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Visiting an ENT Specialist During COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic not only disrupted our daily activities but also questioned our visit to the hospitals
and clinic. An apparent fear encapsulated our minds and rendered us helpless at times.
Apart from the COVID warriors, the medical professionals in the stream of ENT, gynaecology, ophthalmology,
orthopedy, etc., had to face the doubts of taking up patients. For patients, consulting even for ear pain or
nose bleed became an arduous task because of COVID fear.
But the Ministry of Health in India, took specific steps to ensure the smooth functioning of the medical
activities.
In this article, we will see how the ENT specialists in Kolkata, in compliance with the government rule, devised a protective environment for patients to get consulted during COVID-19 times.
Protocols Designed for Visiting An ENT Specialist
ENT is a high-risk area, prone to the spread of COVID-19 infection among the patients and the doctors. The
following protocols or SOPs have been set up by the government for the ENT specialists and the patients to
get better treatment and avoid the COVID-19 virus.
Appointment
- Telecommunication or online consultation should always be preferred between the doctor and the patient
to avoid physical interaction. Even after the surgery, patients should be advised to take a follow-up through
online consultation. - Only one patient should be allowed in the examination room.
- Patients with appointments should be preferred over walk-in patients.
Entry
- Ensure the patient and the ENT specialist is wearing masks, hand gloves, and maintaining social distancing.
- Use sanitisers before entering.
Screening
- Patients are screened using thermal, thermal guns to reduce the exposure to the medical staff.
- Patients with symptoms of COVID-19 are screened in a separate COVID-19 Screening Clinic to ensure the
safety of other ENT patients. - Personnels screening the patients have to wear a PPE kit.
- All the patients and their caretakers must wear a tripled layer mask and a gown.
Precautions Within ENT OPD Room
- ENT OPD room must be well-ventilated.
- The ENT specialists must wear a Level I PPE kit that includes an N95 mask, gloves, gown, and face shield.
- For unavoidable Nasal Endoscopy, doctors and nurses must wear Level II PPE kit that includes an N95 mask,
gloves, cover-all gown, and goggles. Generally, this is to avoid any risk from the aerosol generation during
endoscopies. - Patients with COVID-19 symptoms should be treated in separate wards. Only after the COVID-19 negative
report, they should be shifted to the ENT ward. - Only one care-taker of the patient should be allowed in the ward. The care-taker should also be screened
before entering. - Operation and ENT instruments must be sterilised as per the standard protocol.
- Ward should be cleaned and disinfected regularly.
- A distance of two meters between the patients’ bed is compulsory.
- Belongings of the patients must be kept to a minimum.
- All the furniture in the ward must be kept to a minimum and cleaned regularly.
- Visitors should not be allowed.
- A separate ward should be marked for the tracheostomised patients or the patients with a high potential
of aerosol generation.
Conclusion
The above points are the significant protocols required for ENT consultation. ENT symptoms involve ear pain, nose bleed, sore throat, snoring, hearing loss, etc. The respiratory organs are more prone to the COVID-19 virus. Thus, ENT becomes a crucial branch to follow the safety protocols during such a pandemic.
For more information about ENT specialists in Kolkata, safety procedures, and treatment, visit,
https://www.ilshospitals.com/.
Best Ent Specialists In Kolkata Share Useful Tips For Healthy Ears
Ear health is often ignored by many people. Ears are important as they help us hear various sounds. Today, renowned ENT specialists from ILS Hospitals – Kolkata and Agartala will share some useful tips that will help you maintain good ear health.
Follow these below-mentioned tips by our ENT experts for good hearing health.
Use of earphones/headphones/earbuds at a lower volume
Nowadays, everyone uses earphones or headphones while listening to music and watching videos online. Earbuds have come into existence as well. We don’t want you to stop using them, but we would highly recommend you to use such devices at lower volumes. Also, clean your earbuds and headphones regularly.
Clean your ears the right way
Cleaning your ear should not be overlooked as the accumulation of ear wax can impair hearing. Do not clean your ears with Q – tips, instead soak a cotton ball into warm water and clean the outer part of your ears gently. Remember to not push the ear wax towards the ear canal. In case of earwax blockage, you should refer to an ENT specialist.
Use earplugs when exposed to loud noises
Long exposure to loud noises can cause hearing loss. Take precautions and wear noise-baring earplugs.
Don’t insert anything inside your ear
Don’t insert anything into your ear, not even your own finger to avoid injuries or infections in the ear canal.
