#ent physicians

Introduction:

ENT: Ear Nose Throat

Here we are going to learn about ENT and how ENT physicians are trained

Otolaryngology Subspecialties

There are some different otolaryngology subspecialties that are as follows :

Otology/Audiology: Medical and surgical treatment of the ear and the nerve pathways linked with hearing and balance.

Pediatric Otolaryngology: Medical and surgical treatment of the ear, nose and throat in children.

Head and Neck Areas: Treatment of cancerous or noncancerous tumours in the head and neck.

Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: Treatment of cosmetic or functional abnormalities of the face.

Rhinology: Treatment of the nose and sinuses.

Laryngology: Treatment of the throat, including the voice.

Allergy: Treatment of inhalant allergies.

Neurotology: Treatment of the neurological disorders of the ear.

How Are ENT Physicians Trained?

Otolaryngologists attend medical school for four years. They then receive specific instruction for at least five years. Ultimately, students must succeed on a test to get the American Board of Otolaryngology certification.

These are basically different types of physicians training :

Allergy: These physicians use medication or an immunology regimen of injections to treat environmental allergies (such as those brought on by pollen or pet dander). They can also assist you in determining whether you have a food allergy.

Reconstructive and facial surgery: These surgeons do aesthetic procedures, including facelifts and rhinoplasty. They also assist those whose appearances have been altered due to an accident or those who were born with defects that need to be corrected.

This type of expert can assist you if you have a tumour in your nose, sinuses, mouth, throat, voice box, or upper oesophagus.

Laryngology: These medical professionals deal with conditions that affect the larynx and vocal cords. They can also aid in the diagnosis and treatment of swallowing issues.

If you have an ear problem of any type, otologists and neurotologists can offer assistance. Infections, hearing loss, light-headedness, and ringing or buzzing in the ears are among the diseases they address (tinnitus).

Paediatric ENT: It’s possible that your youngster won’t be able to communicate their discomfort to their doctor. Paediatric ENTs are uniquely educated to treat children, and their exam rooms and equipment are made to make children feel at ease.

Ear infections, tonsillitis, allergies, and asthma are typical issues. Children with head and neck birth abnormalities are also treated by paediatric ENTs. They can also assist in determining whether your kid has a speech or language issue.

These medical professionals specialise in the nose and sinuses. They take care of growths that are uncommon, sinusitis, nasal bleeding, loss of smell, and stuffy nose.

Conclusion :

Allergies are increasingly common and can range from inconvenient to life-threatening. Traditional allergy management often involves taking antihistamines or using an inhaler, but there are alternative methods that have gained popularity in recent years. These methods include acupuncture, herbal remedies, and dietary changes. In this blog post, we will explore these different allergy management techniques and weigh their effectiveness. Whether you are tired of relying on medication or want to explore holistic options, this post will provide valuable insights into managing your allergies.

Understanding Allergies

Understanding allergies is crucial for individuals who suffer from allergies on a daily basis. Allergies occur when the immune system reacts to a harmless substance as if it were dangerous. This can cause symptoms such as sneezing, itching, hives, and even anaphylaxis.Common allergic reactions can range from mild to life-threatening. Pollen allergies, food allergies, inhalant allergies, and medication allergies are among the most common types. Some people may also experience allergies to latex or insect venom.To handle allergies, it's important to identify triggers and avoid them, as well as considering antihistamines, corticosteroids, and other treatments under the guidance of a healthcare professional.

Managing Allergies

If you suffer from allergies, it's important to work with your doctor to develop a personalized treatment plan based on your medical history, allergy test results, and symptom severity. The plan may include avoiding allergens, taking medications, and/or receiving immunotherapy.

