DOCTORS' DIRECTORY

Otorhinolaryngology is a branch of medical that deals with the diagnosis, management and treatment of irregularities and health conditions that affect the ears, nose and throat, as well as the mouth, sinuses, neck and larynx. Also called ENT, otorhinolaryngology is one of the oldest medical practices in the world.

There are quite a number of symptoms that calls the need for an ENT specialist to examine you, and these are the following:

• Sinus Pain: If you are frequently experiencing pain in the centre part of your face, in your ear or upper teeth, and you have other symptoms like nasal congestion, then you might have to see a doctor. Among the most common reasons for these symptoms are allergies, although more serious issues may also be a cause.
• Congestion: This condition may lead to pain and discomfort as feeling of pressure in the head can cause dizziness and headache. Seasonal allergies, viral infections and acute bacterial infections can usually be the cause of such issues.
• Sore Throat: A sore throat that doesn’t seem to get better, even after a visit to your primary healthcare provider and a dose of medication, is something you should be seriously concerned of. Loss of voice and difficulty in swallowing usually accompany this condition.
• Airway Blockage: There are a lot of reasons why you may not be able to breathe properly through your nose. These reasons may include viral infection, deviated septum or development of polyps. Consulting an ENT doctor will help identify the reason of the health condition.
• Hearing Loss: A conductive hearing loss may be experienced when you have issues in your ear canal, eardrum and/or the bones connected to your eardrum. Oftentimes, the cause of the hearing loss is the build-up of ear wax, which must be eradicated. A more serious reason is the damage to the nerves due to exposure to loud sounds or old age.
• Drainage: Usually, drainage symptom is in the form of postnasal drip or runny nose. If you’re experiencing a chronic postnasal drip, it could be because you have acid reflux.
• Headaches: A chronic headache is one of the symptoms that are often misunderstood by patients. Although a headache could be a result of sinusitis, it can also be related to anatomic irregularities or upper respiratory infections.

If you happen to experience any of the mentioned symptoms, and they do not get better after a week, have them checked by an ENT specialist immediately.