Pediatric ear, nose, and throat conditions: Clinical

The most common ear, nose, and throat issues that occur in children can be divided into four categories.

First, ear pathologies associated with ear pain and hearing loss include otitis externa, otitis media, mastoiditis, aural atresia, and ear foreign bodies.

Second, nose-related conditions associated with rhinorrhea include viral and bacterial sinusitis, foreign bodies, and nose bleeding - mostly anterior posterior epistaxis.

Third, breathing difficulties usually include nasal polyps, adenoids, and choanal atresia.

And fourth, throat pathologies that cause a sore throat include viral and bacterial pharyngitis.

Let’s begin with ear pathologies. First, otitis externa or external otitis refers to inflammation of the external auditory canal usually caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Staphylococcus aureus. Diagnosis is clinical.

On presentation, individuals show signs of external ear canal inflammation like ear pain, pruritus, discharge, and hearing loss due to ear canal edema. The auricle and tragus might also show signs of erythema and might be painful when touched. Individuals might have a history of tympanic membrane perforation, ear infection, recent ear instrumentation, or hearing devices use.

Pneumatic otoscopy is needed to see if the tympanic membrane is affected.