ENT Flashcards
What type of hearing loss is seen in Meniere’s disease?
sensorineural, more pronounced at lower frequencies
What examination sign accompanies tinnitus in Meniere’s disease?
nystagmus away from affected ear
What are 4 types of investigations that may be used in Meniere’s disease?
- Routine bloods, consider syphilis testing
- MRI to rule out mass lesion
- Audiometry
- Transtympanic electrocochleography (ECOG) and electronystagmography (ENG) - may be helpful
What advice should be given for an acute attack in Meniere’s disease?
lie down on a flat surface and keep still as possible
What medications may be useful in an acute attack of Meniere’s disease?
cinnarizine or prochlorperazine (buccal or IM)
What 2 things are used as prophylaxis in Meniere’s disease?
- betahistine hydrochloride
- vestibular rehabilitation exercises
What is an option for Meniere’s disease refractive to medical management?
surgery - reserved for this group
What is the difference between conductive vs sensorineural hearing loss on PTA?
Air-bone gap in conductive - bone conduction preserved, air reduced. Both reduced in proportion in SN
What is the range for normal hearing on PTA?
> 20 dB
What distinguishes vestibular neuronitis from labyrinthitis?
No hearing loss in vestibular neuronitis. You get hearing loss in labyrinthitis
How can vestibular neuronitis be distinguished from posterior circulation stroke?
HiNTS examination test (head impulse, nystagmus, test of skew) - if negative stroke very unlikely
- Head impulse - positive in peripheral causes of vertigo, negative in stroke
- Nystagmus - peripheral = unilateral horizontal. Central = vertical or rotational, or direction changing horizontal
- Test of skew - patient stands in front of examiner, fixates on nose and eyes alternately covered. In central - may have vertical misalignment of eyes and corrective movement on covering
What is the consensus on management of Bell’s palsy?
commence steroids within 72h of symptom onset - if no improvement in paralysis after 3w, refer urgently to ENT
What is the prognosis for Bells palsy?
most people make full recovery in 3-4 months, if untreated 15% have moderate to severe weakness
What virus is associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma?
EBV
What is the presentation of Ramsay-Hunt syndrome?
auricular pain, facial nerve palsy, vesicular rash around ear; vertigo + tinnitus
What is the management of Ramsay-Hunt syndrome?
high dose oral aciclovir, high dose oral corticosteroids, eye protection
What organism may be the cause of recurrent otitis externa despite multiple courses of abx, with white curd-like discharge in the EAC?
candida albicans
What is otosclerosis?
progressive conductive hearing loss due to fixation of stapes at oval window due to laying down of vascular spongy bone across joint between margin of stapes footplate and oval window (creates ankylosis)
What is the classic patient who presents with otosclerosis?
female, third decade of life (40s), positive family history - slowly progressive hearing loss, +-tinnitus
What can accelerate the progression of otosclerosis?
pregnancy + oestrogen therapy
In what proportion of patients with otosclerosis is hearing loss bilateral?
70%
What may be found in otoscopy in otosclerosis?
flamingo-pink tinge ‘Schwartze sign’ (but often normal)
What are 2 treatment options for otosclerosis?
- hearing aids (usually effective early on)
- stapedectomy (definitive tx)
What are the indications for hospital admission in acute otitis media?
- evidence of severe complication: meningitis, mastoiditis, intracranial abscess, sinus thrombosis, CNVII paralysis
- <3 months with T ≥38°C
- <6 months with T ≥ 39°C
What are 5 indications for antibiotic treatment in acute otitis media?
- systemically very unwell
- symptoms lasting >4 days or not improving
- high risk of serious complications because of pre-existing comorbidity
- children < 2y with bilateral AOM
- children of any age with perforation and / or otorrhoea
What are the 3 most common bacteria causing AOM?
- Haemophilus influenzae
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Moraxella catarrhalis
What are 2 most common viruses that cause AOM?
- RSV
- rhinovirus
Is dummy use a risk factor or protective factor or AOM?
risk factor
What is bullous myringitis?
blisters on the tympanic membrane caused by mycoplasma pneumoniae
What is the first line antibiotic if indicated in AOM? And which for pen-allergy?
- amoxicillin
- clarithromycin