Otorhinolaryngology
The ear:
The most important pathologies concerning the ear are:
- Tubaric stenosis
- Otitis Media with effusion (O.M.E.): is an inflammation of the middle ear characterised by the presence of secretion (effusion). The main symptom of this disease, which can be diagnosed by means of a simple clinical examination, is various degrees of hypoacusia (loss of hearing). An audiometric and impedance-metric test complete the diagnosis. In children, loss of hearing can result in lack of attention, irritability and poor scholastic results.
- Chronic non-cholesteatoma purulent otitis media: this is a chronic inflection of the middle ear with perforation of the tympanic membrane. Symptoms are loss of hearing, constant or intermittent ear secretion, acuphens and sometimes vertigo.
- Acute recurrent purulent otitis media: repeated episodes of acute inflammation, of a bacterial origin, in the middle ear. Symptoms are extreme pain, especially during the night, and in cases of perforation of the tympanic membrane, the secretion of pus.
- Barotraumatic otitis: an acute inflammatory process of the middle ear than can arise in people subjected to extreme jumps in pressure, for example people travelling by air or underwater divers. Symptoms are sudden, and in some cases, violent ear-ache, acuphens, loss of hearing and sometimes vertigo and even, in more serious cases, perforation of the tympanic membrane.
The nose
The most important pathologies involving the nose are:
- Acute rhinitis (the common cold): this is always caused by a virus. The most common symptoms are serous nasal secretion, blocked nose, headache and loss of the sense of smell.
- Allergic rhinitis: this is an allergic inflammatory process that concerns the nose and the paranasal cavities. There are two different forms: the seasonal form and the perennial form. Seasonal allergic rhinitis, known as hay fever, arises in the period when flowers blossom. The perennial form, on the other hand, is characterised by crises due to allergens that may be encountered during any period of the year. The main symptoms are an itchy nose, sneezing, a runny nose, difficulty in breathing through the nose with lacrimation.
- Vasomotory rhinopathy: this is a deterioration of the turbinates that react to various stimuli outside or within the organism with excessive vasodilation. Symptoms are the occasional sensation of having a blocked nose, involving the two nasal cavities alternately.
- Nose-sinusal polyposis: this is the presence of polyps in the nasal and paranasal cavities. In 60% of cases nose-sinusal polyposis is associated to bronchial asthma. Symptoms are the gradual sensation of having a blocked nose, serous or mucopurulent nasal secretion, headache and deterioration of the sense of smell.
- Sinusitis: this results in inflammatory processes of the paranasal cavities. They may be acute, subacute or chronic, of an infectious or allergic nature. Symptoms are a heavy sensation in the inflamed paranasal cavities, the sensation of having a blocked nose, mono or bilateral purulent nasal secretion, a runny nose in rhinopharyngitis and coughing, especially during the night.
The throat
The most important pathologies involving the throat are:
- Adenoidism: this is a considerable increase in the volume of adenoidal vegetation (rhino-pharyngeal tonsillitis), limited formations in the nasal pharynx. This ailment is typical of children. The most characteristic symptom is difficulty in breathing through the nose that causes the child to breath with his mouth open and the tone of the voice changes. Increase in the volume of the adenoids, moreover, is one of the causes of otitis media with effusion and, sometimes, it can cause inflammations of the nasal cavities, of the paranasal cavities and the other airways (pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi and lungs).
- Acute, recurrent pharyngotonsillitis: this causes recurrent inflammatory episodes of the palatine tonsils and surrounding structures. The main symptoms are a sore throat, with or without difficulty in swallowing, sometimes accompanied by a cough or a fever.
- Chronic pharyngitis: this is inflammation of the pharynx. Symptoms are the sensation of having a foreign body in the throat, a tickling sensation or dryness. These problems may be accompanied by a dry cough, especially in the morning, to expel phlegm.
