C/V ENT Surgical Group's Resources

As a parent, one of your main endeavors in life is keeping your child healthy and happy. But what if your child is suffering from frequent ear infections or sore throats? What if they seem to have difficulty hearing? Are those kinds of ailments just a part of childhood that will resolve as the child gets older, or should you seek medical intervention? What if your pediatrician refers you to an ENT specialist? Why is a specialist required rather than simply seeking treatment from your pediatrician? Read on for more helpful information.

You woke up this morning with a sore throat and a fever. It's difficult to swallow and the lymph nodes in your neck feel swollen. Is this tonsillitis? What caused it? Is there an effective treatment that can make you feel better fast or are you going to have to just wait out the sickness? How long does tonsillitis last?

Swollen lymph nodes are a painful symptom that can come from multiple causes. Generally, if you have swollen lymph nodes (known as lymphadenitis) they are a result of bacterial or viral infection. In many cases, they will return to normal when you get over the infection. However, in some cases they may become more of a problem. You should see a doctor if you have swollen lymph nodes that appear to have no cause, keep growing, have been swollen for two or more weeks, feel hard or rubbery, or are accompanied by persistent fever or unexplained weight loss. Lymph nodes in the neck can cause a problem as they can interfere with swallowing or breathing. Because of this, you may need to seek treatment immediately, which may involve draining the affected node or, more rarely, surgery. More rarely, certain cancers, such as thyroid cancer and throat cancer can cause lymph nodes to become swollen.

Most of us swallow hundreds of times each day without much thought, relying on numerous mechanisms to move foods and liquids from our mouths to our digestive system. We often consider swallowing an automatic function. When the processes involved work in harmony, swallowing is effortless.  

One of the most common childhood illnesses that every pediatrician and parent should recognize almost immediately is that of a ear infection. It is so common in fact that according to the National Institutes of Health, by the time they reach their 3'rd birthday, 5 out of 6 children will have experienced this very painful condition. Although it occurs mostly in childhood, it can actually affect adults as well. But what exactly causes an ear infection and when is it considered a chronic ear infection? 

Ear infections are one of the most common causes of ear pain. While minor ear infections may resolve on their own, only your physician can determine the best course of treatment. Your doctor may want to prescribe an antibiotic to help clear the infection and reduce the risk of complications. If not effectively treated, ear infections can lead to permanent hearing loss, eardrum perforations, or spread to surrounding tissues. 

It is estimated that 77% of Americans experience physical symptoms related to stress. Stress can affect your body in many ways. It's common to feel nauseous or unable to eat or sleep when you're stressed. Other less extreme physical symptoms may include sweating and fidgeting. When stress causes so many physical symptoms throughout the body, it's not surprising to think stress may be related to nosebleeds.

After a fun day swimming at the beach or at the local pool, the last thing you want you or your child to experience is the pain and irritation of swimmer's ear. Though it's more common in kids and teens than in adults, this painful outer ear infection can unfortunately impact anyone.

Hearing loss is a health concern that affects people of all ages, backgrounds, gender, and environments, in areas all over the world. Its degree of severity, cause, and outlook can vary widely by person. By understanding the main types of hearing loss and their signs, you can be better equipped to address questions and concerns about your hearing or that of a loved one. With the proper care and treatment provided by your medical team and ENT specialist, there may be help and solutions for your hearing loss.

Swelling. Bruising. Pain.

If you've ever experienced these symptoms after a trauma to your nose, you've probably suffered a broken or a bruised nose. Though a broken nose is clearly a more serious medical condition than a bruised nose, both require treatment and attention.