Ear Nose Throat

Ear Nose Throat
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4 Common Ear, Nose and Throat Problems

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Kristin Hayes, RN, is a registered nurse specializing in ear, nose, and throat disorders for both adults and children.

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John Carew, MD, is board-certified in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. He is an adjunct assistant professor at Mount Sinai Medical Center and NYU Medical Center.

There are many different ear, nose, and throat (ENT) disorders and an even greater variety of characteristic symptoms. The following list involves the four most common ENT disorders. Not everyone will experience the same set of symptoms or have them as intensely. In some cases, a healthcare provider or ENT specialist will be needed to make the correct diagnosis and offer the appropriate treatment.

Ear infections are one of the most prevalent ENT disorders. They occur when germs become trapped inside the middle ear.

The eustachian tube, a tiny canal that originates in the ear and drains into the back of the throat, usually keeps unwanted germs out. If this tube is too small or becomes swollen shut by swelling or clogged by fluid and mucus, bacteria, or other microbes can enter the ear and cause an infection.

Signs and symptoms of an ear infection include:

Ear infections are more common in children than adults and the most common type of infection in infants and toddlers. 1 If a young child has an ear infection, it can often be difficult to detect. Telling signs in infants and toddlers include:

Strep is an abbreviation for a family of bacteria called Streptococci . Strep throat occurs when the throat and surrounding structures become infected with this germ. While strep throat is a common infection, many other infections have the same symptoms.

Symptoms are usually abrupt in onset including:

Notably absent in strep throat are a runny nose and cough. You may also suspect strep throat if you have been exposed to someone with a strep infection in the last two weeks. Children between the ages of 5 and 15 are most at risk. 2 You are also more likely to get a strep infection during the winter months.

Strep throat must be diagnosed by a throat culture or rapid antigen test at your healthcare provider's office to confirm a streptococcal infection versus a different bacterial or viral infection.

Sinusitis occurs when a germ multiplies in the hollow recesses of the skull that surrounds your eyes and nose. The infection can become trapped, causing inflammation, pressure, and pain

Acute sinusitis is often secondary to a common cold , so you are more likely to get sinusitis during the winter months. Chronic sinusitis in which symptoms persist for more than 12 weeks may occur as a result of an untreated allergy or a chronic condition such as bronchial asthma. 3

Apnea is a medical term meaning to stop breathing. Sleep apnea is a disorder causing one to stop breathing for brief periods of time while sleeping. Symptoms include:

In addition to these symptoms, many individuals with sleep apnea have been told by a spouse or family member that they snore, gasp, choke, or even stop breathing momentarily while sleeping. You are more likely to have sleep apnea if you are overweight, have enlarged tonsils, or take sedatives at bedtime.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs in 2% of middle-aged women and 4% of middle-aged men, particularly those who are obese. If left untreated, sleep apnea can cause potentially serious health complications, including hypertension (high blood pressure), coronary artery disease , stroke , and heart failure . 4

The majority of people will experience one or more of these disorders in their lifetime. While visiting with your healthcare provider, discussion of your symptoms may help your healthcare provider to come up with a diagnosis of an ENT disorder .

Karunanayake CP, Albritton W, Rennie DC, et al. Ear infection and its associated risk factors in first nations and rural school-aged Canadian children . Int J Pediatr . 2016;2016:1523897. doi:10.1155/2016/1523897
Martin JM. The mysteries of streptococcal pharyngitis . Curr Treat Options Pediatr . 2015;1(2):180-9. doi:10.1007/s40746-015-0013-9
Kennedy JL, Borish L. Chronic sinusitis pathophysiology: The role of allergy . Am J Rhinol Allergy . 2013;27(5):367-71. doi:10.2500/ajra.2013.27.3906
Badran M, Ayas N, Laher I. Cardiovascular complications of sleep apnea: role of oxidative stress . Oxid Med Cell Longev . 2014;2014:985258. doi:10.1155/2014/985258

By Kristin Hayes, RN

Kristin Hayes, RN, is a registered nurse specializing in ear, nose, and throat disorders for both adults and children.

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Otolaryngology is the medical specialty that focuses on medical and surgical treatment for patients who have disorders of the ear, nose, throat and related structures of the head and neck.
Otolaryngology is also referred to as ear, nose and throat (ENT)
Doctors who specialize in otolaryngology are called otolaryngologists. Sometimes they are referred to as ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialists.
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At OhioHealth, our ENT specialists provide comprehensive care for disorders of the ear, nose, throat and related areas in the head and neck. We treat both children and adults, and our patients receive the highest level of care for both acute problems and management of long-term ENT issues.
Whether your problem is as simple as tonsillitis or as complex as cancer, our ENT specialists have the skills and experience to give you the care you need. We design each person’s care plan to fit your individual condition, and always consider you to be part of your care team.
In addition to disorders of the ears, nose and throat, we also treat problems in other areas of the head and neck. At OhioHealth, our physicians work together with audiologists, speech-language pathologists and other expert providers to cover the full scope of ENT conditions.
Partnering with a primary care physician is an easy step you and your family can take to achieve your best health and stay healthy throughout the year.
OhioHealth sleep specialists have diagnosed and treated more sleep disorders than any other sleep center in the region. We conduct our sleep studies in a safe, private environment to determine the best way to alleviate your sleep problems. Our program is fully accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
We combine the best surgeons with the most advanced technology to produce the best outcomes for our patients. We offer inpatient and outpatient surgeries, as well as minimally invasive robotic surgeries.

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