1. Allergen avoidance

When it comes to managing allergies, avoiding allergens is key. Even though it may not always be possible to completely avoid an allergen, there are steps that can be taken to decrease exposure. For instance, special dust-proof covers can be put on pillows, mattresses, and box springs to limit contact with dust mites. Furthermore, washing bedding frequently with hot water and avoiding stuffed animals in the bedroom can also help. Grasses, trees, and weeds produce pollen that cause seasonal allergies, so it is important to stay indoors on high pollen count days and keep windows closed. Finally, individuals should work with their doctor to create an allergy management plan and always carry medication in the event of an allergy attack.

2. Medications for Allergy Symptoms

Allergy medications can come in various forms such as pills, liquids, inhalers, nasal sprays, eye drops, skin creams, and shots. There are over-the-counter options as well as prescriptions, depending on the severity of the allergy symptoms. Antihistamines are commonly used to block histamine, which causes allergic reactions. Decongestants provide temporary relief for nasal and sinus congestion, but they are not recommended for individuals with high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, glaucoma, or hyperthyroidism. Corticosteroids are used to suppress allergy-related inflammation and relieve symptoms such as stuffiness, runny nose, and sneezing. It is important to be aware of the side effects associated with allergy medications and consult with a physician before use.

3. Immunotherapy for Allergies

Immunotherapy is a preventive treatment for allergic reactions that involves gradually increasing doses of the substance or allergen to which the person is allergic. It helps to desensitize the immune system to the substance, probably by causing the production of a "blocking" and "tolerizing" antibody response. Skin or sometimes blood tests are performed to confirm the specific allergens. Allergy shots are tailored to the patient and could be accelerated or slowed down based on how the patient tolerates them. It is a cost-effective and beneficial treatment approach for many people with allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, conjunctivitis, or stinging insect allergy. Allergy shots work like a vaccine, leading to lasting relief of allergy symptoms even after treatment is stopped. If allergy shots are successful, maintenance treatment is generally continued for three to five years.

Cochlear implants have revolutionized the way in which people with hearing loss can function and communicate with the world around them. But what exactly are they and how do they work? Cochlear implants are electronic devices that are surgically implanted into the inner ear of individuals who are deaf or severely hard of hearing. They work by bypassing damaged parts of the ear and sending electrical signals directly to the brain, which then interprets those signals as sound. In this blog post, we will explore in more detail how cochlear implants work and the benefits they offer to those with hearing loss.

Introduction to Cochlear Implants

Cochlear implants are electronic devices that mimic the function of a healthy inner ear. They replace the function of damaged sensory hair cells and use electrodes placed in the inner ear to stimulate auditory nerve fibers. This allows individuals with severe hearing loss to experience sound sensations. Cochlear implants are surgically implanted under the skin behind the ear and are complex electronic devices. In the following sections, we will explore how cochlear implants work, their benefits and limitations, and who would be an ideal candidate for such a device.

How a Cochlear Implant Works

When we say, “tongue tied,” most of us think of a situation when we are too excited to express ourselves verbally. Although not a medical condition, tongue tie is the name for a fairly common condition that limits the movement of the tongue – medically referred to as ankyloglossia.

Before we are born, a strong cord of tissue called the frenulum is positioned in the center of the mouth and guides the development of the oral cavity. As we grow and develop, it thins and recedes to a small thin piece of tissue that attaches the bottom of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. In some children, the frenulum is especially tight or fails to recede and may cause difficulty with tongue movement. Ankyloglossia or tongue tie can cause eating or speaking difficulties in some children.

In infants, tongue tie can present with trouble sucking or poor weight gain. In breast-fed infants, it can cause trouble with latching, or the mother may experience pain when the baby is nursing. Some mothers give up nursing because of tongue tie that is not recognized. In toddlers and older children, tongue tie can be a cause of trouble with speech articulation, especially consonant sounds. Signs that your child may have difficulty due to tongue tie include a V-shaped notch at the tip of the tongue, inability to stick the tongue out past the gums, or simply difficulty licking an ice cream cone or lollipop.

