Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) — Town Hospital
Town Hospital's Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) service in the Fifth Settlement (5th Settlement), New Cairo, diagnoses and treats conditions of the ear, nose, sinuses, throat and voice box in adults and children, in a clinic run by an ENT consultant within the hospital's outpatient department, with radiology and laboratory services open 24 hours.
What we treat
Doctors — Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT)
Ear, nose and throat care at Town Hospital: an overview
The Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) clinic at Town Hospital in the Fifth Settlement, New Cairo, diagnoses and treats problems of the ear and hearing, the nose and sinuses, and the throat, tonsils and voice box. The clinic is part of the hospital's outpatient department and is run by an ENT consultant, whose profile you will find in the list of doctors above, on set days of the week shown in the up-to-date clinic schedule.
When a diagnosis needs further tests, 128-slice CT and a 3 Tesla MRI are available in the hospital's radiology centre, alongside the laboratory, and both run 24 hours a day.
Conditions the clinic looks after
After examining you, the doctor decides whether your condition needs medicine, follow-up or a procedure, and explains the options before any decision is made.
The nose and sinuses
Some of the most common reasons for a visit are a blocked nose, a runny nose that does not clear up, repeated sneezing, and facial pain and pressure around the eyes. The cause may be allergic rhinitis, acute or chronic sinusitis, a deviated septum or, in children, enlarged adenoids. The classes of medicine the doctor chooses from, depending on the case, include antihistamines, steroid nasal sprays and saline nasal rinses; decongestant sprays are used only for a short time, because overusing them makes the congestion worse. Children, pregnant women and people with high blood pressure or heart disease should ask a doctor before taking any medicine. Most acute sinusitis is caused by viruses and gets better without an antibiotic, and the doctor decides when one is needed. Read about sinusitis: symptoms, causes and treatment and about allergic rhinitis: symptoms, causes and treatment.
The ear and hearing
Ear problems include ear pain, discharge, a blocked feeling, hearing loss, tinnitus and dizziness linked to the ear. Common conditions include middle-ear infections, especially in children after a cold, wax blocking the ear canal, and fluid behind the eardrum. The doctor finds the cause by examining the ear, and some cases need further hearing tests or a scan. Do not clean your ears with cotton buds or any other object, and do not put drops into an ear that is discharging before it has been examined. Read about middle-ear infections: symptoms and treatment.
The throat, tonsils and voice box
Most sore throats are caused by viruses and get better within days, and only some need an antibiotic, which the doctor decides on after examining you. Tonsillitis that keeps coming back, or enlarged tonsils that make swallowing or breathing difficult, need an assessment to decide on the right treatment. Hoarseness that lasts more than three weeks needs an examination, especially in smokers, as do persistent difficulty swallowing and a new lump in the neck.
Children
The clinic treats ear, nose and throat problems in children, including repeated ear infections, enlarged tonsils and adenoids, a constantly blocked nose and mouth breathing, and a poor response to sounds that may point to hearing loss. The doctor takes the child's age into account in assessment and treatment, and explains to the family when follow-up is enough and when a procedure is needed.
Operations
When medicines and follow-up are not enough, the following ENT operations are performed in the hospital's operating theatres, as each case requires: removal of the tonsils and adenoids, insertion of ear tubes (grommets) to drain fluid from behind the eardrum, correction of a deviated septum (septoplasty), endoscopic sinus surgery, and removal of nasal polyps. Before any operation, the doctor explains its expected benefits, possible risks and the alternatives.
When to visit the clinic, and when to go to the emergency department
Visit the ENT clinic for:
- A blocked or runny nose that lasts more than a few weeks, or recurrent facial pain and pressure around the eyes.
- Ear pain or discharge, hearing loss or tinnitus.
- Repeated sore throats or tonsillitis.
- Hoarseness that lasts more than three weeks.
- A constantly blocked nose and mouth breathing in a child, or repeated ear infections.
The following need the nearest emergency department straight away, or an ambulance on 123:
- Difficulty breathing, or a whistling sound when breathing in.
- Severe difficulty swallowing with drooling, or rapid swelling of the neck or tongue.
- A nosebleed that does not stop despite pressing firmly on the soft front of the nose for ten to fifteen minutes.
