat cancer?
The early symptoms of laryngeal cancer vary: some people exhibit typical symptoms while others show atypical symptoms or even no symptoms initially. For glottic laryngeal cancer, one of the earlier symptoms is hoarseness. This type of cancer occurs in the vocal cords area, which can affect closure of the vocal cords during speech, causing hoarseness. Some patients may also experience throat pain, abnormal bloody discharge from the throat, or have difficulties in breathing and swallowing, which could all be symptoms of laryngeal cancer. However, some patients may not show any symptoms in the early stages, especially those with supraglottic or subglottic laryngeal cancer, where early symptoms are not typical. Symptoms might only appear in the mid to late stages. Therefore, it is necessary to use a laryngoscope for examination and to perform a neck CT for a comprehensive evaluation.

Is Meniere's disease contagious?
Meniere's disease is a relatively common inner ear disorder and is not an infectious disease, nor is it contagious. There are various possible causes of Meniere's disease; it may be related to genetic factors or possibly due to exposure to external irritants. The specific cause of the disease varies from person to person. After the onset of the disease, it is necessary to visit an otolaryngologist. Tests such as audiological exams, ear endoscopy, vestibular function tests, and MRI of the inner ear can be conducted. These diagnostic tests, combined with the doctor's clinical experience, help in assessing the severity of the condition. Most patients may opt for conservative treatment with medications, but a small number of patients may not respond well to medication and might need to consider surgery. (Specific medications should be taken under the guidance of a physician.)

Can people with chronic rhinitis smoke?
It is advised not to smoke for chronic rhinitis, as smoking can be irritating to the nasal mucosa, inferior nasal concha, and other structures in the nasal cavity. This is because cigarettes contain a lot of irritating substances that can directly stimulate the nasal mucosa. It can easily trigger an attack of rhinitis or exacerbate existing inflammation, hence smoking is not recommended. It is also suggested to avoid alcohol, keep the nose moist, avoid contact with irritants, and consider using physiological seawater or saline to rinse the nasal cavity. Additionally, treatments can include oral traditional Chinese medicine and nasal spray medications. Generally, it is a common disease that can be effectively controlled and managed with standard treatment. (The use of medication should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

Is otolithiasis serious?
Otolithiasis, also known as Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), is generally not very serious. Most patients can control and alleviate the condition through timely manual repositioning treatments, but the condition may recur. A small number of patients have severe conditions where manual repositioning treatments are not effective. For these cases, machine chair repositioning combined with drug treatment can be considered, and most patients can recover. Only a small number of patients with severe conditions, where repositioning treatments are ineffective and recurring episodes significantly impact daily life, might consider undergoing surgical treatment. Currently, the commonly used technique is semicircular canal occlusion, which generally has good therapeutic effects.

How to completely cure allergic rhinitis?
Allergic rhinitis currently has many treatment methods, but overall, only a minority of patients can be completely cured; most patients focus primarily on controlling symptoms and alleviating the condition. At present, the main treatment method for allergic rhinitis is medication. If it's purely a mite allergy and there are no other allergens, desensitization treatment can be considered. Currently, this involves subcutaneous injections or sublingual immunotherapy. Overall, about 60% to 70% of patients can achieve a complete cure with this treatment. However, for other allergies or those that cannot be identified, the focus is primarily on control and relief; it is very difficult to achieve a complete cure with either medication or surgery.