Visit an ENT specialist every year
If you want to ensure good ear health, visit an expert ENT specialist for your annual ear check-up. If you use a hearing aid then you should visit your ENT doctor more frequently. You can visit our hospital units in Kolkata and Agartala to get medical consultations from our ENT professionals.
Eat healthy and do not stress as stress does no good to your ears. For any health-related advice, visit ILS Hospitals, one of the best hospitals in Kolkata and Agartala.
Watch Out For These 5 Health Hazards During Diwali
It is the time of the year when we all have the best excuse to have as many sweets we want because it is the festive season of Diwali. This festival brings joys and celebration, but sadly, it often brings several unwanted medical complications as well. Watch out for these health hazards that might come uninvited during this time.
1. Burn Injuries
The festival of lights is celebrated with candles, diyas, and firecrackers by the enthusiasts all over India. Moreover, cooking for hours and roaming around ritual fires also increase the chances of fire-related accidents. Needless to say, burn injuries are the most common accident that occurs during Diwali. Unless it is a minor, first-degree burn, it is always recommended to get it treated under a medical specialist.
Read more – A Guide To Types Of Burn And Its Treatment Approach
2. Blood Sugar Fluctuation
As Diwali involves binge eating on delicious treats and sweets, keeping blood sugar in check is quite challenging. In fact, many people hanging in the pre-diabetes zone become susceptible to diabetes during Diwali and seek diabetes treatment afterward. Though it is not exactly a medical emergency, it is crucial to keep count of the sugar intake as diabetes is tricky to resolve after it onsets.
3. Respiratory Discomfort
The level of air pollution increases profoundly due to fireworks during this period of time. This leads to severe respiratory discomfort, especially for children, expecting mothers and older people. People with any respiratory discomfort are particularly advised to practice caution against possible exposure to dense smoke and polluted air.
4. Ear Injury or Hearing Trauma
Firecrackers also produce an abundant amount of loud noise of high decibel. Often it gets corrected on its own, but exposure to the same from a close range can cause some severe damage such as temporary or permanent deafness. Just like the previous safe measure, ENT specialists advise people with a sensitive ear to practice caution to mitigate any severe injury or complications.
5. Cardiac Ailments
The eruption of sudden loud noise due to crackers causes alarm and uneasiness in people, especially, those who suffer from hypertension and other underlying cardiac discomforts. It also might induce sleep disturbance, restlessness, fidgetiness and impulsive behaviors among more susceptible people.
So, keep a note to avoid these health hazards amidst of enthusiast Diwali celebration. Always have a first aid kit within reach, but seek medical help, to rule out the chances of long-term consequences. Happy Diwali!
ILS Hospitals is open 24*7 even during this Diwali to offer you complete medical assistance if needed.
5 Festive Season Related Health Hazards and Possible Emergencies to Watch Out For This Durga Puja
This time of the year evokes a different spirit altogether, isn’t it? After all Durga Puja has its own significance in the heart and spirit of every Bengali and other people belonging to Bengal. Though it is celebrated in several parts of the world, its essence and aura is unmatchable in this particular region. Needless to say, visiting hospitals in between this festive time, is never in one’s wish list, but every year, many people make these unexpected visits to address their health issues.
Here we present several festival-related health hazards and emergency that might need you to seek medical help during this Durga Puja.
1. Food Poisoning
Eating out with friends during pandal hopping is enjoyed by every youth. This binge eating can eventually end up causing food poisoning and other digestion discomforts. Seek Gastroenterologist if the problems persist.
2. Respiratory Difficulty
While participating in traditional rituals during puja, Dhunuchi dance or cooking and organizing Puja foods preparations for hours, it is not uncommon to encounter breathing discomfort. Seek respiratory & Chest Medicine if difficulty persists. In fact, people with a history of asthma and other respiratory issues should keep a distance from such activities, to be on the safe side.
3. Accidental Injuries to Children
Pandal hopping with family has its own fun and consequences. Having infants and toddlers along can often cause mild to severe injuries to the little ones. First-aid can be done at the nearest medical clinic or by a skilled family member, but a consultation from a pediatrician or neonatologist is advised to rule out the possibility of long-term complications.
4. Accidents and Trauma to Adults
While clicking selfies, in crowded pandals or during Bisarjan, might be a common practice for many skilled youths, but accidents can happen anytime if one becomes unmindful. Unless it is mild cut, bruise, or scrapes, it is best to address the trauma from a skilled orthopedics and emergency unit.
