Archive for the ‘Ear Nose Throat’ Category
A blocked nose (stuffed nose) is the partial or complete obstruction of the nasal passages, either affecting one nostril or both, and may be constant or episodic where it occurs only at certain times of the day, seasons or under specific conditions. Nasal obstruction is usually considered to be a result of swelling of the nasal lining or nasal congestion with mucus due to conditions like sinusitis or hay fever but can also occur from anatomical abnormalities like a deviated septum.
A persistent itching sensation within the ear canal is often a sign of inflammation or infection within the ear canal. Excessive cleaning, especially with an ear bud (cue tip) removes the natural wax from the ear canal. This wax is often thought to be dirt but is actually the body’s natural mechanism for lubricating the ear canal and preventing insects or microorganisms from entering the ear canal or causing an infection.
Coughing up food is a symptom that can occur in cases of chronic tonsillitis or swollen tonsils. (tonsillar hypertrophy) where the tonsils have now become enlarged, pitted or ulcerated. This allows food to be trapped between the tonsils and oropharyngeal (mouth-throat) wall or within tiny pits and ulcers on the surface of the tonsils. When coughing, tiny remnants of food dislodge from the tonsillar pits and are expelled into the mouth or through the mouth. Very often these small food particles may look like soft white speckles (similar to a small rice grain) and may have a slightly foul odor as it is decomposing food (some patients report a ‘garbage can’ odor). If they remain trapped in the crevices of the tonsils over a long period, they may begin to harden and are called ‘tonsil stones‘.