I have started having frequent sinus and ear infections, that go away with treatment but come back within a few months. Why is this happening and is there any way to prevent it? Also, I lining of my ears has begun to itch constantly. It itches to the point of pain and never goes away. What is this and how do I make it go away?
> There are a number of potential explanations for recurring sinus and/or ear infections including allergy, anatomic obstruction such as septal deviation or nasal polyps, environmental factors, immune system dysfunction etc. If you have experienced 4-6 sinus infections in a 12 month period, I would recommend an evaluation by an otolaryngologist.
Chronic itching of the ear canals is a relatively common symptom and usually is due to an inflammation of the skin in the ear canal. This is most frequently caused by loss of wax in the ear canals - this can result from overly meticulous cleansing of the ear canals with Q-tips. The result is dry, scaly, itchy ears. Excessive accumulation of water in the ear canals can also aggravate the condition. Treatment measures might include avoidance of Q-tips, avoiding water in the ears, drying the ears with judicious use of a hair blower, and use of either over-the-counter or prescription topical steroid preparations periodically.
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Steve Dankle, MD
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Milwaukee, Wis
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