Sinusitis or Just a Cold? How to Tell the Difference This Monsoon Confused between sinusitis and common cold this monsoon? Dr. Sanjeev Mohanty breaks down the key differences, symptoms, and when to see an ENT specialist. Every monsoon in Chennai, one question comes up in clinic more than any other: "Doctor, is this just a cold, or is it sinusitis?" It's a fair question, the two conditions share several symptoms, and telling them apart isn't always obvious. But knowing the difference matters, because the treatment approach is different. fig 1. Confused between sinusitis and common cold What Happens With a Common Cold A common cold is caused by a viral infection affecting your upper respiratory tract. It typically brings a runny or blocked nose, sneezing, mild sore throat, and sometimes a low fever. The hallmark of a cold is that it's short lived, symptoms peak within two to three days and clear up within a week without needing antibiotics. fig 2. Common c...
Why Your Ears Suffer the Most This Monsoon, and How to Protect Them - Prof. Dr Sanjeev Mohanty Every year, the moment the first monsoon showers hit Chennai, our clinic starts seeing the same pattern: a sudden rise in patients complaining of ear pain, itching, and that annoying "blocked" feeling in the ear. If you've ever wondered why your ears seem to act up specifically during the rainy season, you're not imagining it. There's real science behind it, and understanding it can save you a lot of discomfort. Fig 1. Why Your Ears Suffer the Most This Monsoon, and How to Protect Them Why Does Monsoon Affect Your Ears So Much? The skin inside your ear canal is delicate, and it depends on staying dry to keep bacteria and fungi in check. The moment humidity levels shoot up, which is exactly what happens during Chennai's monsoon months, that balance gets disturbed. Moisture gets trapped inside the ear canal, and that damp environment becomes the perfect breeding grou...