Symptoms, risk factors, and treatment options for common ENT conditions ranging from chronic sinus infections to balance disorders and pediatric ear health.
Almost everyone has had some experience with symptoms of itchy nose, eyes and ears that are often accompanied by red, burning eyes; sneezing; and runny nose. In most cases, these symptoms are the result of an allergy of some sort.
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Pharyngitis is an inflammation of the pharynx, which results in a sore throat. Inflammation may result from a number of causes. These may include environmental allergies, food sensitivity or bacterial or viral infections. Common accompanying symptoms might include coughing, fever, fatigue or body aches.
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Earwax candling, also called candling, coning or auricular candling, involves inserting a specially designed candle into the ear canal. The candle is made of unbleached linen or cotton soaked in beeswax or paraffin, explains Lisa Roazen, M.D.
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Earwax buildup can easily block the ear canal and result in uncomfortable ear pressure. A small amount of hydrogen peroxide, or a simple mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water, can usually relieve this condition by breaking up the earwax and allowing the blockage to drain from the ear.
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Nasal irrigation with saline solution may be used to treat allergies, sinus discomfort, colds or congestion. Typically, nasal irrigation requires a small pot, called a Neti pot or a device called a pulsatile irrigator.
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Impacted earwax occurs when wax or cerumen builds up in the ear canal, often as a result of external objects, such as hearing aids, ear plugs or cotton swabs, blocking the ear canal.
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Onions come from the "Allium" family of plants, with many species consisting of a bulb that grows underground with a vertical stem appearing above ground. A relative of garlic, most onions have a sharp, spicy flavor, although some are sweet and mild. They are used in dishes throughout the world and also medicinally.
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When a person breathes, air travels into the nasal passages and down the throat, or trachea. If harmful organisms such as bacteria or viruses are in the air, some of them become trapped on the tonsils or in the throat and others travel into the body.
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Your nasal cavity is filled with tiny blood vessels that can become swollen when triggered by pollen, dust, pet dander, irritants or other illnesses, according to the Mayo Clinic. The result is a stuffy or congested nose—characterized by difficulty breathing, nasal discharge or an itchy nose.
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Sinusitis describes inflammation of lining of the sinuses, air-filled spaces in the facial bones around the nose and eyes. Thirty million cases of sinusitis are diagnosed annually in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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A sore throat occurs when the throat becomes inflamed and irritated. Soreness can be caused by many conditions including a virus, bacteria, hay fever, pollution, cigarette smoke or a respiratory infection. A sore throat can affect your quality of life by making speaking, eating and even breathing difficult.
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It's tempting to head to the pool when your only symptom of sickness is a sore throat. A sore throat doesn't always affect your performance and therefore your ability to enjoy a swim at the pool. Still, just because your sore throat doesn't seem to affect you heavily, it could affect other patrons.
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The esophagus is a hallow, distensible muscular tube 25 cm in length that runs from the pharynx to the stomach. Esophageal disorders run the gamut from highly lethal cancers to the merely annoying heartburn that may occur, for example, after a large, spicy meal.
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While dairy products do not cause tonsil stones, an allergy to dairy may cause similar symptoms as tonsil stones. Tonsil stones are small stone-shaped balls that form in the tonsils from trapped debris that builds up in the tonsils.
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Post nasal drip can cause discomfort, especially in the form of a sore throat and excess mucus. Treating the underlying cause of post nasal drip can reduce or even eliminate symptoms altogether, but in some cases--like a viral infection--you may have to manage symptoms until it passes.
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Tonsils, part of the human body's lymphatic system, assist in with the immune response. Found in the back of the throat, these glands may enlarge, leading to snoring and sleep apnea, recurring sore throats, bad breath and difficulty swallowing.
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Tonsils, the lymph nodes at the back of the mouth and top of the throat, assist with filtering bacteria and other microorganisms out of the body to stop infections. Bacterial or viral infection may cause tonsils to swell from inflammation, and may create symptoms such as sore throat and fever.
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Antiseptic mouthwash can be used to treat some of the symptoms that cause sore throat. In fact, according to health maintenance organization Kaiser Permanente, prescription-strength antiseptic mouthwashes are a commonly prescribed treatment.
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Fungus in the ear is commonly caused by the fungus aspergillus, or candida. This condition is also called otomycosis. Fungal infection of the ear is commonly seen in tropical climates. It is more common in hot climates and in highly humid conditions.
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An estimated 50 million Americans suffer from a chronic or recurrent ringing, roaring, whistling, hissing, clanging or shrieking sound in their ears, according to How Stuff Works.
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