ENT Flashcards
What is otitis externa ?
It is a diffuse inflammation of the skin lining the external auditory meatus.
What is the external auditory meatus ?
External part of the ear that lies between the surrounding environment and middle ear. It is 2cm long and lined with normal skin ending at the tympanic membrane.
What are the clinical features of otitis media ?
Rapid onset
Scanty discharge
Otalgia
Itching
Feeling of fullness
What is seen on examination of the ear in otitis media ?
Meatal tenderness
Narrowed, Oedematous meatus
Erythema and narrowing
Tuning fork may demonstrate mild conductive deafness
What are some causative agents of otitis externa ?
Bacteria - pseudomonas aeruginosa and staph aureus
Fungi - Candida and aspergillus
Allergy
Iatrogenic
What are some risk factors for otitis externa ?
Swimming
Increased humidity
Foreign objects in ear - cotton buds
Trauma to the ear canal
Scratching
Eczema or psoriasis
Diabetes
Previous ear surgery
What is the management of otitis externa ?
Swab ear canal
If pseudomonas give Ciprofloxacin
If not give oral flucloxacillin
Pain relief
What is a complication of otitis externa ?
Malignant otitis externa
What are some causes of noise related hearing loss ?
Occupational - prolonged industrial exposure
Recreational - loud music
Accidental - blast injury or gunfire
What is seen on an audio gram in noise induced hearing loss ?
Notching at 3000,4000 or 6000 Hz with recovery at 8000 Hz
Precise notching depends on the frequency of the noise and the length of the ear canal
What are some clinical features of noise-induced hearing loss ?
Always sensorineural and often accompanied by high-pitched tinnitus
Usually bilateral
Irreversible
What is the management of noise induced hearing loss ?
Cannot be treated as damaged hair cells do not recover
Use of hearing aids
What may be used as a preventative measure for noise related hearing loss ?
Foam - insert earplugs
High usage of noise protection
What is Ménière’s disease ?
A condition of the inner ear which causes sudden attacks of vertigo and tinnitus. It also causes a persons hearing to decrease over time.
What causes Ménière’s disease ?
Not fully understood but could be due to extra fluid in the inner ear called endolymph which could be due to poor drainage.
What symptoms are experienced in Ménière’s disease ?
Tinnitus
Dizziness
Feeling of fullness behind the ear - aural fullness
Nausea and vomiting
Hearing loss
What is the management of Ménière’s disease ?
No cure
Anti-emetics and antihistamines may help reduce the symptoms
What is Presbycusis ?
A progressive condition causing hearing loss that comes on with age. Usually bilaterally and is sensorineural.
What symptoms are present in Presbycusis ?
Hears Slurred or mumbled speech
Struggle to hear higher pitch sounds
Tinnitus
What is the management of Presbycusis ?
Hearing aids may help improve hearing
What is otitis media ?
Inflammation of the middle ear usually associated with a URTI.
What is the management of otitis media ?
Discuss and advise that most infections resolve without antibiotics after 3 days
Pain relief
Decongestants and antihistamines
Consider antibiotics ( amoxicillin 5-7 days )
What are some symptoms of otitis media ?
Ear pain
Ear rubbing
Cloudy eardrums
Bulging ear drums
Redness
What are some complications of otitis media ?
Hearing impairment
Tympanic membrane perforation
Mastoiditis
Meningitis
What is secretory otitis media ?
The accumulation of serous or mucoid fluid in the middle ear cavity without signs and symptoms of an acute infection.
Conductive hearing loss
What are the clinical features of secretory otitis media ?
Hearing impairment
Recurrent infections
Ear fullness or popping
Dull appearance of the tympanic membrane
Retraction of the ear drum
Rinne’s test - negative and Weber’s test is heard more on the deafer ear
What is the management of secretory otitis media ?
Resolves spontaneously within 6 weeks
Decongestants and antibiotics
If recurrent refer to ENT specialist
What is mastoiditis ?
The result of extension of acute otitis media into the mastoid air cells with an accompanying suppuration an bone necrosis which can cause extra dural and subperiosteal abscesses.
What are the clinical features of mastoiditis ?
Earache - persistent and throbbing
Cramp profuse ear discharge
Increasing deafness
Pyrexial and looks ill
Tenderness over the mastoid antrum
Pinna may be pushed down and forward
Red or perforated tympanic membrane
What investigations are performed for mastoiditis ?
FBC - raised neutrophils
Mastoid radiograph - opacity and air coalescence
What is the management of mastoiditis ?
Antibiotics IV
Cortical mastoidectomy is no response to antibiotics or there is a subperiosteal abscess
What are the complications of mastoiditis ?
Masked mastoiditis
Cranial extra dural abscess
What is chronic suppurative otitis media ?
Chronic inflammation and infection of the middle ear and mastoid cavity characterised by ear discharge through the perforated tympanic membrane
When does otitis media become chronic ?
