Paresthesias of the upper respiratory tract in the patients of the elder age group

Abstract

The present study was designed to carry out the comprehensive clinical examination of 120 patients presenting with paresthesia of the upper respiratory tract (42 men (35%) and 78 women (65%P) aged 56 to 90 years). The most frequent complaints included cough (72%), globus sensation (46%), itching (43%), dry throat (38%), and difficulty of swallowing (28%). The duration of the clinical symptoms ranged from 1 month to 3 years (m±M: 1+to 1.46). The etiological factors behind paresthesias in the patients of the older age groups in comparison with the patients below 55 years of age included gastroenterological and cardiovascular diseases, pathology of the broncho-pulmonary system, and neurological pathology. ENT pathology was diagnosed equally often in the patients of both groups. Endocrine pathology and stress-associated conditions occurred more frequently in the patients below the age of 55 years. The intolerance of drugs was more commonly encountered in the patients of the older age group (amounting up to 35%). It is concluded that the ultimate etiological factor of paresthesia of the upper respiratory tract can be deduced based on the detection of a particular disease and the analysis of the dynamics of the patients' complaints after the completion of the adequate treatment.