Diseases of the eye, ear, throat, mouth and dental disorders

Ear diseases

Your ear has three main parts: outer, middle and inner. You use all of them in hearing. Sound waves come in through your outer ear. They reach your middle ear, where they make your eardrum vibrate. The vibrations are transmitted through three tiny bones, called ossicles, in your middle ear. The vibrations travel to your inner ear, which consists of a snail-shaped organ. The inner ear makes the nerve impulses that are sent to the brain. Your brain recognizes them as sounds. The inner ear also controls your sense of balance.

A variety of conditions may affect your hearing or balance:

• Ear infections are the most common illness in infants and young children.
• Tinnitus, a roaring sound in your ears, can be the result of loud noises, medicines or a variety of other causes.
• Meniere’s disease may be the result of fluid problems in your inner ear; its symptoms include tinnitus and dizziness.
• Ear barotrauma is an injury to your ear because of changes in barometric (air) or water pressure.

Some ear disorders can result in hearing disorders and deafness.

MedlinePlus (2014) Ear disorders. [Online] Available from:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/eardisorders.html [Accessed 9 October 2014]

Nose disorders

Your nose is important to your health. It filters the air you breathe, removing dust, germs, and irritants. It warms and moistens the air to keep your lungs and tubes that lead to them from drying out. Your nose also contains the nerve cells that help your sense of smell. When there is a problem with your nose, your whole body can suffer. For example, the stuffy nose of the common cold can make it hard for you to breathe, sleep, or feel comfortable.

Many problems besides the common cold can affect the nose. They include:

• Deviated septum – a shifting of the wall that divides the nasal cavity into two halves
• Nasal polyps – soft growths that develop on the lining of your nose or sinuses
• Nosebleeds
• Rhinitis – inflammation of the nose and sinuses sometimes caused by allergies. The main symptom is a runny nose.
• Nasal fractures, also known as a broken nose

MedlinePlus (2014) Nose injuries and disorders. [Online] Available from:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/noseinjuriesanddisorders.html [Accessed 9 October 2014]

Throat disorders

Your throat is a tube that carries food to your oesophagus and air to your windpipe and larynx. The technical name for your throat is the pharynx.

Throat problems are common. You’ve probably had a sore throat. The cause is usually a viral infection, but other causes include allergies, infection with strep bacteria or the upward movement of stomach acids into the oesophagus, called gastric reflux.

Other problems that affect the throat include

• Tonsillitis – an infection in the tonsils
• Pharyngitis – inflammation of the pharynx
• Cancers

Most throat problems are minor and go away on their own. Treatments, when needed, depend on the problem.

MedlinePlus (2014) Throat disorders. [Online] Available from: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/throatdisorders.html [Accessed 7 October 2014]

Mouth disorders

Your mouth is one of the most important parts of your body. Any problem that affects your mouth can make it hard to eat, drink or even smile.

Some common mouth problems include

• Cold sores – painful sores on the lips and around the mouth, caused by a virus
• Canker sores – painful sores in the mouth, caused by bacteria or viruses
• Thrush – a yeast infection that causes white patches in your mouth
• Leukoplakia – white patches of excess cell growth on the cheeks, gums or tongue, common in smokers
• Dry mouth – a lack of enough saliva, caused by some medicines and certain diseases
• Gum or tooth problems
• Bad breath

Treatment for mouth disorders varies, depending on the problem. Keeping a clean mouth by brushing and flossing often is important.

MedlinePlus (2014) Mouth disorders. [Online] Available from: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mouthdisorders.html [Accessed 7 October 2014]

Dental disorders

Your teeth are made of a hard, bonelike material. Inside the tooth are nerves and blood vessels. You need your teeth for many activities you may take for granted. These include eating, speaking and even smiling. But tooth disorders are nothing to smile about. They include problems such as cavities (also known as tooth decay), infections, and injuries.

The most familiar symptom of a tooth problem is a toothache. Others include worn-down or loose teeth. It’s important that you see a dentist if you have any problems with your teeth. Fortunately, you can prevent many tooth disorders by taking care of your teeth and keeping them clean.

MedlinePlus (2014) Tooth disorders. [Online] Available from:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/toothdisorders.html [Accessed 7 October 2014]

Here is a list of diseases included within this category: