Strep throat, which causes a painful, scratchy sore throat, affects people of all ages. Most sore throats are caused by a virus and typically resolve on their own, but strep throat results from a bacterial infection of the throat and requires prompt treatment.

A runny nose, often the result of excess mucus production in the nasal tissues, is a very familiar and often bothersome symptom which is usually caused by the common cold or allergies.

If you suffer from allergies, sinus infections or even a stuffy nose, your doctor may recommend using a neti pot or another means of irrigating your nasal cavity and sinuses. This irrigation can help flush mucus and irritants including dirt, dust and pollen out of your nasal passages.

Some of the causes of excessive ear wax are exclusive from other causes of wax accumulation in the ears. Dr. Timothy Hain, neurologist and professor emeritus at Northwestern University Medical School, suggests that some people are "wax producers," meaning they naturally produce more ear wax.

Many people view ear wax as a mere annoyance, but it actually plays an important role in protecting your hearing. Produced by your ceruminous glands, ear wax serves to keep bacteria and foreign particles from entering your ears.

Nasal polyps are small benign growths in your sinus cavities. They may develop if you’ve had chronically inflamed sinuses due to asthma, allergies, recurring infection or sinusitis. If they grow large enough, they may cause breathing difficulties and infections.

Earwax or cerumen plays an integral role in protecting a baby’s hearing. In addition to lubricating and cleansing the ear canal, the wax prohibits foreign objects, such as dust and bacteria, from coming in contact with the delicate parts of your baby’s inner ear.

The outer ear is made up of cartilage. The thin layer of tissue surrounding the cartilage is called perichondrium. Perichondritis is infection of the skin and tissues surrounding the cartilage of the ear. Initially, ear cartilage infection appears like a skin infection.

The outer part of your ear canal has special glands that secrete a waxy substance called cerumen. According to MedicineNet, the purpose of ear wax is to protect the ear from water and infection. Normally, the ear canal cleans itself, leading to a slow buildup of dried ear wax at the opening, where it falls out.

Laryngitis is the loss of your voice or hoarseness that occurs when you have swelling or irritation of your larynx, or voice box. Your voice box contains your vocal cords and is located at the top of your trachea, which is the airway to your lungs.

A sinus infection, or acute sinusitis, causes the sinuses around your eyes and nose to be inflamed and swollen. The swelling interferes with drainage and causes mucus to build up. You may be congested, have a headache or even have fever.

Hearing impairment is a common but serious problem affecting children of all ages. According to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, roughly 2 percent of children suffer from some degree of hearing loss.