ENT Flashcards
A 23-year-old woman presents one week after being prescribed a combined antibiotic and steroid spray for otitis externa. There has been no improvement in her symptoms and the erythema seems to have extended to the ear itself. What is the most appropriate treatment?
Oral flucloxacillin
The spreading erythema is an indication for oral antibiotics
What duration of antibiotics is given for tonsilitis with marked systemic upset?
Phenoxymethlpeniillin for 10 days
What is the most common cause of bacterial otitis media?
Haemophilus influenzae
What is the first line management of mastoiditis?
Mastoiditis is typically diagnosed clinically and requires IV antibiotics
List the CENTOR criteria
- Tonsillar exudate
- Tender anterior lymphadenopathy or lymphadenitis
- History of fever
- Absence of cough
Recurrent otitis externa following numerous antibiotic treatment should raise suspicion of what infectious organism?
Candida albicans
What are the clinical features of a thyroglossal cyst?
- More common in patients < 20 years old
- Usually midline, between the isthmus of the thyroid and the hyoid bone
- Moves upwards with protrusion of the tongue
- May be painful if infected
What are the clinical features of a pharyngeal pouch?
- More common in older men
- Typical symptoms are dysphagia, regurgitation, aspiration and chronic cough
- Associated with halitosis or throat infections
What are the clinical features of a cystic hygroma?
- A congenital lymphatic lesion (lymphangioma) typically found in the neck, classically on the left side
- Most are evident at birth, around 90% present before 2 years of age
- Swelling will transluminate
What are the clinical features of a branchial cyst?
- Usually presents in early adulthood
- An oval, mobile cystic mass that develops between the sternocleidomastoid muscle and the pharynx (anterior triangle)
- Lump won’t transluminate
What are the clinical features of a cervical rib?
- More common in adult females
- Around 10% develop thoracic outlet syndrome
What are the clinical features of a carotid aneurym?
Pulsatile lateral neck mass which doesn’t move on swallowing
What symptom distinguishes vestibular neuronitis from labyrinthitis?
Hearing will be unaffected in vestibular neuronitis
When do guidelines suggest oral antibiotics in otitis media?
- Symptoms lasting more than 4 days or not improving
- Systemically unwell but not requiring admission
- Immunocompromise or high risk of complications secondary to significant heart, lung, kidney, liver, or neuromuscular disease
- Younger than 2 years with bilateral otitis media
- Otitis media with perforation and/or discharge in the canal
What findings on Rinne’s and Weber’s tests indicate normal hearing?
- Rinne result: air conduction > bone conduction bilaterally
- Weber result: same in both ears
What is the normal first line management for sinusitis?
- Analgesia
- Intranasal decongestants or nasal saline may be considered but the evidence supporting these is limited
When should intranasal steroids be considered for sinusitis?
If symptoms have persisted for 10 days or more
When would antibiotics be indicated in sinusitis?
- The BNF recommends phenoxymethylpenicillin first-line, co-amoxiclav if ‘systemically very unwell, signs and symptoms of a more serious illness, or at high-risk of complications’
- ‘Double-sickening’ may sometimes be seen, where an initial viral sinusitis worsens due to secondary bacterial infection
You review a 23-year-old woman who presents with a three week history of bilateral nasal obstruction, cough at night and a clear nasal discharge. She had similar symptoms around this time last year and the only history of note is asthma. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Allergic rhinitis
What findings on Rinne’s and Weber’s tests indicate conductive hearing loss?
- Rinne result: bone conduction > air conduction in affected ear, Air conduction > bone conduction in unaffected ear
- Weber result: lateralises to affected ear
What diagnosis should you consider in a patient with globus, hoarseness and no red flags?
Laryngopharyngeal reflux
What is the management of Ramsay Hunt syndrome?
Oral aciclovir and corticosteroids