Gopalan Pushkas, Browning Simon T
Department of Otolaryngology, Singleton Hospital, Swansea, UK.
J Laryngol Otol. 2002 Nov;116(11):958-9. doi: 10.1258/00222150260369543.
Intractable paroxysmal sneezing is a rare disease primarily affecting teenage girls. We present the case of a 12-year-old girl who demonstrated the classical features of intractable paroxysmal sneezing of psychogenic origin. Most of the reported cases are psychogenic in origin, but a number of other conditions may cause intractable paraoxysmal sneeze. Apart from a detailed history, clinical examination and relevant investigations, topical nasal anaesthesia should be tried for control of symptoms--that will help to differentiate psychogenic sneezing from organic sneezing. A timely diagnosis can avoid unnecessary medical trials, parental anxiety and poor school performance, as most of the patients are very young.