HEENT - Allergic Rhinitis, Tinnitus, and Urticaria - Exam 2 Flashcards
What is barotrauma?
Discomfort or damage due to pressure differences between the middle ear and outside world
What are common causes of barotrauma?
Flying and driving
What are symptoms of barotrauma?
- Pressure
- Pain
- Hearing loss
- Tinnitus
What are typical exam findings with barotrauma?
- Middle ear effusion
- Hemotympanum
- TM rupture
What is the treatment for barotrauma?
- Avoidance
- Oral or nasal decongestants
- Swallowing, valsalvia, chewing gum (to equalize middle ear pressure)
- Treatment of injury is usually time/patience
- If perilymphatic fistula (vertigo and senroineural hearing loss) refer to ENT
What is Acoustic neuroma (Vestibular Schwannoma)?
Slow growing Schwann cell tumors that arise from the vestibular portion of CN VIII
What are risk factors for Acoustic neuroma?
- Childhood exposure to radiation of the head/neck
- Neurofibromatosis Type 2
What is the presentation of Acoustic neuroma?
- Unilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus (classic presentation)
- +/- gait disturbance or other CN involvement
How is Acoustic neuroma diagnosed?
- Audiometry is best initial test
- MRI (diagnostic imaging of choice)
What is the treatment for Acoustic neuroma?
- Surgery
- Radiation
- Observation
What are symptoms associated with tinnitus?
- Perception of buzzing, ringing, hissing or other noise
- Continuous or intermittent; pulsatile or non-pulsatile
Which type of tinnitus is most commonly vascular in etiology?
Pulsatile tinnitus
Which type of tinnitus needs an ENT referral for possible imaging?
Pulsatile tinnitus
What is the treatment for tinnitus?
- Main goal: lessen impact on quality of life
- Behavioral therapy: biofeedback, stress reduction, CBT
- Benzodiazepines - alprazolam (Xanax)
- Masking devices such as white noise machines
What is the etiology associated with tinnitus?
- Ototoxic medications
- Presbycusis (SN hearing loss with aging)
- Otosclerosis
- Vestibular Schwannoma
- Chiari malformations
- Barotrauma
What is the pathophysiology behind allergic rhinitis?
- Response to allergen exposure by production of IgE
What are symptoms associated with allergic rhinitis?
- Rhinorrhea
- Sneezing
- Nasal congestion
- +/- Itchy eyes, itchy nose, post nasal drip, cough
What are risk factors for allergic rhinitis?
- FHx of atopy (biggest factor)
- Male sex
- Birth during pollen season
- Firstborn status
- Early use of abx
- Maternal smoking exposure in 1st year of life
- Exposure to indoor allergens
- Presence of allergen-specific IgE
How will the periorbital area appear on physical exam in individuals with allergic rhinitis?
- “Allergic Shiners”: bluish purple rings around both eyes
- Dennie-Morgan Lines: skin folds under eyes consistent with allergic conjunctivitis
How will the eyes appear on physical exam in individuals with allergic rhinitis?
- Diffuse redness involving the bulbar and palpebral conjunctiva
- Tearing or clear watery discharge
- Chemosis
- Eyelid edema
symptoms are usually bilaterally