ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) in Bahawalpur

The ENT service treats conditions affecting the ear, nose and throat in adults and children. Common reasons for referral include hearing problems, sinus and nasal conditions, tonsil and adenoid issues, and voice or swallowing difficulties.

About the ent (ear, nose & throat) department

ENT (ear, nose and throat) care covers a wide range of common problems affecting hearing, breathing, the sinuses and the throat, in both adults and children.

Many ENT concerns can be assessed in clinic, with treatment ranging from medical management to surgery when it is needed.

ENT problems are among the most common reasons for seeking specialist care. Conditions such as recurrent ear infections in children, sinusitis, nasal blockage and tonsil problems can significantly affect quality of life, and most are treatable once the cause has been identified.

Common reasons patients seek care

Patients are commonly referred to ent (ear, nose & throat) for assessment of concerns that may include:

• Ear pain (otalgia), in one or both ears
• Hearing difficulty or a feeling of blocked ears
• Ear discharge
• Ringing or buzzing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Recurrent throat infections or a persistently sore throat
• Tonsil problems, including recurrent tonsillitis
• Nasal blockage or difficulty breathing through the nose
• Sinus symptoms such as facial pain, pressure or recurrent sinus infections
• Snoring or suspected sleep-related breathing problems
• Voice changes or hoarseness lasting more than a few weeks
• Dizziness or balance problems
• Swallowing difficulties
• A lump in the neck that needs assessment
• Nosebleeds that are frequent or difficult to control

Common conditions

The ent (ear, nose & throat) specialty commonly involves the assessment of conditions that may include:

• Ear infections (otitis media, otitis externa)
• Hearing loss, including age-related and noise-related hearing loss
• Chronic middle ear disease and eardrum perforation
• Sinusitis (acute and chronic)
• Nasal obstruction and deviated nasal septum
• Nasal polyps
• Tonsillitis (acute and recurrent)
• Adenoid enlargement, particularly in children
• Voice disorders (dysphonia)
• Balance disorders including benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
• Tinnitus
• Obstructive sleep apnoea and snoring
• Neck lumps requiring ENT assessment
• Salivary gland conditions

Treatments and procedures

Treatment options depend on your individual condition. Depending on the diagnosis, your doctor may discuss approaches that can include:

• Assessment and medical management of ENT conditions
• Medication for infections, inflammation and allergies
• Hearing assessment and advice
• Nasal sprays and medical management of sinus and nasal conditions
• Surgical treatment where appropriate, such as tonsil surgery, adenoid surgery or sinus surgery
• Management of balance and dizziness conditions
• Voice therapy referral where indicated
• Care planned around the specific diagnosis for both adults and children

Procedures

Depending on the diagnosis, procedures in ent (ear, nose & throat) may include:

• Ear examination and microsuction (ear cleaning under magnification)
• Hearing assessment (audiometry)
• Grommet insertion (ventilation tubes) for glue ear in children
• Myringoplasty (eardrum repair)
• Tonsillectomy (tonsil removal)
• Adenoidectomy (adenoid removal)
• Septoplasty (correction of a deviated nasal septum)
• Endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic sinusitis or nasal polyps
• Nasal cautery for recurrent nosebleeds
• Other standard ENT procedures depending on the diagnosis

Diagnostic approaches

To reach a clear diagnosis, your doctor may use one or more of the following:

• Otoscopy (examination of the ear canal and eardrum)
• Audiometry (hearing test)
• Tympanometry (middle ear pressure assessment)
• Nasal endoscopy (using a thin camera to examine the inside of the nose and sinuses)
• Flexible laryngoscopy (examination of the throat and voice box)
• CT scan of the sinuses or temporal bone where indicated

When to seek specialist care

Patients may seek assessment for hearing difficulty, ear pain or discharge, persistent nasal or sinus problems, a sore or troublesome throat, recurring tonsil problems, voice changes, dizziness, or a lump in the neck. In children, recurrent ear infections, snoring and adenoid problems are common reasons for an ENT opinion. Your doctor can explain whether medical treatment or surgery is the better option.

What patients can expect

The ENT consultation includes an examination of the ears, nose and throat as needed, which may include the use of a small camera to look inside the nose or throat. The doctor explains the diagnosis and discusses treatment, which depends on the condition and its severity. Most ENT assessments are straightforward and do not require a hospital stay.

When should you see an ENT specialist?

Many ear, nose and throat problems settle on their own, but some are worth having checked. You may wish to see an ENT specialist for concerns such as:

• Hearing loss or a persistent feeling of blocked ears
• Ear pain
• Ear discharge
• Recurrent ear infections
• Persistent nasal blockage
• Recurrent sinus problems
• Facial pain associated with sinus problems
• Persistent hoarseness
• Voice changes lasting more than two weeks
• Loud snoring
• Sleep-related breathing problems
• Poor sleep associated with breathing problems

Symptoms you should not ignore

Ear, nose and throat symptoms that persist or keep coming back may need specialist assessment rather than repeated short courses of treatment. It is worth arranging an ENT opinion if you have:

• Hearing that is getting worse over time
• Hoarseness or a voice change lasting more than two weeks
• A nose that stays blocked on one side
• Nosebleeds that keep coming back
• A lump in the neck that does not settle
• Pain or difficulty swallowing that does not improve

Persistent or one-sided symptoms do not always mean something serious, but having them assessed allows the cause to be identified and treated.

Booking a consultation

You can request an appointment with the ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) team using the appointment form, or by calling the hospital on 0300 9687763. If you have previous imaging or reports, please bring them to your appointment.