- Swelling and redness around the eye with pain or a change in vision.
- Severe ear pain with swelling and redness behind the ear.
- Sudden weakness of the face, or sudden severe dizziness with difficulty speaking or weakness in the limbs.
Sudden hearing loss in one ear needs a medical assessment the same day.
Before your first visit: what to bring
- A list of the medicines you take, including sprays and drops.
- Any previous reports or scans of the sinuses or ears, or earlier hearing test results.
- Notes on your symptoms: when they started, whether they come back in a particular season, and what makes them better or worse.
- For children: how many ear or tonsil infections they have had in the past year, and anything you have noticed about their hearing, speech or breathing.
To learn more about the specialty and what happens during an examination, read our guide to ear, nose and throat care and what happens in the clinic.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the ENT clinic at Town Hospital treat?
Town Hospital's Ear, Nose & Throat clinic diagnoses and treats conditions of the ear, nose, sinuses, throat and voice box, including sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, a blocked nose and a deviated septum, middle-ear infections, hearing loss and tinnitus, tonsillitis and enlarged adenoids, and hoarseness. After examining you, the doctor decides whether your condition needs medicine, follow-up or surgery.
Is it harmful to clean my ears with cotton buds?
The ear canal usually cleans itself, as wax moves slowly outwards. Cotton buds or any other object can push wax further in and block the canal, or injure its skin or the eardrum; wiping the outer ear with a cloth when you wash is enough. A blocked feeling, hearing loss, pain or discharge needs a doctor's examination, and drops should not be put into a discharging ear before it has been examined.
When should I see an ENT doctor?
See an ENT doctor for a blocked nose or nasal discharge that lasts more than a few weeks, recurrent facial pain and pressure around the eyes, ear pain or discharge, hearing loss or tinnitus, repeated sore throats, hoarseness that lasts more than three weeks, persistent difficulty swallowing, or a new lump in the neck.
When is an ear, nose or throat problem an emergency?
Go to the nearest emergency department straight away, or call an ambulance on 123, for: difficulty breathing or a whistling sound when breathing in; severe difficulty swallowing with drooling; rapid swelling of the neck or tongue; a nosebleed that does not stop despite pressing firmly on the soft front of the nose for ten to fifteen minutes; swelling and redness around the eye with pain or a change in vision; severe ear pain with swelling and redness behind the ear; sudden weakness of the face; or sudden severe dizziness with difficulty speaking or weakness in the limbs. Sudden hearing loss in one ear needs a medical assessment the same day.
Does every sore throat need an antibiotic?
No. Most sore throats are caused by viruses and get better within days without an antibiotic; rest, fluids and suitable fever and pain relief are enough. Aspirin must not be given to children or teenagers; pregnant women, people with stomach, kidney or liver disease, and anyone on other medicines should ask a doctor or pharmacist first. Some bacterial infections do need an antibiotic, which the doctor decides on after examining you, sometimes with a throat swab. Antibiotics should not be taken without a prescription: they do not help a viral infection, and overusing them makes bacteria resistant to treatment.
How is allergic rhinitis treated?
Treatment starts with avoiding known triggers as far as possible, such as dust, smoke and strong smells. The classes of medicine the doctor chooses from, depending on the case, include antihistamines, steroid nasal sprays and saline nasal rinses. Decongestant nasal sprays are used only for a short time and on the doctor's advice, because overusing them causes rebound congestion. Children, pregnant women and people with high blood pressure or heart disease should ask a doctor before taking any medicine.
Can dizziness come from the ear?
Yes. The inner ear helps keep the body balanced, and ear-related causes of dizziness include benign positional vertigo, which comes on with changes in head position, inflammation of the balance nerve, and Meniere's disease. The doctor finds the cause by examination and may request hearing tests or a scan. Sudden severe dizziness with difficulty speaking, weakness or numbness of the face or limbs, or a change in vision can be a sign of a stroke and needs an ambulance on 123 straight away.
Can hearing loss in adults be treated?
It depends on the cause. Some hearing loss comes from wax blocking the ear canal, a middle-ear infection or fluid behind the eardrum, and may improve once the cause is treated. Other hearing loss comes from changes in the inner ear with age or noise exposure, where hearing aids can help after a specialist assessment.