Mouth Sores(Part 3)

 

 

 

 

What are other types of oral lesions to be concerned about?

Leukoplakia—A thick, whitish-color patch that forms on the inside of the cheeks, gums, or tongue. These patches are caused by excess cell growth and are common among tobacco users. They can result from irritations such as ill-fitting dentures or the habit of chewing on the inside of the cheek. Leukoplakia can progress to cancer.

Candidiasis—A fungal infection (also called moniliasis or oral thrush) that occurs when yeast reproduce in large numbers. It is common among denture wearers and most often occurs in people who are very young, elderly, debilitated by disease, or who have a problem with their immune system. People who have dry mouth syndrome are very susceptible to candidiasis. Candida may flourish after antibiotic treatment, which can decrease normal bacteria in the mouth.

Hairy tongue—A relatively rare condition caused by the elongation of the taste buds. It can be caused by poor oral hygiene, chronic oral irritation, or smoking.

 

Torus palatinus—A hard bony growth in the center of the roof of the mouth (palate). It commonly occurs in females over the age of 30 and rarely needs treatment. A torus palatinus is often seen in patients who suffer from tooth grinding. Occasionally it is removed for the proper fitting of dentures.

Oral cancer—It may appear as a white or red patch of tissue in the mouth, or a small ulcer that looks like a common canker sore. Other than the lips, the most common areas for oral cancer to develop are on the tongue and the floor of the mouth. Other symptoms include a lump or mass that can be felt inside the mouth or neck; pain or difficulty in swallowing, speaking, or chewing; any wart-like mass; hoarseness that lasts for more than two weeks; or any numbness in the oral/facial region.

Tips to prevent mouth sores

• Stop smoking.

• Reduce stress.

• Avoid injury to the mouth caused by hard tooth brushing, hard foods, braces, or dentures.

• Chew slowly.

• Practice good dental hygiene, including regular visits to the dentist.

• Eat a well-balanced diet.

• Identify and eliminate food sensitivities.

• Drink plenty of water.

• Avoid very hot food or beverages.

• Follow nutritional guidelines for multivitamin supplements.

 

 

 

Reference information: www.ent-hk.com/

The information aims to provide educational purpose only. Anyone reading it should consult ENT Specialists before considering treatment and should not rely on the information above.

Mouth Sores(Part 2)

 

 

 

What are canker sores?

Canker sores (also called aphthous ulcers) are different than fever blisters. They are small, red or white, shallow ulcers occurring on the tongue, soft palate, or inside the lips and cheeks; they do not occur in the roof of the mouth or the gums. They are quite painful, and usually last 5-10 days.

 

 

Who is most likely to get canker sores, and what causes them?

Eighty percent of the U.S. population between the ages of 10 to 20, most often women, get canker sores. The best available evidence suggests that canker sores result from an altered local immune response associated with stress, trauma, or irritation. Acidic foods (e.g., tomatoes, citrus fruits, and some nuts) are known to cause irritation in some patients.

 

Are canker sores contagious? How are they treated?

Because they are not caused by bacteria or viral agents, they are not contagious and cannot be spread locally or to anyone else. Treatment is directed toward relieving discomfort and guarding against infection. A topical corticosteroid preparation such as triamcinolone dental paste (Kenalog in Orabase 0.1%®) is helpful.

 

When should a physician be consulted?

Consider consulting a physician if a mouth sore has not healed within two weeks. Mouth sores offer an easy way for germs and viruses to get into the body, so it is easy for infections to develop.

 

People who consume alcohol, smokers, smokeless tobacco users, chemotherapy or radiation patients, bone marrow or stem cell recipients, or patients with weak immune systems should also consider having regular oral screenings by a physician. The first sign of oral cancer is a mouth sore that does not heal.

 

What kind of screenings are performed?

The physician will most likely examine the head, face, neck, lips, gums, and high-risk areas inside the mouth, such as the floor of the mouth, the area under the tongue, the front and sides of the tongue, and the roof of the mouth or soft palate. If a suspicious lesion is found, the physician may recommend collecting and testing soft tissue from the oral cavity.

 

 

Reference information:  www.ent-hk.com/

The information aims to provide educational purpose only. Anyone reading it should consult ENT Specialists before considering treatment and should not rely on the information above.

Mouth Sores(Part 1)

 

 

 

 

Oral lesions (mouth sores) make it painful to eat and talk. Two of the most common recurrent oral lesions are fever blisters (also known as cold sores) and canker sores. Though similar, fever blisters and canker sores have important differences.

 

What are fever blisters?

