Physician and patient-induced diseases in otolaryngology office practice

"Theragenic" diseases produce common ENT complaints. They are frequently and predictably induced by self or physician treatment. Fifteen percent of first office visits in various practice situations stem from therapeutically-induced disease. Self treatment by cotton tip applicator ear cleaning, nasal decongestants, mouth washes, and lozenges produce symptoms which mimic other etiologies. Prescription medications produce diseases with ENT symptoms which are based on pharmacologic toxicity, multiple drug therapy, drug intolerance, and occasional idiopathic hypersensitivity. The treatment of these diseases is simple and effective once their etiology is discovered.