5. Headache and Acoustic Trauma
Loud music and people chattering cannot be mitigated in the puja festival and in fact, is enjoyed by most. However, it might cause minor to mild trauma for sensitive individuals, particularly the elders, kids and recovering patients. Seeking help from ENT specialist is advised for experiencing severe discomfort.
In case, you or your loved ones fall in traps to any of the above-mentioned health complications, rush to your nearest ILS Hospital and seek medical care. We are open 24/7 for your treatment and care. Jot down the numbers in case any medical emergency strikes.
Dumdum: 033-40315000
Salt Lake: 033-40206500
Enjoy the festive season to its fullest. Happy Durga Puja
6 Health Complications That Will Motivate You to Quit Smoking Now
How do you define a cigarette?
A pinch of tobacco wrapped in a roll, with fire on one side and a fool on the other side.
Work is stressful, for most of us, isn’t it? How often do you rely on your ‘so-called friend’ to relieve this never-ending stress? The answers will range from never, rarely, depends, often, to all the time.
The more your answer titles towards the right, the earlier and the deeper you are digging for your own grave.
Here we present 6 health complications associated with smoking that will motivate you to quit smoking –
1. Heart and Lungs diseases
Our lungs are capable of filtering the air and supplying oxygen to the bloodstream. However, over the years of smoking, both lungs and heart begin to perform inefficiently and as a result, the person develops several types of cardiovascular and respiratory conditions.
2. Diabetes Type 2
The direct impact of smoking on-setting diabetes is still a matter of conflict among research scholars, but it certainly has been found that prolonged smoking increases the complications associated with diabetes type 2. Several patients, who also happens to be chain smokers, often visits diabetes clinic to address a common complication of loss of sensation in feet/legs.
3. Reproductive Health
Let it be men or women, prolonged smoking can affect their reproductive health. As per leading gynaecologists, for women, it can lead to ectopic pregnancy and a lower rate of natural conception. Whereas, in case of men, it can lead to erectile dysfunction.
4. Poor Metabolism
The component nicotine makes people addictive of the same and as a result, many chain smokers suffer from several digestive and metabolic malfunctions. As a result, a person can either lose or gain significant body weight. People seeking liver treatment often turn out to be chain smokers.
5. Oral and Throat
Holding the cigarette between the teeth, in a long run leads to misalignment of teeth along with severe gum diseases. As per ENT specialists, several kinds of mouth/throat ulcers and cancer is a result of smoking too.
6. Bone Decay
Prolonged smoking leads to a much faster rate of bone decay as compared to non-smokers. It is often closely followed by severe orthopaedic complications and rheumatoid arthritis as well.
Despite the frightening consequences of smoking, the silver lining is the fact that putting down smoking can help significantly in damage control.
On this World No Tobacco Day, on 31st May 2018, ILS Hospitals encourages every smoker to quit smoking. Not only it affects your own health but it also causes damage to your family, friends, and colleagues, who eventually becomes passive smokers, over the years.
Throat Cancer: Types and Causes
What is a Throat Cancer?
Throat cancer is cancer that appears in the throat region. It usually occurs in the pharynx which is a tube that starts from your nose to your neck. A throat cancer might also occur in larynx which commonly known as the voice box. The third common is the tonsil cancer that affects the tonsils which is located at the back of the throat. As per ENT Specialists, ‘ many a times, these harmless sounding issues can turn out be life-threatening if not treated on time’.
There are several types of throat cancer which have their own reasons to occur. The different types of throat cancer are mentioned below:
Nasopharyngeal cancer: Doctors haven’t found out the actual cause of this cancer yet but they say it is strongly linked to a common virus called Epstein – Barr virus (EBV). Although, it need not be necessary to be prone to NPC if you have EBV. In India, it is rarely found in the states of Northeast region such that, Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram.
Oropharyngeal cancer: Oropharyngeal cancer or oral cancer is the most common and cancer related-death of men in India. The main cause of this cancer in world-wide is mostly due to HPV that spreads through unprotected intimation and/or oral intimation. Although in India the main reason behind this cancer is excessive consumption of Weeds, tobacco, smoking, and alcohol.
Hypopharyngeal cancer: It is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the hypopharynx. Use of tobacco products and heavy drinking can affect the risk of developing Hypopharyngeal cancer.
