What are adenoids? I am frequently asked this question. I am often guilty of assuming that most people know what adenoids are and what they do! Adenoids are located right at the back of the nose in the upper part of the throat. They are made up of “lymphoid tissue” which is soft in consistency. They are part of the immune system…
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Grommets or ventilation tubes are small tubes that are inserted into the eardrum to “ventilate” the middle ear. These are placed to stop recurrent middle ear infections or to treat a condition called “glue ear” or otitis media with effusion. Grommet insertion is more commonly performed in children who are more likely to suffer from middle ear infections and glue ear. Rarely,…
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Adenoids are a small pad of lymphoid tissue that sits right at the back of the nose. Lymphoid tissue is an integral part of the immune system. The adenoids, together with the tonsils, make up a ring of lymphatic tissue that encircles the back of the nose and mouth. This ring of lymphatic tissue is often called Waldeyer’s ring. What purpose do adenoids…
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Tonsil removal or tonsillectomy is a common operation undertaken in young children. The tonsils lie on the sidewalls of the throat between two “pillars”. These pillars are actually muscles (the palatoglossus and palatopharyngeus to be precise!). Tonsil removal can be undertaken in many ways. One method involves the use of controlled ablation (or coblation) which offers reduced pain and therefore a quicker return to normal diet…
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Including over the counter medications Access to an ENT specialist is not always easy. In some countries, even at the best of times it is difficult, and one may have to wait weeks to see an ENT specialist. In Singapore, one is fortunate to have access to good ENT surgeons in public and private hospitals. Most insurers will allow you to see…
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Sore throats are common. As an ENT specialist, I see a lot of patients in our clinics in Singapore with sore throats. Most are thankfully quite mild and need nothing more than lots of fluids, some gargles, and a lozenge! But a few patients have very severe sore throats that linger. When I see a patient with a sore throat, the first…
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