TAILIEUCHUNG - Ebook ABC of ear, nose and throat (5/E): Part 2

(BQ) Part 2 book “ABC of ear, nose and throat” has contents: Sore throats, breathing disorders, swallowing problems, snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea, hoarseness and voice problems, trauma, injuries and foreign bodies, neck swellings, and other contents. | CHAPTER 11 Sore Throats William McKerrow, Patrick J Bradley OVERVIEW • A sore throat as a presenting symptom to a general practitioner is very common. The majority of such symptoms are due to viral infections with symptoms that last for a few days, and most will respond to simple analgesics. • A bacterial infection generally presents with soreness, otalgia and dysphagia with systemic upset and pyrexia, and requires analgesia as well as antibiotics for 7+ days. • Indication for tonsillectomy currently remains controversial, but, when performed, great symptomatic relief is reported by the majority of patients. • Complications, such as peritonsillar and parapharyngeal abscess, must be considered when symptoms are not resolving quickly, and specialist referral is to be encouraged. • Sore throat with airway distress must be considered very serious and, when encountered, patients of whatever age should be referred to hospital, to ensure that an airway is maintained, and appropriate treatment with fluid replacement, antibiotics and possibly surgery is available with urgency should the scenario deteriorate suddenly. • Chronic sore throat is seldom due to bacteria, and rarely if ever responds to courses of antibiotics. Other causes need to be excluded, such as cancers and specific infections which may require examination under anaesthetic. Referral should be considered if such symptoms persist for several weeks without a specific diagnosis. Throat symptoms Symptoms affecting the throat are very common, especially in children. The most common symptom is one of soreness or pain, which can vary in severity and periodicity. Pain is usually related to activity of and/or infections in the lymphoid tissue surrounding the upper airway (Waldeyer’s ring), consisting of paired lingual and pharyngeal tonsils, as well as the adenoids that are placed behind the soft palate. There is overlap between pharyngitis and tonsillitis and between bacterial and viral infections, which cannot be

• Y khoa - Dược
• Sore throats
• Breathing disorders
• Swallowing problems
• Foreign bodies
• Neck swellings
• Hoarseness and voice problems