What are the most common issues your ENT doctor runs into?

ENT doctors deal with the ears, nose and throat. These can be sensitive parts of the body and are as vulnerable as any other. While many of the issues that arise with ears, nose and throat can be easily treated, either by a doctor or at home, it’s always worth getting persistent problems checked out to make sure nothing more serious is going on. These are the most common issues that your ENT doctor is most likely to run into.

• Allergies. From pollen to pets, there are many different everyday encounters that can cause problems with allergies that an ENT doctor will be called in to treat. Symptoms of issues with allergies can include a headache, sneezing, shortness of breath, fever and coughing. Some allergies can be serious and an ENT doctor can help to work out how you are being affected, as well as what to do about it.
• Vertigo. This is a feeling of being in a spinning or moving environment. It can be caused by labyrinthitis, Meniere’s Disease or benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, which an ENT doctor can help to treat.
• Tonsillitis. The tonsils sit at the back of the throat and if they become swollen or you see a white or yellow coating on them then this may be tonsillitis. A sore throat, trouble swallowing, swollen glands, a fever and bad breath are also other signs of tonsillitis. This is a condition caused by a bacterial infection and sometimes the tonsils may need to be removed via surgery.
• Acid reflux. This can feel like a burning chest pain and is caused when acid comes into the throat via the esophagus. An ENT doctor can help to get to the bottom of why this is happening and find a way to treat it.
• Sinus infections. Although sinus infections can feel like a cold they are actually caused by bacteria and antibiotics are often prescribed as a treatment. As well as congestion, stuffiness and bad breath, other signs of a sinus infection can include headaches, teeth pain, a post nasal drip, coughing and a fever.
• Ear infections. ENT doctors often deal with ear infections, which can present with ear pain, sleep problems and a fever. They are usually the result of inflammation in the ears, which is frequently caused by a cold or flu virus.
• Sleep Apnea. We all suffer when we don’t get enough sleep, which makes sleep apnea a difficult condition to deal with. It can also be dangerous, as it happens when there is only a limited volume of air reaching the lungs. Snoring, choking sounds, memory loss, pauses in breathing and morning headaches are all signs that an ENT doctor may need to review for sleep apnea.
• Hearing loss. There could be many reasons for this, from age to injury, and it’s something that an ENT doctor can help to diagnose and manage.
• Cancer. Sometimes, the cause of ENT issues can be cancer, such as a tumour in the ear canal, nose or larynx or pharynx. Smoking is a common cause of cancer in these areas.

These are some of the most common problems that ENT doctors deal with on a regular basis.