Frenuloplasty

Because a shortened frenulum restricts the range of motion of the tongue, a frenulectomy may be recommended. A frenulectomy is a surgical procedure performed to clip the frenulum and release the tongue. In infants a frenulectomy can be performed as a simple office procedure with topical local anesthesia. Older infants and young children often require anesthetic gas for the procedure, but older cooperative children can also have the procedure safely with only local topical anesthesia. Although it is considered a safe and simple procedure, risks of a frenulectomy may include infection, scarring and excessive bleeding.

Ear tubes are tiny cylinders placed through the ear drum (tympanic membrane) to allow air into the middle ear. They also may be called tympanostomy tubes, myringotomy tubes, ventilation tubes, or PE (pressure equalization) tubes.

These tubes can be made from plastic, metal, or Teflon and may have a coating intended to reduce the possibility of infection. There are two basic types of ear tubes: short-term and long- term. Short- term tubes are smaller and typically stay in place for six months to a year before falling out on their own. Long-term tubes are larger and have flanges that keep them in place for a longer period. Long-term tubes may fall out on their own, but removal by an otolaryngologist is often necessary.

Who needs ear tubes and why? Ear tubes are often recommended when a person experiences repeated middle ear infection (acute otitis media) or has hearing loss caused by the persistent presence of middle ear fluid (otitis media with effusion). These conditions most commonly occur in children but can also be present in teens and adults and can lead to speech and balance problems, hearing loss, or changes in the structure of the ear drum. Other less common conditions that may warrant the placement of ear tubes are malformation of the ear drum or eustachian tube, Down Syndrome, cleft palate, and barotrauma (injury to the middle ear caused by a reduction of air pressure, usually seen with altitude changes such as flying and scuba diving).

Each year, more than half a million ear tube surgeries are performed on children, making it the most common childhood surgery performed with anesthesia. The average age for ear tube insertion is one to three years old. Inserting ear tubes may:

Reduce the risk of future ear infection;

Restore hearing loss caused by middle ear fluid;

Improve speech problems and balance problems; and

Allergic rhinitis typically results from two conditions: family history/genetic predisposition to allergic disease and exposure to allergens. Allergens are substances that produce an allergic response.

Children are not born with allergies but develop symptoms upon repeated exposure to environmental allergens. The earliest exposure is through food — and infants may develop eczema, nasal congestion, nasal discharge, and wheezing caused by one or more allergens (milk protein is the most common). Allergies can also contribute to repeated ear infections in children. In early childhood, indoor exposure to dust mites, animal dander, and mold spores may cause an allergic reaction, often lasting throughout the year. Outdoor allergens including pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds primarily cause seasonal symptoms.

The number of patients with allergic rhinitis has increased in the past decade, especially in urban areas. Before adolescence, twice as many boys as girls are affected; however, after adolescence, females are slightly more affected than males. Researchers have found that children born to a large family with several older siblings and day care attendance seem to have less likelihood of developing allergic disease later in life.

What are Allergic Rhinitis Symptoms?

Symptoms can vary with the season and type of allergen and include sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, and itchy eyes and nose. A year – long exposure usually produces nasal congestion (chronic stuffy nose).

In children, allergen exposure and subsequent inflammation in the upper respiratory system cause nasal obstruction. This obstruction becomes worse with the gradual enlargement of the adenoid tissue and the tonsils inherent with age. Consequently, the young patient may have mouth – breathing, snoring, and sleep – disordered breathing such as obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep problems such as insomnia, bed-wetting, and sleepwalking may accompany these symptoms along with behavioral changes including short attention span, irritability, poor school performance, and excessive daytime sleepiness.

In these patients, upper respiratory infections such as colds and ear infections are more frequent
and last longer. A child’s symptoms after exposure to pollutants such as tobacco smoke are usually amplified in the presence of ongoing allergic inflammation.

When Should My Child See a Doctor?

If your child’s cold-like symptoms (sneezing and runny nose) persist for more than two weeks, it is appropriate to contact aphysician.

Vocal cord cancer - Coastal Ear Nose & Throat

Thyroid and Parathyroid - Coastal Ear Nose & Throat