Ear Problems

From WebHealth

Common problems of ears and parotid glands:

Deafness

Diseases of the salivary glands

External otitis

Miscellaneous other ear diseases

Mumps

Otitis media

Parotid gland stones

Parotid gland tumors

[edit] Ear problems

Introduction:

As already mentioned in the introduction to the ear/nose/throat chapter the ventilation of the middle ear through the eustachian tube is crucial for the heaklth of the middle ear. A picture of the complex anatomy regarding the middle ear and the eustachian tube can be seen through this link (use the return key in the left upper corner of your screen to return to this page).

This site shows that at the end of the ear canal is the ear drum, which separates the middle ear from the outer ear as long as the ear drum is intact. From the middle ear the eustachian tube connects to the back of the throat. This connection is important as the pressure inside the middle ear is equalized through this mechanism and the fact that with every yawning, swallowing or laughing the eustachian tube opens for a split second. This is enough to equalize the pressure. With pathological conditions such as viral illnesses, allergies, scarring from previous infections of the eustachian tubes (adhesions) the ventilation mechanism is disturbed. This leads to a vulnerability for further recurrent infections of the middle ear. Enlarged adenoids that are close to the entrance of the eustachian tube in the back of the throat can also cause a lack of ventilation.

Home page

ENT overview

Ear problems

Other ear diseases

Miscellaneous other ear diseases:

Acoustic neuroma

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

Mastoiditis

Menieres disease

Presbycusis

Tinnitus

Vertigo (dizziness)

Home page

ENT overview

Ear problems

Other ear diseases

[edit] Diseases of the salivary glands:

You may find it strange that I would deal with diseases of the parotid glands in a chapter of ear diseases. As complications with these diseases are dealt with by ENT specialists, it felt quite logical that it would be placed in one of these 3 ENT chapters. Here is an overview.

Diseases of the salivary glands

Mumps

Parotid gland stones

Parotid gland tumors

Home page

ENT overview

Ear problems

Other ear diseases

References:

1. The Merck Manual, 7^th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 84.

2. Noble: Textbook of Primary Care Medicine, 3rd ed.,2001, Mosby Inc.

3. The Merck Manual, 7^th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 85.

4. Rakel: Conn's Current Therapy 2001, 53rd ed.,2001, W. B. Saunders Company

5. Goldman: Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 21st ed.,2000, W. B. Saunders Company

6. Mandell: Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, 5th ed.,2000, Churchill Livingstone, Inc.

7. The Merck Manual, 7^th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 265.

8. MF Williams: Otolaryngol Clin North Am; Oct1999; 32(5): 819-834.

9. The Merck Manual, 7^th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 106.

10. Ferri: Ferri's Clinical Advisor: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment, 2004 ed., Copyright © 2004 Mosby, Inc.

11. Rakel: Conn's Current Therapy 2004, 56th ed., Copyright © 2004 Elsevier