Ear, Nose and Throat

This is an infection of the ear canal. It causes pain, swelling and discharge. If left untreated, it can spread to the outer ear or into the bone

The organ responsible for balance is located inside your ear. It consists of 3 semi-circular canals on each side which act like a gyro to detect motion. Small crystals in these canals can cause vertigo.

Earache, or pain in the ear, is very common. It is particularly common in children. There are many causes of earache but the most common cause is infection.

Symptoms of earwax build-up include: hearing loss, earache or a feeling that your ears are blocked with a ringing or buzzing in your ears (tinnitus).

Tinnitus is a sensation or awareness of sound that is not caused by a real external sound source. It can be perceived in one or both ears, inside the head or in the person’s immediate environment.

Hearing loss is a symptom of a variety of conditions affecting the hearing organ or its nerve connection to the brain. It may be caused by problems affecting the transmission of sound through the eardrum and bones of hearing (called ossicles) to the cochlea (the organ of hearing), or it may be due to problems in the cochlea and the auditory nerve that connects the cochlea to the brain.

This is a white or yellow discharge in the ear canal, which is usually caused by an ear infection. Either otitis externa, or discharge from a middle ear infection than flows through a hole in the ear drum.

Middle ear infections are also extremely common, particularly in children. The most common is acute otitis media which is characterised by a severe earache and high temperature.

Quite often, holes in the eardrum heal by themselves, and some do not cause any problems. However, they can cause a discharge from the ear, and large holes may reduce your hearing.

Epistaxis is the medical word for bleeding from the nose. Nosebleeds can occur at any time, but are more common in hot or dry environments. A knock to the nose and certain medicines make nosebleeds more likely.

Nasal obstruction is a common symptom of conditions that fully or partially block your nasal airway. It feels like something is restricting the free flow of air that you need to breathe easily.

A nasal polyp is a soft, noncancerous growth that forms on the lining of your nasal passages or sinuses. They are typically shaped like teardrops and result from chronic inflammation in the upper respiratory tract.

Chronic rhinitis is a long-term inflammation of the nasal lining, lasting more than 12 weeks, often caused by allergies or environmental factors.

Allergic rhinitis is where your nose gets irritated by something you’re allergic to, such as pollen, dust or animal hair, causing sneezing and other symptoms. causing sneezing and other symptoms.

Chronic sinusitis is inflammation of the sinuses that lasts a long time, usually defined as 12 weeks or more. It is less common than acute sinusitis, but appears to be getting more common in all age groups. There are lots of treatments. Surgery to improve the drainage of the sinus is an option if other treatments fail, and usually works well.

Nasal allergies occur when your body reacts to allergens such as pollen, dust mites, mold, and pet dander. When these substances enter your nose, your immune system mistakenly identifies them as harmful invaders, triggering a response that releases chemicals like histamines.

Recurrent tonsillitis is characterised by frequent infections of the tonsils, leading to symptoms such as sore throat and difficulty swallowing. Treatment options include antibiotics and tonsillectomy.

Globus sensation is the feeling of having a lump in the throat when in fact there is nothing there. The sensation can come and go and does not interfere with eating and drinking.

Tonsil stones are stones which can form at the back of the throat within the tonsils. They are not serious but can sometimes cause problems with a sore throat or bad breath.

Laryngopharngeal reflux is where the contents of your stomach up flow back up into your oesophagus (food pipe) and all the way to the throat and/or the voice box.

Hoarseness or Dysphonia means a change in the sound of someone’s voice (such as a strained, husky or breathy voice), a change in pitch or a complete loss of voice (Aphonia).