Mr. Prince Modayil

Tonsillitis involves inflammation of the tonsils. It's usually caused by a viral infection or, less commonly, a bacterial infection. Tonsillitis is a common condition in children but teenagers and adults can get it too.

Eustachian Tube (ET) is a tube like structure which connects middle ear to the back of nose (nasopharynx). ET is partly cartilaginous (elastic bone) and partly bony. The cartilaginous part is near the back of the nose (nasopharynx) and bony part is near the middle ear.

What is ear wax? Does it have a purpose?

Earwax is medically referred to as cerumen. It is a naturally produced substance that protects the ear canal. It is a mixture of skin, sweat, hair, and debris held together with a fluid secreted by glands inside the ear canal (ceruminous glands). The ear canals are self-cleaning.

What is Glue ear (Otitis media with effusion)?

Otitis media with effusion (OME) is the most common cause of hearing loss in children in the United Kingdom, and up to 80 % of children are affected by OME by 4 years of age at the time when language development is most rapid, and hearing loss has its greatest effect on language development. Glue ear is characterized by a nonpurulent fluid collection in the middle ear that may be either mucoid or serous. The prevalence of otitis media with effusion is highest in those aged 2 years or younger, and it sharply declines in children older than 6 years. Long lasting glue ear (more than 3 months) can cause speech delay, hearing loss, behavioral issues and recurrent middle ear infections. Please refer to the section on glue ear for more details.

The feeling of a lump in the throat is termed as Globus Pharyngeus (Globe= sphere in Latin, Pharyngeus=throat).  Some people describe this as a tightness in the throat which is more often felt  when they swallow saliva.