Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7czq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-30T00:13:06.880Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Intractable paroxysmal sneezing

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2006

Pushkas Gopalan
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Singleton Hospital, Swansea, UK.
Simon T. Browning
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Singleton Hospital, Swansea, UK.

Abstract

Intractable paroxysmal sneezing is a rare disease primarily affecting teenage girls. We present the case of a 12-year-old girl who demonstrated the classical features of intractable paroxysmal sneezing of psychogenic origin. Most of the reported cases are psychogenic in origin, but a number of other conditions may cause intractable paraoxysmal sneeze. Apart from a detailed history, clinical examination and relevant investigations, topical nasal anaesthesia should be tried for control of symptoms – that will help to differentiate psychogenic sneezing from organic sneezing. A timely diagnosis can avoid unnecessary medical trials, parental anxiety and poor school performance, as most of the patients are very young.

Keywords

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© Royal Society of Medicine Press Limited 2002

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)