Maryland State Wire

Pierre Dazé, a physician assistant at Frederick Breathe Free, discussed the intertwined nature of allergies and sinusitis in an Instagram post on January 22. He highlighted the difficulty in distinguishing between the two conditions.

"How does someone know if they have sinusitis or allergies? Usually the two can be intertwined," said Pierre Daze, according to Instagram. "Thinking of the relationship between the structure and then also how the body works with the allergies. It can be a little bit difficult to tease out, that's why we use our technology, Zorian skin testing, to try to figure that out. Most patients, when we check, a lot of them have an allergy to something so that's not surprising."

According to the National Library of Medicine, allergies can lead to sinusitis by causing inflammation and swelling in the nasal passages. This blockage can disrupt mucus drainage, creating an environment conducive to bacterial and viral infections. Both allergic rhinitis and sinusitis can cause similar symptoms such as nasal congestion, pressure, and headaches. Managing allergies through trigger identification and treatments like antihistamines or nasal corticosteroids may help reduce the risk of sinus infections.

A study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology revealed that 64% of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) exhibited an allergic response to at least one allergen, compared to 22.4% in the general population. The most common allergens among CRS patients were Salsola (43%), tree mixtures (30%), and grasses (28%). This suggests that allergic reactions significantly contribute to CRS development and exacerbation.

Minimally invasive procedures like ClariFix cryoablation are emerging as new treatment options for vasomotor rhinitis and chronic sinus conditions. Dr. Jamie Oberman from Frederick Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers explained that ClariFix addresses vasomotor rhinitis by "freezing the posterior nasal nerve." Before this advancement, patients primarily relied on topical medications, which some found ineffective or intolerable. Oberman noted that there are now "three different approaches" allowing specialists to treat patients who cannot tolerate medical management with simple in-office procedures.

Dazé is a certified physician assistant specializing in otolaryngology (ENT). He graduated from The George Washington University’s physician assistant program and was inducted into the Alpha Eta honors society. Prior to his work in ENT, he spent six years working in emergency departments at various hospitals. Fluent in American Sign Language, he welcomes patients from the Deaf community and is currently accepting new patients according to Frederick Breathe Free's website.

Frederick Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers focuses on diagnosing and treating chronic sinus and allergy conditions using advanced minimally invasive procedures. Their services include balloon sinuplasty, allergy testing, and immunotherapy aimed at providing long-term relief for patients with sinusitis and rhinitis. According to their website, they emphasize patient-centered care with treatments designed to reduce recovery time and improve quality of life.