Patients 6 months of age or older with diagnosis of acute otitis externa (swimmer’s ear) in at least one affected ear may qualify for a new study in which Coastal Ear Nose and Throat (http://www.coastalearnoseandthroat.com/clinical-research.html) is participating.  It is a new topical ear drop that treats bacterial otitis externa for seven days.  The patient participation is not demanding and really complies with our current recommendations.  The patient would be expected to follow up in the office on day three of medication use.  If no improvement at this time, the patient would be started on a different medication, Ciprodex otic ear drops.  On day eight, the patient would return to the office since medication is completed for a routine follow up.  Lastly, the patient would follow up on day eleven, to ensure that the patient’s infection is completely resolved.  In total, there would be three follow up visits after initial diagnostic visit.  In order to qualify, the patient must agree to refrain from water immersion of the ears during the conduct of the entire study.  Also, the patient must comply with the administration of the study medication as directed, complete required study visits, and comply with the above protocol.  Of note, childbearing aged women would be expected to take a pregnancy test and be on adequate birth control methods.  If all of these requirements are met, the patient will be inducted into the study.  The patient would also be responsible for calling into an automated phone diary, which is a brief phone call, twice daily.  It sounds like an overwhelming process but really is very simple to do and our research team will dedicate the time to help guide you through the process.  Additionally, all patients who successfully participate in the study and complete it will be monetarily compensated.  So, please feel free to call 732-280-7855 with questions regarding this study and our research team will gladly answer any of your concerns.

Many allergy sufferers and even those of us who never suffered from seasonal allergies may attribute their symptoms this season to a warm winter and early spring that sent a higher than normal amounts of pollen into the air we inhale.  Many people resort to avoiding the outdoors as a way to prevent allergy symptoms and/or take allergy medications to help with their symptoms.  Another useful method of helping yourself during the allergy season, especially if you are not the one for medications and have a tough time staying indoors, is getting rid of the pollen that has accumulated on you.  Rinsing your hair and changing clothing will help reduce with pollen load that you inhale, however, won’t get rid of the allergen accumulated in your nasal cavities.  Rinsing your nose with the Neti pot or other irrigation devices shortly after your outdoor activities will help rid your nose of the residual allergen and other debris.  Make sure to use distilled water or boiled tap water that has been cooled to appropriate room temperature when making the saline rinse for the Neti pot.  You should also wash your Neti pot or other irrigation device as advised by the manufacturer to prevent infection every time you use it.   The recipe for a homemade saline rinse is as follows: Mix 1 quart of tap water with 1 tsp of non-iodinated salt and ½ tsp of baking soda and bring to boil for 20 minutes.  Let cool to room temperature before use.  Store unused portions in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.  People who are on a severely salt restricted diet can use lower salt concentrations and avoid swallowing substantial amounts of saline rinse.

According to the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America (http://www.aafa.org), "There is no place safe from allergies in America, and some cities are more problematic than others. The Allergy Capitals is an annual research project of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) to identify 'the 100 most challenging places to live with allergies' in the spring and fall seasons each year. The rankings are based on scientific analysis of 3 factors for the 100 largest metro areas in the U.S."

NY, NY is rated #39 this year on the Spring Allergy Capitals list (http://www.aafa.org/pdfs/FINAL%20public%20LIST%20Spring_2012.pdf).

As ENT clinicians, Coastal Ear, Nose and Throat aggressively treats these symptoms to prevent the progression of allergies into other sinonasal complaints such as nasal congestion/obstructions, nasal polyps, and sinus infections.  Despite our great efforts, there is no cure for allergies.  There are ways that you can prevent or relieve allergy symptoms.  We provide a component of care needed to help treat your allergy or sinonasal problems.