Dr. Mohammed Osama Aboborda
Otolaryngology (E.N.T)
The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.
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Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
For two years, I wake up in the night with dry throat and mouth and blocked sinuses. Back of mouth or throat is also coated with unpleasant, pale yellow scum on waking (during the day, I am fine). I saw ENT doctor a month ago, diagnosed inflamed sinuses and prescribed four months of steroid drops. These are not working and now I have blood flecks in mucus when I blow nose first thing on waking. This morning, blood streaks are also in the scum from throat which feels raw.
Hi,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
I think that you need to perform a CT scan for your nose and sinuses. There may be a surgical cause for your naso-sinal problems as polyps, deviated septum or hypertrophied turbinates. Perform the scan then show it to me. Do you have excessive sneezing or rhinorrhea? Do you have any allergies for any odors?
Patient's Query
Thank you doctor,
ENT doctor found deviated septum (will discuss surgery after steroid treatment). I am more concerned with dry mouth (no saliva) at night and sour, pale yellow thick discharge coating throat on waking (now with blood). I have always breathed through my mouth when sleeping so I do not think blocked sinus is the cause. I stopped smoking over two years ago and now vape instead. Chest X-ray is clear. Could it be a bacterial infection for which antibiotics would be better than steroids? Would analyzing a sample of the throat discharge find if the problem is viral, bacterial or fungal- for more effective treatment?
Hi,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
Because of blocked nose and sinuses, you are breathing through your mouth while sleeping. The mouth breathing makes your throat dry. Dryness decreases the immunity or your oral mucosa which allows fungi and bacteria to grow. Besides the collected mucus from your nose at night. I think that taking a sample of the white throat coat is a so early step. I advise you to use mouth gargle before sleep and in the morning. Once the nasosinal problem is solved your throat will get better.
Patient's Query
Thank you doctor,
Taking a sample of the white throat coat is a so early step? I did not understand the meaning of too early- or that sample analysis is a good idea? Gargling (salt, bicarbonates, Listerine, etc.) does nothing. I am worried it may be throat, sinus, or salivary gland cancer.
Hi,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
It is not the picture of cancer at all. The sample is a good idea but after the failure of local medications as gargles and after recovery from the sinonasal surgery. If you want to check a sample to assure yourself, it is fine, but I am sure that this is not the picture of cancer at all.
Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
Thank you for your replies. They put my mind more at rest. If a test now could discover whether the problem is bacterial, could it be not cured quickly with a course of antibiotics? It is really disrupting my life for over a year as I wake several times each night with the dry mouth and feel tired and unhealthy in the day because of it. Do you agree it would be useful to discover if antibiotics can rapidly resolve the problem (and after that think about surgery for the septum)?
Hi,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
No, antibiotics can finish your breathing problems at night. Antibiotics just can eradicate the thick yellow discharge if the infection is bacterial. Believe me, your problem is mainly surgical. You can use Mepafluxine 750 which is a Fluoroquinolone. This can eradicate the yellow thick discharge after five days of use. Its dose is once daily.
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Otolaryngology (E.N.T)
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