Rupnagar, July 7 — Postponing medical evaluation for seemingly minor ailments like persistent mouth ulcers, blocked noses, or ear discharge can escalate simple health issues into severe conditions requiring major surgical reconstruction, medical experts have cautioned. The warning comes amidst a massive state-wide healthcare drive that has seen thousands undergo advanced procedures.
Medical professionals point out that early symptoms are frequently ignored because they do not initially cause pain, allowing conditions like chronic sinus diseases or oral cancers to progress unchecked. International medical research supports this, showing that diagnostic delays significantly worsen patient outcomes.
Dr Nidhi Gupta, Medical Officer and ENT Specialist at the Rupnagar Civil Hospital, asserted, “People often ignore persistent ear discharge, hearing loss, a blocked nose or mouth ulcers because these conditions are usually painless in the beginning. Unfortunately, delayed treatment can lead to permanent hearing impairment, chronic sinus disease or advanced oral cancer.”
To mitigate these health risks, the state government has been expanding access to specialized treatments. Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh affirmed, “Through the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana, eligible patients in Punjab are receiving advanced ENT procedures free of cost at government and empanelled private hospitals.”
Data shows that the initiative has funded over two thousand surgeries, covering ear restorations, sinus corrections, and complex tumor excisions. While ear and nose surgeries constitute the bulk of the cases, specialists have also had to perform intricate tissue reconstructions for advanced oral cancer cases linked to tobacco and alcohol use.
Dr Nidhi Gupta declared, “A mouth ulcer persisting beyond two weeks should never be ignored. Early-stage cancers can often be treated with limited surgery, while late cases require extensive reconstruction and additional therapy.” She added that true long-term success lies in public awareness and diagnosing these symptoms before major operations become necessary.