Differs per person
Otorrhoea for more than 2 weeks or 6 weeks
What are some clinical features of chronic otitis media ?
Ear discharge
Hearing loss
What is the management of chronic otitis media ?
Don’t swab the ear if diagnosis suspected
Refer to ENT to confirm diagnosis
What are some complications of chronic otitis media ?
Acute mastoiditis
Meningitis
Extra dural abscess
Brain abscess
Labyrinthitis
Facial nerve paralysis
What is acute sinusitis ?
Inflammation of the paranasal sinuses which completely resolves in 12 weeks
What are some features of acute sinusitis ?
Presence of nasal blockage or nasal discharge Facial pain / pressure
Altered sense of smell
Tenderness or swelling over the cheekbone or periorbital region
Cough
When should acute bacterial sinusitis be suspected ?
Symptoms are longer than 10 days
Discoloured or purulent discharge
Severe local pain
Fever greater than 38
Elevated ESR or CRP
What are some differentials for sinusitis ?
URTI
Allergic rhinitis
Nasal foreign body
Adenoiditis or tonsillitis
Sinonasal tumour
Migraine
GCA
What is the management of acute sinusitis ?
- If symptoms lest than 10 days - don’t offer antibiotics
Advise that it is usually viral and can take 2-3 weeks to resolve.
OTC meds - if symptoms have been longer than 10 days - consider high dose nasal corticosteroids and if antibiotics are required give phenoxymethylpenicillin
When should a referral to ENT be considered for acute sinusitis ?
Frequent recurrrent episodes
Failure of treatment to work
Unusual or resistant bacteria
Immunocompromised
Presence of nasal polyps
What is chronic sinusitis ?
Sinusitis that causes symptoms to last for longer than 12 weeks
What are some causes of sinusitis ?
Asthma
Allergic rhinitis
Smoking
Impaired ciliary motility - CF
What is the management of chronic sinusitis ?
Nasal saline irrigation
Topical intranasal corticosteroids
CT is needed if all other meds fail and functional endoscopic sinus surgery could be an option
What advise should be given to people with chronic sinusitis ?
Avoid allergic triggers
Stop smoking
Avoid underwater diving
What is a thyroid nodule ?
Lumps that may be present in the thyroid gland upon examination.most lumps are adenomatous and there are usually multiple .
What are some causes of thyroid nodules ?
Graves’ disease
Thyroid cancer
Thyroid cyst
Hashimoto’s disease
Iodine deficient
What are some investigations for thyroid nodules ?
TFT’s
USS
Fine needle aspiration
CT or MRI scan if malignancy suspected
If a thyroid lump is suspected on examination what should be done if there is also stridor ?
Arrange emergency hospital admission
When should an urgent referral be made to a thyroid surgeon or endocrinologist if there is a thyroid lump ?
It is unexplained
There is hoarseness of the voice
Associated cervical or supraclavicular lymphadenopathy
Rapidly expanding painless mass
Red flags for malignancy
What should be performed on people with a suspected thyroid lump in primary care ?
Perform TFT’s
Arrange a routine endocrinology referral if severe however manage condition if no red flags
If a thyroid nodule produces extra hormone what symptoms are likely to be present ?
Unexplained weight loss
Increased sweating
Tremor
Anxiety
Tachycardia or arrhythmias
What symptoms would indicate hypothyroidism ?
Increased Sensitivity to cold
Fatigue
Dry skin
Memory problems
Depression
Constipation
What is acute labyrinthitis ?
An inflammatory condition of the otic capsule. Could be caused by an infection of the inner ear.
How does acute labyrinthitis present ?
Sensorineural hearing loss
Vertigo
Problems with balance
What is the difference between serous and suppurative labyrinthitis ?
Suppurative follows direct microbial invasion of the inner ear and usually presents with severe to profound hearing loss and vertigo - usually bacterial .
Serous results from inflammation of the labyrinth only and presents with less severe hearing loss - usually viral
What is seen on examination in acute labyrinthitis ?
Weber’s and Rinne’s test - sensorineural
Head impulse test - vertigo
CT and MRI and possibly audio gram
What is the management of acute labyrinthitis ?
Viral Labyrinthitis is treated with anti-emetics to address the nausea such as Metoclopramide or Ondansetron and vestibular suppressants such as Cyclizine
Suppurative - oral antibiotics and can be supplemented with anti-emetics and vestibular suppressants
What is a deviated septum ?
This happens when the nasal septum is significantly displaced to one side making one of the nasal passages smaller than the other.
If severe one side of the nasal passage can be blocked and reduce air flow causing breathing difficulties.
What are some symptoms of a deviated septum ?
None
Difficulty breathing through the nostril
Nosebleeds due to the nasal septum becoming dry
Facial pain
What are some causes of a deviated septum ?
Condition at birth
Nose injury - trauma
Due to ageing