Intractable Sneezing: Case Report and Literature Review

JOURNAL TITLE: An International Journal Clinical Rhinology

Author
1. RK Singh
2. Saurabh Varshney
3. SS Bist
ISSN
0974-4630
DOI
10.5005/jp-journals-10013-1042
Volume
3
Issue
2
Publishing Year
2010
Pages
2
Author Affiliations
    1. Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
    2. Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi (UP), India
    3. SGPGIMS, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
    4. Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
    1. Department of ENT and Head-Neck Surgery, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, HIHT University Jollygrant, Doiwala, Dehradun, Uttaranchal, India
    1. Department of ENT and Head-Neck Surgery, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, HIHT University Jollygrant, Doiwala, Dehradun, Uttaranchal, India
  • Article keywords
    Sneezing, intractable

    Abstract

    Sneezing is usually the physiologic response to nasal irritation but intractable paroxysmal sneezing is very uncommon. Various causative factors have been identified in the literature; these include psychologic problems, cervical lymphadenitis, epilepsy, and allergy. Majority of cases of intractable sneezing are reported among adolescents and are psychogenic in origin. We report one young lady with intractable paroxysmal sneezing in whom the removal of psychogenic stressors resulted in complete remission. The sneezing was continuous but did not occur while talking or sleeping, and did not respond to antihistamines, steroids and bronchodilators. The authors discuss the patients’ treatment and outcomes and the pathophysiology of intractable paroxysmal sneezing.

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