Chronic fatigue cured by nasal surgery

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Neurology
• Sleep Medicine

Background:

• Unexplained chronic fatigue is a common clinical challenge.
• Mid-facial pain and rhinitis can be symptoms of underlying sinus disease.
• Chronic sinusitis is often overlooked in the differential diagnosis of fatigue.

Observation:

• Two patients presented with severe unexplained fatigue, mid-facial pain, and rhinitis.
• Computerized tomography (CT) scans of the sinuses showed only minor abnormalities.
• Both patients experienced significant improvement in fatigue after functional endoscopic nasal surgery.

Findings:

• Functional endoscopic nasal surgery led to resolution or near-resolution of chronic fatigue in the presented cases.
• Abnormal nasal airflow and potential reflex etiology are proposed mechanisms linking nasal disease to fatigue.
• These findings suggest a potential role for chronic sinusitis in unexplained fatigue.

Implications:

• Chronic sinusitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained fatigue by primary care physicians.
• Nasal airflow and sleep quality may be critical factors in managing chronic fatigue.
• Further research into the link between sinonasal conditions and systemic symptoms like fatigue is warranted.