Laryngeal cancer: This cancer affects the larynx and it is commonly known as the Vocal Cord. The main causes of this cancer are the genetic mutation of uncontrollable cell growth in the region to form tumors. This is usually forms due to long-term smoking or alcohol and sometimes HPV or exposure to toxins such as asbestos. Laryngeal Cancer comprises of three different cancers such as Glottic, Supraglottic and Subglottic Cancer. They begin at the around, upper and lower region of the vocal cord.
Irrespective of the type of throat cancer, they are common in one thing, smoking, and alcohol, which is the main cause of most of these throat cancers. These cancers if remained untreated for long period, can cost the life. If you are prone to any symptoms of throat cancer, come in and get yourself checked by certified ENT specialists with proper guidance, consultation, and health tips.
Cochlear Implant Surgery – A Hearing Gift from Medical Science
Saying goes- one the most beautiful things in the world is the music. It has no barrier in language or any other constraints. Unfortunately, it becomes insignificant if one is impaired in hearing. There could be several reasons for the same. According to ENT specialist, one can either lose their hearing power gradually over time, suddenly, due to an accident or they could be born with this disability.
Thankfully, there are several medical arrangements for the same in today’s era. ENT Specialists these days are using an exceptionally powerful implant called the Cochlear Implant – A revolutionary medical approach that enables the majority of the patient to experience sound.
The cochlear implant is a medical electronic device. It can be considered as an alternative mechanism to compensate for the improper function of the inner ear. It is more advanced as compared to hearing aids, which only enhances the intensity of external sounds. The cochlear implant, on the other hand, bypasses the damaged inner ear and propagate the signal directly to the brain.
Cochlear implant is helpful for the patients with the following conditions-
- Moderate to significant hearing loss in one/both ears
- Had very little or no help from the hearing aids
- Score less than 50 (sometimes 60) percent on sentence recognition, evaluated by hearing professionals.
Several people are bilateral, i.e. have these implant in both ears. It can improve various functions of the ears, such as identifying the direction of sound or to segregate the desired sounds from the undesired ones.
Our success story
Recently, a patient had a successful cochlear implant surgery at one of our facilities, i.e. in ILS Hospital Agartala. The patient was very young, a boy of about five. Being a child of only five years of age, a significant learning period was ahead of him. Since hearing is a huge step of learning itself, this implant will help him direct his life towards a new and better direction.
Needless to say, this implant will make a significant change in his life from now on. A glimpse of his positive life ahead, can be seen by the letter of acknowledgement sent by his father. We hope and pray for his healthy and prosperous life.
Also, we encourage the parents and guardians of such children to come ahead and get evaluated for the same. A little awareness and efforts can make their lives so much better.
5 Most Common Ear Diseases You Should Stay Away From
Most of us prefer to speak more than they prefer to hear, despite of the fact that our body has been designed with two ears and a mouth. But with multiple ears, we come across multiple ear diseases. According to ENT specialists, several people often ignore these diseases until it becomes a serious threat.
On that note, let’s have a look at the 5 most common ear diseases:
1. Ear Infection
Almost every individual suffers at least once of ear infection. It is caused by bacterial pathogen which enters through the tear of the ear skin. It can be characterized by pain, inflammation, redress and smelly discharge from the ear. Its treatment is usually limited to the use of antibacterial medication applied either topically or orally.
2. Swimmer’s Ear
This disease causes inflammation of the ear canal. It is caused by an excess amount of moisture trapped inside the ear canal and can eventually lead to infection as well. It can be characterized by non-smelly discharge along with itching. It can even cause fever and lymph nodes swelling in later stages.
3. Boils in the Ear
This disease occurs due to the bacterial infection on the surface of the ear. It is characterized by a small bump that protrudes from the ear. It is usually accompanied by pain and itchiness. Upon bursting, it may release some pus and discharge. Often it resolves on its own, but painkillers and antibiotics can be prescribed for quicker recovery.
4. Tinnitus
Tinnitus can be easily characterized by experiencing a ringing sound in one or both ears. However, people may also experience a buzzing, clicking, roaring or even hissing sound. It may either be high pitch or low pitch and varies from people to people. Several times healing of this disease happen on their own, but at times sound therapy or tinnitus retraining therapy etc. is done to cure it totally.
5. Barotrauma
Barotrauma in caused due to sudden change of air or water pressure. It usually happens during cruising, scuba diving or mountain hiking. It begins with hearing popping sounds, which leads to dizziness, hearing loss and pain. Decongestants may be prescribed by the doctor to address it. However, in the time of duress ENT specialists advises that yawning, swallowing or chewing can help to ease the pain and relieve the pressure.
