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[A prolonged case of intractable sneezing. Pathophysiological hypothesis]
F J García Callejo1, F Ferrer Baixauli, M P Martínez Beneyto
1Servicio de ORL, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Valencia, España.
Insights
A 13-year-old boy experienced prolonged, continuous sneezing for 18 days, significantly impacting his life. Standard treatments failed, but a definitive diagnosis and effective therapy were eventually found, offering insights into sneezing pathophysiology.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Otorhinolaryngology
Background:
- Persistent sneezing can be debilitating, affecting daily activities and necessitating medical evaluation.
- Diagnostic challenges arise when initial investigations and standard treatments yield no results.
Observation:
- A 13-year-old male presented with paroxysmal, continuous sneezing lasting 18 days and 18 nights.
- The patient's daily activities were severely limited, leading to hospital admission.
- Extensive pediatric, immunological, otorhinolaryngological, pulmonological, neurological, radiological, and psychiatric evaluations were all normal.
Findings:
- Standard treatments including antihistamines, corticoids, and anti-convulsants were ineffective.
- The lack of response to conventional therapies complicated the diagnostic process.
- A definitive diagnosis and a specific, effective treatment were ultimately identified.
Implications:
- The case highlights the importance of considering less common causes of persistent sneezing.
- Understanding the pathophysiology of this unique case may inform future diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
- This study contributes to the literature on refractory sneezing and its management in pediatric patients.
Abstract:
A 13-year-old boy sneezed paroxysmally and continuously, day and night, for 18 days. Sneezing limited his daily activities and motivated hospital admission. Pediatric clinical examination and all other immunologic, otorhinolaryngologic, pneumologic, neurologic, radiologic, and psychiatric studies were normal. There was no response to treatment with antihistamines, corticoids, or anti-convulsants, which obscured the diagnosis. Definitively effective treatment and its implications in the pathophysiology of sneezing are discussed.