Common ENT Disorders

Introduction

• ENT problems are very common• 30-50% patients attending GOPD has ENT

problems • ENT problems could arise from trauma,

infections, neoplasia etc • Commonly affects quality of life but could be

life threatening

Common ORL Diseases• General

– Foreign Body– Trauma

• Ear– Otitis Media– Cerumen Auris– Hearing Loss

• Nose – Epistaxis– Rhinosinusitis

• Throat– Adenoid hyperplasia/Adenoiditis– Tonsillitis/Pharyngotonsillitis– Hoarseness

Foreign Body• Generally common in children or mentally

Challenged• Ear– Common objects include seeds, paper, eraser,

earring, button batteries , bead• Nose– Similar objects

• Throat– Aspiration– Ingestion

Trauma

Trauma• Blunt trauma could result in haematoma

collection• Lacerations can result from assault, RTA• Partial or complete avulsion injuries• Acoustic trauma: affects ear drum, middle and

inner ear as a result of sudden loud noise

laceration hematoma

• Otitis External: –Localized–diffuse:

• Presents with pain, • Discharge• Causative agent are commonly

bacteria but could be fungal

Otitis media:• Could be acute, subacute or chronic• Very common in childhood• AOM is a common cause of acute febrile illness

in childhood• COM presents with chronic discharge and

hearing loss• Corner stone of management is Antibiotics

Otitis Media• Inflammation of the

middle ear•May also involve

inflammation of mastoid, petrous apex, and perilabyrinthine air cells • Acute OM - rapid onset of

signs & sx, < 3 wk course• Subacute OM - 3 wks to 3 mos• Chronic OM - 3 mos or longer

• Age• Sex• Race• Day care• Seasons

• Genetics• Breast-feeding• Smoke

exposure• Medical

conditions

Hearing loss

• Could be congenital or acquired• Pre, peri or post lingual• Conductive or sensorineural• Pre lingual hearing is associated with

poor speech and Language development

Common nasal problems

Nasal Foreign Body:• Common in childhood and mentally retarded

adults• Neglected FB presents with unilateral foul

smelling occasionally bloody discharge • Misguided attempt removal could result in

fatality

Rhinitis:• Could be infectious or non infectious• AR is the commonest cause of non infectious

rhinitis• Patients present with nasal blockage, sneezing

and discharge.• Symptoms may be seasonal

Epistaxis:• Very common• Could be due to local or systemic• Most epistaxis are trivial but life threatening

variant are seen• Nasal packing, cautery and arterial ligation are

management options

Anterior epistaxis

Rhinosinusitis• Inflammation of nose and paranasal sinuses• Could be acute or chronic• With or without NP• Presents with obstruction, discharge,

sneezing, head aches• Extension beyond the sinuses can lead to

orbital or intra cranial complication

Throat

Pharyngitis:• The pharyngeal mucosa is very sensitive• Lymphoid aggregates are seen in the pharynx• Pharyngitis can be specific or non specific• Adenoids and Tonsillitis are common

inflammatory dx affecting the lymphoid aggregates.

• Treatments: include antibiotics, analgesics and gargle.

Acute Tonsillitis