ENT Flashcards
What is the commonest cause of acute tonsillitis
streptococcus pyogenes
A 19-year-old man has had a sore throat for the past 5 days. Over the past 24 hours he has noticed increasing and severe throbbing pain in the region of his right tonsil. He is pyrexial and on examination is noted to have a swelling around the right tonsillar region.
What is the potential diagnosis?
Quinsy - unilateral swelling and fever - indicative of quinsy
What are the differentials for diphtheria?
Infectious mononucleuosis
acute tonsillitis
croup
oropharyngeal candiasis
when is Abx warranted in children?
If under 2 years age with bilateral otitis media - 7 day course of amoxicillin is advised
what is the pathophysiology of acute otitis media and its prodrome?
whilst viral upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) typically precede otitis media, most infections are secondary to bacteria, particularly Streptococcus pneumonaie, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis
viral URTIs are thought to disturb the normal nasopharyngeal microbiome, allowing bacteria to infect the middle ear via the Eustachian tube
what is the otoscopy findings of otitis media?
- bulging tympanic membrane - loss of light reflex
- opacification or erythema of the tympanic membrane
- perforation with purulent otorrhoea
- decreased mobility if using penumatic otoscope
what are the three important criteria to diagnose otitis media?
- acute onset of symptoms - otalgia or ear tugging
- presence of middle ear effusions - bulging of the tympanic membrane, otorrhoea, decreased mobilitic on pneumatic otoscopy
- inflammation of the tympanic membrane - erythema
When is Abx warranted in acute otitis media?
- symptoms lasting more than 4 days or not improving
- systemically unwell but not requiring admission
- immunocompromised or high risk of complications secondary to significant medical conditions
- younger than 2 years with bilateral otitis media
- otitis media with perforation and/or discharge in the canal
what are the complications of otitis media?
mastoiditis
meningitis
brain abscess
facial nerve paralysis
How does acute necrotizing ulcerative gingiviitis present?
painful bleeding gums with halitosis and punched out ulcers on the gums
what is the tx for acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis?
- Oral metranidazole for 3 days
- chlorhexidine or hydrogen peroxide mouth wash
- simple analgesia
what is a red flag symptom on the nasal canal?
unilateral nasal polyp - should be assued to be neoplastic until proven otherwise
78 y old man h/o dental extraction 5 days ago but now developed worsening pain and new fever. He is now febrile and increased HR. tender swelling around the left submandibular region. has mild trismus. tongue displaced upwards and is unable to protrude it. no stridor or respiratory distress.
what is the mx?
arrange ambulance for immediate transfer - ludwig’s angina
Features:
- neck swelling
- dysphagia
- fever
mx - needs airway management
what causes black hairy tongue?
- poor oral hygiene
- antibiotics
- head and neck radiation
- HIV
- intravenous drug use
what is the management of a perforated tympanic membrane?
- No treatment is needed in the majority of cases as the tympanic membrane will usually heal after 6-8 weeks
- prescribe antibiotics for perforations which occur following acute otitis media
myringoplasty - a graft is placed in the ear
what are nasal polyps associated with?
Asthma (particularly late-onset asthma) Aspirin sensitivity Infective sinusitis Cystic fibrosis Kartagener's syndrome Churg-Strauss syndrome
What is the samter triad?
asthma, aspirin sensitivity and nasal polyps
what is the mx of patients with nasal polyps?
If small bilateral nasal polyps are seen these can be treated in primary care with a saline nasal douche and intranasal steroids, but if they are causing significant obstruction patients should be referred to ENT.
what is the commonest cause of otitis externa?
bacterial - staphylococcus aureus, pseudomonas aeurginosa
seborrhoeic dermatitis
contact dermatitis
recent swimming
what is the initial mx of otitis externa?
- topical Abx or combined topical antibiotic with steroid
- if tympanic membrane is perforated - aminoglycosides are not used
- canal debris - consider removal
- canal is extensively swollen then ear wick is inserted
when is surgery considered for tosillitis?
If it satisfies all:
- sore throats are due to tonsillitis
- the person has five or more episodes of sore throat per year
- symptoms have been occuring for at least a year
- episodes of sore throat are disabling and prevent normal functioning
OR
- recurrent febrile convulsions secondary to tonsillitis
- obstructive sleep apnoea, stridor or dysphagia
- peritonsillar abscess (quinsy) if unresponsive to standard tx
what are the complications of tonisllitis?
- otitis media
- quinsy
- rheumatic fever and glomerulonephritis
what are the complications of tonsillectomy?
haemorrhage and pain
who does malignant otitis externa affect?
Immunocompromised individual s- 90% of cases in diabetics
what are the features of malignant otitis externa?
severe, unrelenting deep seated otalgia
temporal headaches
purulent otorrhea
possibly dysphagia, hoarseness