Fever blisters are fluid-filled blisters that commonly occur on the lips. They also can occur on the gums and roof of the mouth (hard palate), but this is rare. Fever blisters are usually painful; pain may precede the appearance of the lesion by a few days. The blisters rupture within hours, then crust over. They last about seven to ten days.

 

Why do fever blisters reoccur?

 

Fever blisters result from a herpes simplex virus that becomes active. This virus is latent (dormant) in afflicted people, but can be activated by conditions such as stress, fever, trauma, hormonal changes, and exposure to sunlight. When lesions reappear, they tend to form in the same location.

 

Are fever blisters contagious?

Yes, the time from blister rupture until the sore is completely healed is the time of greatest risk for spread of infection. The virus can spread to the afflicted person’s eyes and genitalia, as well as to other people.

 

How are fever blisters treated?

Treatment consists of coating the lesions with a protective barrier ointment containing an antiviral agent, for example 5% acyclovir ointment. While there is no cure now, scientists are trying to develop one, so hopefully fever blisters will be a curable disorder in the future.

 

Tips to prevent spreading fever blisters

 

• Avoid mucous membrane contact when a lesion is present.

• Do not squeeze, pinch, or pick the blisters.

• Wash hands carefully before touching eyes, genital area, or another person.

Note: Despite all caution, it is possible to transmit herpes virus even when no blisters are present.

 

 

Reference information: www.ent-hk.com/

The information aims to provide educational purpose only. Anyone reading it should consult ENT Specialists before considering treatment and should not rely on the information above.

鼻竇內視鏡手術 - 鼻竇炎手術

手術目的是把鼻腔及鼻竇內的阻塞清除，促進鼻分泌物的流動及排除。 手術可透過內視鏡治療發炎位置，按情況，耳鼻喉醫生會為患者進行局部麻醉或全身麻醉。通過內視鏡的監察，在鼻腔內進行手術，故此面上及鼻子外面均不會有傷 口或留下疤痕。 另外，在鼻竇內視鏡手術過程中，亦可即時進行其他手術，包括鼻中隔成型術或鼻息肉切除術。

 
鼻竇炎手術後

手術後，患者的鼻腔內會放入敷料，並於一至兩天後由醫生取出。所以患者於手術後頭兩天需要休息。患者會出現鼻子阻塞和不適的感覺，耳鼻喉醫生會處方藥物以 控制不適感。

於手術後初期，患者需每天以生理鹽水清洗鼻腔，以減少感染。患者亦要依時覆診，讓耳鼻喉醫生清潔及護理傷口，確保傷口癒合良好。

內視鏡手術會有可能出現併發症，如出血、發炎等等，而發生併發症的機會不多於1%。

 

 

 

資料來源: www.ent-hk.com

以上所提供的資訊僅作為教育及參考用途，如果你有任何醫療問題，
應向自己的耳鼻喉專科醫生查詢，而不應單倚賴以上提供的資料。

Otitis Externa (a.k.a. External Otitis or Swimmer’s ears)

  

Otitis externa is the inflammation of the skin of the ear canal.

Causes of Otitis Externa

•During swimming, water can get into the ear cannel and cause infection.

 •Ear picking with cotton wool bud may cause trauma to the ear canal and may result in infection.

•Abuse of the antibiotic ear drop result in the extinguishing of normal flora in the external ear, leading to fungal otitis externa.

 •Immunocompromised patient, such as diabetes, are more prone to otitis externa.

 •The inflammation of the skin of ear canal may be secondary to eczema.

 

Treatment for Otitis Externa

To prevent otitis externa, we should keep our ear dry. Avoid swimming in polluted water. Avoid inserting anything into the ear canal. The use of cotton buds or swabs is the most common event leading to acute otitis externa.

 

Consult an ENT doctor when you get otitis externa. Ear cleaning under microscope will be performed to remove dirt, wax and discharge from the ear canal. Antibiotic ear drop (or antifungal ear drop in case of fungal infection) will be prescribed.

For recurrent infection, investigation including blood test for diabetes will be conducted.

 

 

 

Reference information: www.ent-hk.com/

The information aims to provide educational purpose only. Anyone reading it should consult ENT Specialists before considering treatment and should not rely on the information above.

