The throat, nose, and ear can be affected by several issues. Some issues are straightforward, but others can be more complex. A general practitioner can solve many ENT issues, but some people might need to see a specialist for proper diagnosis and treatment. An otolaryngologist or ENT doctor understands the ear, nose, and throat structures and treats their associated disorders.
The sensory organs are connected with the ears, nose, and throat that people use daily. The ear allows the person to hear. The nose helps in smelling and assisting in testing. The air is humidified and filtered before it enters the lungs if people breathe through the nose. The throat provides a way for air to reach the voice box and lungs. The mouth is connected to the esophagus through the throat. The food travels through the throat to get to the digestive system.
A common problem associated with ENT –
Throat –
Difficulty in swallowing can result if a foreign body or another irritant gets stuck in the throat or an infection in the throat. It can also have anatomic or neurological causes. Symptoms include choking on food or drink, coughing after swallowing, coughing up food or vomit, excessive saliva, drooling, trouble chewing or moving food to the back of the mouth.
Inflammation in the back of the throat causes tonsillitis. They are two soft tissues organs in the back of the throat. Inflammation can occur in the tonsil due to bacterial infection. Symptoms include sore throat, swelling, difficulty swallowing, white coating on the tonsils and throat, swollen glands, fever, bad breath. When a person during sleep momentarily stops breathing, then it is called sleep apnea. It is widespread. Symptoms include not waking to feel rested, regular daytime sleepiness, waking up with a very dry throat, headaches upon waking, waking up frequently during the night, loud snoring, gasping or choking during sleep, mood issues.
Nasal –
Many blood vessels on the nose are the part of the face that protrudes the most. Dumping the nose or falling over can damage the delicate blood vessels and cause a nosebleed. The other causes of nosebleeding include picking the nose, blowing the nose a lot or vigorously, hot, dry climates leading to cracking and cuts in the nose, sinusitis, inhaling irritants or drugs. Nosebleed is temporary and usually go away on their own. But regular or continuous nosebleed can be a sign of an underlying condition or complication.
Sinusitis is inflammation of the sinuses. The hollow areas of the skull surrounding the nose and eyes are called sinuses. An infection can develop when germs get struck and multiply. It may occur as a secondary infection. Almost 90% of the people affected by the common cold have this problem. Symptoms include pain in the teeth, cough, post-nasal drip, fatigue, fever, nasal discharge, nasal congestion, headache.
According to CDC, as many as 60 million people per year in the US may have allergic rhinitis. Symptoms include red, itchy eyes, coughing, post-nasal drip, watery eyes, dark circles around the eyes, itchy nose, sneezing, congestion.
Ear –
If the bacteria in the ear multiply, the infection can cause inflammation and lead to symptoms. It typically occurs in the outer year or the middle year but also in the inner ear. Symptoms include difficulty sleeping and hearing or muffled hearing, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, issues with balance, drainage from the ear, warmth and redness of the ear skin, ringing in the ear, ear pain, especially while lying down, feeling fullness in the ear, spinning sensation.
Hearing loss or muffled hearing may occur as a secondary symptom of infection. Hearing difficulties can be caused by injuries to the structures of the ear. Some people may face it as they age, while others may be born with it. Ringing in the ears or tinnitus can be a secondary symptom of many other issues. It can also occur due to exposure to loud noises. The sensation of feeling that the body is spinning or dizzy is called vertigo. It may occur in response to an irritation or inflammation in the delicate parts of the inner ear that control balance and hearing.