Swollen ‘glands’ in the neck are a common ENT problem. These ‘glands’ are more correctly lymph nodes. The human body has several thousand lymph nodes. They are part of the immune system. These lymph nodes are key in the generation of immunity against infections. The neck contains hundreds of lymph nodes. These are often arranged in chains running down the front and…
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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 stones are small yellow particles that sit in small crypts or craters on the surface of your tonsils. The medical term for tonsil stones is tonsiloliths. Tonsils are small swellings that sit on the side walls of your throat. Tonsils have an irregular surface with little crypts. This gives them a pock-marked appearance. The picture below shows enlarged tonsils. In most people, tonsils…
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[This article appeared in the July 2020 issue of Medical Connect, a newsletter produced by Eisai Singapore] Sore throats are very common and make up a substantial proportion of GP visits in Singapore. The most common cause of a sore throat is a viral pharyngitis that will respond well to supportive treatment with analgesics and gargles. A small percentage of sore throats are…
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It was uplifting to wake up this morning to some good news about the candidate Coronovirus vaccine from the Jenner Institute at the University of Oxford. The vaccine – known as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 or AZD1222 holds some promise. The paper published yesterday in the Lancet is free to view and I have attached it below for those of you who have a…
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Sinusitis is the inflammation of the paranasal sinuses. The paranasal sinuses are bony cavities within the skull that communicate with the nasal cavity. The passage from these sinuses to the nose is often narrow and any inflammation of the lining of these passages can cause obstruction. When sinusitis is prolonged and lasts more than 12 weeks, we use the term chronic sinusitis. Chronic…
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