成人--- 睡眠窒息, 睡眠窒息症病徵, 睡眠窒息治療

鼻鼾十分普遍,無論成人或小童,很多人都會有這種問題。

鼻鼾是由於上呼吸道組織因睡眠時放鬆和收窄,在呼吸時引起振動所致。阻塞越嚴重,振動越大,鼾聲亦越大,但當到達完全全阻塞時,呼吸聲和鼻鼾聲都會停止,造成阻塞性睡眠窒息。

鼻鼾除了影響患者家人的睡眠,亦會對患者造成壓力,在工作會議或課堂中造成尷尬。甚至有患者為了減少與別人同房的機會而減少了旅遊或工幹的機會。



睡眠窒息
香港大約有4%的男性及2%的女性患上睡眠窒症。顧名思義,睡眠窒息症就是睡眠時停止了呼吸。根據國際診斷標準,睡眠中每小時多於五次超過十秒的呼吸停止,就是睡眠窒息症。 睡眠窒息症可分為阻塞性,中樞性及混合性三種。

阻塞性如上文所述是因阻塞而導致窒息,是最常見的一種。中樞性睡眠窒息症較為少見,代表中樞神經於睡眠時不能維持正常呼吸,成因可能是先天性,又或是中風或藥物引致。部份患者可能同時有阻塞性及中樞性睡眠窒息,便是混合性睡眠窒息症。

睡眠窒息的病徵包括鼻鼾, 呼吸間歇停止,早上不願起床,頭痛,口乾,日間疲倦,很容易打瞌睡,難以集中精神,影響學業或工作表現。如病情嚴重,更會於工作時入睡,如在駕駛或操作機 械時發生,更可能引致意外或人命傷亡。另外睡眠窒息亦可導致脾氣改變,記憶力及性功能衰退。 除以上病徵,睡眠窒息亦可引致不同的併發症,包括高血壓,心臟病,中風等。嚴重的甚至引致夢中猝死,切不可輕視。


診斷方法
睡眠窒息需由睡眠測試診斷。患者可選擇到醫院留醫一晚或由睡眠測試公司上門為患者進行測試。


阻塞性睡眠窒息的治療
日常生活中,患者需注意飲食,定時運動,減輕體重。另外,作息要定時,避免煙酒。安眠藥,鎮靜劑會增加阻塞的情況,應盡量避免。

正氣壓呼吸機是最安全及簡單的方法治療睡眠窒息。每晚睡覺時只需戴上呼吸機,不單窒息情況可以控制,鼻鼾聲亦可大大減少。唯部份病人未能適應睡覺時戴着面罩,需作另外治療。

睡眠手術針對不同的阻塞部位,以外科手術或射頻消融術把阻塞清除。成功率由40%到80%,需視乎不同個案而定。如阻塞部位不止一處, 可能要接受多於一次手術,手術後並有復發可能。

牙膠是套在上下牙齒的儀器,由牙科醫生為患者製造,於睡覺時戴上,可把下顎拉前,減少呼吸道阻塞。

何峯 耳鼻喉專科醫生

 

 

參考資料: www.ent-hk.com
以上所提供的資訊僅作為教育及參考用途，如果你有任何醫療問題，
應向自己的耳鼻喉專科醫生查詢，而不應單倚賴以上提供的資料。

口氣成因

口氣的成因可分為口腔及非口腔來源。

 

 

 

 

口腔衛生欠佳，食物的殘渣留在口中，經細菌分解後會形成臭味。舌頭表面粗糙，容易藏著細菌及食物殘渣，亦需清潔。

唾液有清潔口腔的功能，如唾液流量減少，會導致口臭。睡眠時唾液分泌減少，故早上常有口氣。另外，一些藥，如降血壓藥、鼻敏感藥，亦會減少唾液分泌。

口腔疾病如牙齦炎，牙周炎，蛀牙都會造成口臭。另外吸煙、飲酒、進食濃烈氣味的食品，亦會導致口臭。

除了口腔的來源，身體其他部份亦可以是口氣的來源。腸胃道問題，如消化不良、慢性胃炎或潰瘍等，會導致口氣。另外呼吸道的問題，如鼻炎、鼻竇炎、扁桃腺炎、氣管炎及肺炎亦會導致口臭。全身性的疾病如肝損害、腎衰竭、糖尿病等亦會造成口氣。

要減少口氣或口臭，應注意口腔衛生，睡前、早上及飯後都應漱口刷牙，並要刷除舌苔，要戒掉煙酒，多喝水及多吃蔬菜水果，保持腸道健康。定期作牙齒及口腔檢查。如仍有口氣,便應找醫生作詳細檢查。

參考資料: http://www.ent-hk.com/

以上所提供的資訊僅作為教育及參考用途，如果你有任何醫療問題，

應向自己的耳鼻喉專科醫生查詢，而不應單倚賴以上提供的資料。