Sinus & Allergy

Sinus & Allergy Center

Sinus symptoms like a runny nose or itchy eyes may be caused by temporary ailments like the common cold. However, chronic symptoms like, facial pain/pressure, nasal congestion, halitosis, headaches, nasal discharge, tooth pain, loss of sense of smell, fatigue may be a sign of a more permanent condition. Sinusitis affects 37 Million Americans each year, making it one of the most common health problems. It significantly impacts an individual’s physical, functional, and emotional quality of life. There are many patients with chronic sinus problems who need surgical intervention to manage their conditions. Yet, an underlying cause of sinus disease and related symptoms is frequently an allergy. In many cases, allergy shots are all a patient needs in order to mitigate the effects of their allergy and sinus condition. From medical management to surgical intervention, The Cherry Hill Center for Sinus & Allergy allows access to a wide array of diagnostic and therapeutic resources, allowing Dr. Busch to provide his patients various treatment options tailored to each individual’s condition.

Medical Management

Dr. Busch will determine the best sinusitis treatment plan. Typical treatment begins with medication, which may include decongestants, nasal steroids/antihistamine sprays, antibiotics, and oral steroids. However, it may be difficult to treat the majority of chronic sinusitis sufferers with medication. It is estimated that up to 60% of sinusitis sufferers do not get relief with medication. Surgical Treatment is the next step in treatment.

Surgical Management

Balloon Sinuplasty™
Sinus surgery is another treatment alternative. Now there is a less invasive alternative that opens sinus passages to relieve sinus pain and sinus pressure associated with chronic sinusitis. This breakthrough sinus surgery procedure called Balloon Sinuplasty™ uses a small, flexible balloon catheter to open inflamed sinus passageways. The balloon catheter is placed into the nose to reach the inflamed sinus openings, and gradually inflated to restructure the previously blocked passage. Unlike conventional sinus surgery, Balloon Sinuplasty™ preserves the normal anatomy of the sinuses and mucosal tissue, and does not require the removal of bone and tissue. For some patients, the Balloon Sinuplasty™ procedure can now be conducted right here in our office under local anesthesia.

Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS)
Conventional sinus surgery is a more invasive surgery for clearing blocked sinuses. Known as functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), this surgery involves the removal of bone and tissue to enlarge the sinus opening with the aim of clearing blocked sinuses and restoring normal sinus drainage. Specialized instruments are placed into the nose along with a small endoscope guided by cameras and computer imaging systems to allow Dr. Busch to see inside the nasal and sinus cavities.

Allergy Testing & Treatment
Upon his clinical exam, Dr. Busch will determine if allergy testing is needed in order to better identify what an individual is allergic to. He will develop a customized treatment plan based upon the patient’s specific symptoms and allergy test results.

Allergy testing results will indicate whether allergy injections / immunotherapy should be incorporated into the treatment plan. Immunotherapy is a program of regular injections of increasing amounts of extracts of allergens (organic substances which cause allergies) to which an individual shows an allergy for. When sufficient relief of allergy symptoms cannot be achieved with environmental controls and medications, immunotherapy can reduce sensitivities. It is effective for weeds, trees and grass pollens, dust mites, mold spores and some animal dander. Food allergies should be rotated or eliminated in the diet depending on severity of allergy to the food.