Dr Dawie Van Staden - ENT Surgeon

09/08/2026

Today is a day to celebrate all the amazing and inspiring women!
Happy Women's Day 🌼

29/07/2026

On National Lipstick Day, it is important to look beyond the color and focus on the health of your airway and skin.

The skin on your lips is incredibly thin, making it highly susceptible to chemical absorption. Many lip products contain parabens, phthalates, and artificial fragrances. These chemicals are notorious for triggering allergic contact cheilitis, which causes severe lip swelling, dryness, and cracking.
Furthermore, inhaling synthetic scents from lip products all day can irritate sensitive nasal passages and worsen chronic allergy symptoms.
Your airway health checklist:
🔻Toss out any lip products that are expired or smell unusual.
🔻Steer clear of "plumping" lipsticks that rely on irritants like capsicum or menthol.
✅Opt for hypoallergenic formulas with natural oils like jojoba or shea butter.
💫Celebrate safely by choosing products that respect your body.

15/07/2026

While common tonsillitis does not affect your cardiovascular system, a specific bacterial infection known as Group A Streptococcus can trigger a serious condition called Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) if left untreated.

Here is a breakdown of the myths and facts every parent and patient needs to know.
🩺 Myth vs. Fact: Tonsillitis & Your Heart
🔻Myth: Every sore throat or bout of tonsillitis puts your heart at risk.
✅Fact: Most tonsillitis cases are viral and completely harmless to your heart.
🔻Myth: Heart damage from tonsillitis happens instantly.
✅Fact: Rheumatic fever develops 2 to 4 weeks after an untreated strep infection.
🔻Myth: You can safely treat bacterial tonsillitis with home remedies alone.
✅Fact: Bacterial strep throat requires specific antibiotics to eliminate the cardiac risk.

🚨 How a Sore Throat Travels to the Heart
The Infection: Group A Streptococcus bacteria infect the tonsils and throat.
The Confusion: The immune system creates antibodies to fight the bacteria.
The Mistake: These antibodies get confused and attack the body's own tissues.
The Damage: This causes inflammation in the joints, skin, brain, and heart valves.
The Sequel: Scarred heart valves lead to permanent Rheumatic Heart Disease.

🔻Red Flags: When to See an ENT
➡Schedule an appointment immediately if you or your child experience:
1️⃣Severe throat pain with difficulty swallowing
2️⃣A high fever accompanied by a sore throat
3️⃣White spots or pus visible on the tonsils
4️⃣Joint pain, shortness of breath, or a new heart murmur after a sore throat.

09/07/2026

Chronic sinusitis, tinnitus, and chronic vertigo.

Constant congestion, facial pressure, or a perpetual ringing in your ears can drain your daily productivity and mental peace. Chronic sinusitis and persistent vestibular issues are long-term conditions that rarely resolve on their own. We offer advanced diagnostic tools and surgical solutions designed to clear your airways and restore your equilibrium.

Contact your ENT Surgeon to find lasting relief from chronic ENT issues.

26/06/2026

Deafblind Awareness Week is held during the last week of June each year, anchored around the birthday of Helen Keller on 27 June.

As an ENT surgeon, I focus on the mechanics of sound and balance, but today I want to highlight the resilient community of individuals living with deafblindness. This condition is not just a combination of deafness and blindness; it poses unique challenges in communication, mobility, and information access.

Common causes of deafblindness include:

1️⃣Usher Syndrome: A genetic condition leading to hearing loss and gradual vision loss.
2️⃣Congenital Rubella Syndrome: Impairments from prenatal viral exposure.
3️⃣CHARGE Syndrome: A genetic pattern affecting multiple organ systems.
4️⃣Age-Related Decline: The combined effects of age-related hearing loss and macular degeneration.

21/06/2026

Let’s honor all fathers, stepdads, grandfathers, uncles, and all positive male role models on their special day! Happy Father's Day

12/06/2026

June is Men’s ♂ Health Month, and it is time to address a major health risk that many men literally sleep on: sleep apnea.

📈Statistically, men are twice as likely as women to suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). It is much more than just loud snoring. Untreated sleep apnea repeatedly drops your oxygen levels at night, straining your body and drastically increasing your risk for high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and chronic fatigue.

As an ENT surgeon, I see how treating airway issues transforms lives, giving men their energy, focus, and long-term health back.Here are three signs you should not ignore:
1️⃣Loud, chronic snoring or gasping for air during sleep.
2️⃣Waking up exhausted, even after a full night of sleep.
3️⃣Frequent morning headaches and daytime brain fog.

✅Prioritise your health and your sleep this month. www.entsurgeonkemptonpark.co.za

31/05/2026

Every puff you take passes through your airway first. As an ENT surgeon, I regularly see the devastating impact of to***co on the delicate tissues of the mouth, throat, and vocal cords.
Smoking causes chronic laryngitis, severe voice changes, and drastically increases your risk of throat and oral cancers. Your airway deserves clean air, not toxic smoke.
Choose health today. Let your lungs and throat breathe easy.🫁🚭

22/05/2026

Gratitude ⭐️💫

Testimonial from a parent. We wish your son a speedy recovery.

20/05/2026

As winter approaches Johannesburg, persistent coughs may indicate underlying ENT issues rather than just a cold.

Here are three hidden causes for a lingering cough:
1️⃣Post-Nasal Drip: Chronic sinusitis leads to mucus dripping down the throat, causing a dry cough that worsens when lying down.
2️⃣Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR): Stomach acid irritates vocal cords, mimicking cold symptoms without heartburn.
3️⃣Secondary Bacterial Infection: A viral cold can block sinus drainage, resulting in a painful bacterial infection.
See an ENT specialist if you experience:
🔴Symptoms lasting over 10-14 days
🔴A cough or hoarse voice for more than 3 weeks
🔴Facial pain, headaches, or pressure around the eyes
🔴Trouble swallowing or a constant lump sensation in your throat.
➡For expert assessment, make an appointment , Dr. Dawie Van Staden's practice call +27 11 568 2918 or visit www.entsurgeonkemptonpark.co.za