Dr Firdous Quader Minu

With the onset of monsoon, torrential rains, and extreme hot weather, it looks like different viral diseases are making their rounds.

When the virus first hit us, there was a lot that we did not know about its signs and symptoms, but we are now more aware. A lot of people have asked me if loss/change in the sense of smell and taste is part of COVID-19 symptoms.

Although it’s not very cold in the big cities, the temperature has already gone down in the countryside. But wherever we are located, there is a change in the overall atmosphere, and this affects all of us in different ways.

The seemingly benign ear wax may feel like an unusual topic for discussion, but years of working as an ENT consultant has made me realise that there are a lot of misconceptions about it out there. It is time to debunk some of them.

Perhaps, there is no persons in the world who has not suffered from headaches once in a while. Frustrating as it may be, patients need not worry as most headaches are manageable, and should not be as physically disruptive as they sometimes turn out to be.

The most important factor to keep in mind on these long, hot, humid days is to stay well hydrated. We lose a lot of water and electrolytes as we sweat. Also, as some of us use air conditioners a lot, there will also be dryness of skin.

The nose is the first part of the respiratory system, and plays an important role in the function of the olfactory senses.

Winter is on its way and along with it comes the wedding season. Although now it seems there is no proper wedding season anymore as weddings take place all year through, and are as elaborately celebrated as ever.

People suffering from these kinds of symptoms are usually suffering from Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis. This is usually due to the patient being allergic to the weather conditions.

Most of us get busy in celebrating the holy month of Ramadan in special ways, and of course, preparing for Eid, which is just around the corner. Due to changes in timing in our routines, it becomes a difficult task to maintain regular timing for medication, exercise and taking care of ourselves in general. This is especially for people suffering from chronic illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, arthritis etc. Some patients find it very difficult to maintain their medications during fasting, and end up getting sick. Here are a few tips to maintain all the timings and proper diet during this period.

Imagine a face, and the nose is probably its most prominent feature. The dimensions of the nose are often a big part of how you look. Its myriad shapes also reveal our race and ethnicity.

Quite often, we see people using Q-tips, or 'cottonbuds' as we call them, to clean or remove wax from the ears. Although it is common

As an ENT specialist, tonsillitis is one of the most common ailments that I treat in my chamber. It is also one of the most common topics on which everybody, regardless of profession, education or background, has many theories and opinions on. So, before the patient ends up in a doctor's chamber they have been treated many times. The same thing happens with children suffering from enlarged adenoids. Too many myths, stories and theories are out there to prevent proper treatment.

Hair is part of the tough outer protective layer of our body, which also includes exocrine glands, skin, and nails. It serves multiple functions like protection, temperature regulation, facilitation of evaporation of perspiration, and also as a sense organ.

Dementia is one of the newest medical terms added to the parlance as the number of people suffering from the ailment are ever increasing.

The most common ailment that I witness in the OPD nowadays is the itchy ears with discharge.

Whenever the word rejuvenation comes along we think of someone elderly with wrinkled skin, but that is not necessarily true.

It has been in fashion for a long time, and body piercing in Bangladesh is now more popular than ever. While in the past we were accustomed seeing people with earrings and nose-pins, youngsters now also flaunt their pierced eye-brows, lips, and tongues. Pierced nipples and genitalia are also not unheard of.

Burns are one of the most common household injuries, especially among children in this season.

Recently, we have had patients who are on the verge of a legal separation due to the extent of their partner's snoring. Setting aside the mental anxiety, snoring is a telltale sign of some problems, and can be the cause for other serious health concerns.