Newswise — Sinus inflammation, medically defined as rhinosinusitis, is one of the most common medical complaints in the United States, with symptoms including thick nasal or postnasal drainage, discomfort in the cheeks, forehead or around the eyes, nasal congestion, cough and headache. The aggregated cost to society of sinus problems is estimated to reach $6 billion a year, with sufferers making more than 13 million physician visits a year and missing an average of four work days each.
For more 35 million Americans of all ages, persistent and recurring symptoms extend beyond 12 weeks, to a chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) diagnosis. Quality of life is negatively impacted " CRS has been compared with the suffering experienced by individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, and angina. More than 20 percent of CRS patients eventually develop growth from sinus tissue, called nasal polyps, which can block the sinuses " often requiring surgical intervention.
Thursday, April 16 through April 19, leading rhinologists from around the globe will convene in Philadelphia for the first ever "Rhinology World" medical congress, where they will debate the causes of chronic sinus inflammation " from allergies and infections to dysfunctional sinus lining hairs (cilia) and bacterial globs (biofilms). They'll also discuss other topics, ranging from the latest surgical interventions for sinus conditions, to the best rhinoplasty techniques.
Other hot topics include: · Environment vs. Genetics: With the rise of CRS in people with asthma, doctors are set to debate whether pollen and pollution, or family history, are at fault. (Plenary and Round Table, Thursday from 8:00am to 10:00am)
· Innovative treatments: Conventional allergy shots may be a thing of the past. Used in Europe, the latest form of allergy treatment " allergy drops that go under the tongue, called sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) " boosts your immune response to allergens sans injections, but are not yet covered by insurance in the United States. (Great Debate: SCIT vs. SLIT, Saturday from 11:35am to 12:30pm)
· Regional differences at play: Why do Philadelphians have forms of CRS where bone in the sinuses becomes inflamed? Could dirty air conditioning filters be to blame for an increased incidence of allergic fungal forms of CRS prevalent in parts of the Southeastern United States? (Plenary and Round Table, Thursday from 8:00am to 10:00am)
· Alternative therapies: Manuka honey, known for its anti-microbial and anti-fungal effects, will be discussed as a treatment to prevent a post-surgical bacterial biofilms from forming in people with CRS. (Poster session, Thursday between 1:30 " 3:30pm)
The program is available online at www.rhinologyworld.com. All events are at the Sheraton Philadelphia Center City (17th and Race Street).
To arrange an interview with an expert, please contact Kim Guenther, Penn Medicine Communications, at 215-200-2312 or [email protected]. Experts include: · David Kennedy, MD, FACS, FRCSI, Penn Medicine Rhinology Professor and President of the International Rhinologic Society as well as the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery: Can provide contemporary overview of CRS, discuss minimally invasive endoscopic surgical interventions.
· James Palmer, MD, Penn Medicine Associate Professor of Rhinology and President-Elect of the International Symposium on Infection and Allergy of the Nose: Can discuss origins of CRS, regional differences in CRS incidence and latest surgical advances.
RSS