ENT doctor holding a man’s earlobe and looking into his ear with an otoscope.

Ear, nose and throat

Our ears, nose, and throat enable our senses of hearing, smell, taste, and balance. Our mouth and neck area not only allow us to eat, they also provide the anatomical basis for our ability to speak. ENT disorders are very diverse and varied.

Tonsilitis: woman clutching her throat, grimacing and squinting.

Tonsillitis

Acute tonsillitis is accompanied by a sore throat and fever. Recurring tonsillitis in short intervals can be very strenuous.

Sinusitis

Someone who suffers from sinusitis has, for example, a blocked nose and a feeling of pressure in the forehead or jaw.

Acute middle ear infection

Middle ear infections are one of the most common illnesses among small children. Children with an infection cry often and complain of pain.

Tinnitus: woman holding a finger to her ear and looking skeptical.

Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)

Most people experience tinnitus from time to time, for example after a loud concert. But people with tinnitus hear constant sounds like whistling or humming in their ears without any apparent reason.

Positional vertigo: older woman sitting on a bed with her upper body leaning forward slightly, clutching her forehead with her left hand. The woman’s mouth is open slightly. She looks exhausted.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

When a person feels dizzy, it may be due to benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. The dizziness usually stops by itself.

Medication allergy

Medication can also have undesired effects. These side effects include allergic reactions.

A middle-aged man clutching his voicebox

Acute laryngitis

Laryngitis (inflammation of the larynx) is usually caused by a viral infection of the upper airways. Hoarseness, sore throat and coughing are typical symptoms. The voice needs rest during laryngitis.

Laryngeal cancer

Significantly more men than women develop laryngeal cancer. Tobacco and alcohol consumption are the main risk factors for the disease.

A doctor feels the left and right sides of a patient’s throat.

Salivary stones

If a painful swelling occurs in a salivary gland while eating, the cause is usually a salivary stone. It is often sufficient to simply stimulate the flow of saliva to flush the stone out.

Sudden hearing loss

Sometimes, people suddenly suffer a sudden loss of hearing for an unknown reason. Immediate diagnosis is important due to the risk of permanent hearing damage. Treatment is sometimes required.

A doctor examines a patient’s ear with an otoscope

Inflammation of the eardrum

An acute inflammation of the eardrum (myringitis) is caused by viruses and bacteria. Earache is a common symptom. A chronic inflammation often causes no pain.

A doctor examines the lymph nodes in a young patient’s neck.

Glandular fever

Glandular fever is an infectious disease that is triggered by certain herpes viruses. It is usually transmitted in saliva. Hygiene measures are essential to prevention.

Older woman having her hearing aid adjusted.

Hearing loss and deafness in adults

People with hearing loss are limited in understanding spoken language. They are also less able to perceive sounds. If a person’s hearing is (almost) non-existent this is referred to as deafness.

Inflammation of the epiglottis (epiglottitis)

Inflammation of the epiglottis is usually caused by bacteria. Immediate treatment is required, as it can cause acute shortness of breath.

Woman fitting a young boy with a hearing aid.

Hearing loss and deafness in children

Hearing disorders in children can have various causes. If the causes cannot be eliminated, hearing aids or auditory prostheses (cochlear implants) can help.

A doctor examines a young woman’s enlarged thyroid gland by touch.

Goiter

A goiter is an enlarged thyroid gland. The most common cause is an iodine deficiency. Various treatment options are available.

Treatment room – a doctor looking into a girl’s mouth

Bacterial throat infection (pharyngitis)

A throat infection (pharyngitis) is usually caused by viruses. However, it can also be caused by bacteria, such as Streptococcus bacteria. This is known as streptococcal pharyngitis (strep throat).

A woman with a towel wrapped around her head coughs into her open hand to check her breath.

Bad breath (halitosis)

If a person has “bad breath”, breathing out causes an unpleasant odor. In most cases, good oral and dental hygiene helps relieve the problem. Find out what causes bad breath and how to prevent it.

Cauliflower ear

Bruising of the external ear may cause the cartilage to shrivel, fold in on itself and form fibrous tissue, leading to a deformity known as cauliflower ear. This can be prevented by rapid treatment.

Oral cancer: doctor examining an older man’s mouth. The man has his mouth open wide. The doctor is pressing his tongue down with a wooden tongue depressor and shining a light into his mouth.

Oral and throat cancer

Oral and throat cancer are tumor diseases that typically originate in the mucous membrane of the oral cavity or throat.

Mumps

Mumps is a viral infection that affects not only children. Learn more about this contagious infection and how to prevent contraction.

Scarlet fever

Scarlet fever bacteria (streptococci) cause an illness in children with symptoms such as a high fever, sore throat, and typical skin rash.

Vocal cord nodules

Vocal cord nodules typically cause hoarseness. They usually disappear again when the voice is rested or with voice therapy.