In case you encounter any problem associated with ear, which seems to persist or recur, consult an ENT.
ENT – Definition and Common ENT Problems
Stands for Ear, Nose and Throat. The department of medical science that deals with these three domains together. A specialized doctor in this domain is called Otolaryngologist, or more commonly as ENT itself.
Why it is so important?
Ears, nose and throat are vital parts of the body. Let’s have a look at these crucial organs and learn what may go wrong with it.
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Ears – It is the sensory organs that enable us to hear sounds around us. Moreover, it contributes towards an overall balance of the body.
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Nose – It is another sensory organ that enables us the sense of smell. It also contributes partially towards taste and filter the air entering through the nostrils as a defense mechanism.
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Throat – It provides the passage for air, water and food to reach the wind pipe and food pipe respectively.
Malfunction of these organs can affect the quality of life significantly. In certain cases, it can even become a medical emergency. In case a problem in any of these organs persists, proper treatment should be sought without delay.
So, what are the common ENT problems and their symptoms?
The most common ENT disorders and their respective symptoms are –
- Ear infection – germs entering the ear gets trapped causing ear infection. Children are more likely to get infected with it. If left untreated for long duration, it can significantly affect the hearing and speech development of the child.
Symptoms of ear infection are
a) Hearing loss
b)Drainage from ear
c)Difficulty with balance
d)Pain in the ear
e)Pulling or tugging the ear in children
- Sinus infection – Sinuses are the cavities located inside the skull surrounding the nose and eyes and contributes to the vocal resonance. Sinus infection occurs when a pathogen such as bacteria or virus enters the sinus cavities.
Symptoms of sinus infection are
a) Runny nose
b) Difficulty in breathing
c) Constant coughing or sneezing
d) Headache
e) Sharp pain around the eyes and bridge of nose
f) Bad breath and toothache
- Tonsillitis – According to ENT specialists in ILS Hospitals, most of the people suffer from mild tonsil infection at least once in life. But occasionally it gets severe due to inflammation to that extent when passage of air gets blocked and swallowing becomes difficult. In these circumstances, the removal of tonsil becomes inevitable, though nowadays this medical procedure is executed rarely.
Symptoms of Tonsillitis are
a) Difficulty in swallowing food and water
b) Change in voice
c) Persistent strep throat
d) No significant effect of antibiotics
ENT specialist should be consulted and proper treatment should be availed as soon as any of such symptoms persist for a long time.
The 3 Most Common Congenital Diseases
According to Cardiologist, on an average, about 303,000 newborns die within 4 weeks post detection, as a result of congenital diseases. Congenital diseases are present due to some medical deformities during the time of birth. Congenital disease can cause long term disability, which may have adverse effects on survival and development. Several times it remains unclear regarding the exact cause of this congenital defects.
Here are the 3 most common congenital defects a baby may suffer from:
1. Congenital Heart Disorder
It is the medical condition in which there exists a problem in the heart structure since the time of birth. Its symptoms may either be absent or may vary from mild discomfort to life-threatening condition such as heart failure. It can be distinguished by presence of bluish skin, low birth weight and fatigue.
The exact cause for congenital heart disease often remains unknown. Mother’s infected with Rubella during the period of pregnancy may act as a contributing factor for the same. Additional factors during pregnancy such as consumption of alcohol or tobacco or some specific medication may also play a significant role for the same.
2. Down Syndrome
This medical condition is also called Trisomy 21, in which a third copy of chromosome number 21 present alters the genetic makeup. It affects adversely on the physical growth and mental development. It can be characterized by observing delayed growth and moderate intellectual disabilities. A grown up individual suffering from down syndrome possess an average IQ of 50, which is equivalent to mental age of a child of eight years old.
The possibility of having down-syndrome is associated with the mother’s age. The risk of suffering from it is about 3 percent for pregnant woman with age more than 45, this risk minimizes to 0.1 percent in case the woman is 20 years
3. Cleft lip and Cleft palate
Also called orofacial cleft, this is a class of defects that include either cleft lip, cleft palate or both. In a cleft lip, an opening may stretch till nose. It may be present either on one side, both sides or in the middle. In a cleft palate, an opening exist between the roof of mouth and nose. These conditions arise when joining of tissues does not occur effectively.
According to ENT Specialists of ILS Hospitals, if this condition is left untreated, it can interfere with feeding, speech and hearing function. It also causes persistent ear infection. Consumption of alcohol or tobacco or even obesity during pregnancy has been associated with this group of diseases.