Articles

What Is Integrative Medicine The main goal of integrative medicine is, whenever possible, to identify the cause of a disease, that is, its etiology, determine the mechanisms that sustain the pathological process, and target those mechanisms directly. A symptom is viewed not as a disease in itself, but as a sign of an underlying disorder that needs to be investigated. With a standard symptomatic...

Traumatic otitis externa develops after the skin of the external auditory canal is injured by a cotton swab, fingernail, hairpin, earbud, ear camera, or another object. Localized pain, burning, a scratched sensation, itching, and tenderness when pressing on the tragus usually appear first. Swelling, a blocked-ear sensation, reduced hearing, and clear, bloody, or purulent discharge may then develop. Mechanical...

Sphenoiditis is inflammation of the mucous membrane of the sphenoid sinus, which is located deep at the base of the skull near the optic nerves, pituitary gland, cavernous sinuses, internal carotid arteries, and cranial nerves. The main symptom is a deep headache at the crown of the head, in the back of the head, behind the eyes, or seemingly “in the center of the head,” which often responds poorly to...

Mixed bacterial-fungal otitis externa is an infectious and inflammatory condition affecting the skin of the external auditory canal, in which bacterial pathogens and pathogenic or opportunistic fungi are present simultaneously. The most characteristic symptoms include itching, pain, a feeling of pressure or blockage in the ear, tenderness when pressing on the tragus, swelling of the ear canal, redness, oozing, an...

Seborrheic dermatitis of the external ear is a chronic, relapsing inflammation of the skin of the auricle, the fold behind the ear, the entrance to the ear canal, and sometimes its outer portion. The most characteristic signs are greasy whitish-yellow scales and crusts, moderate redness, itching, irritation, and flaking. Scratching can cause soreness, fissures, oozing, and secondary bacterial or fungal infection....

Otomycosis is a superficial fungal infection of the external auditory canal that less commonly spreads to the auricle and the outer surface of the eardrum. The most characteristic symptoms are persistent itching deep in the ear, a feeling of blockage, reduced hearing, flaking, moisture, and heterogeneous discharge. Black or dark-brown dots and masses are more common with fungi of the genus Aspergillus, white...

Acute rhinosinusitis is simultaneous inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose and paranasal sinuses. The condition usually begins as a viral respiratory infection: nasal congestion develops, initially watery and later thicker discharge appears, mucus drains down the back of the throat, the sense of smell decreases, and there may be a feeling of pressure or pain in the cheeks, bridge of the nose, forehead,...

Acute catarrhal rhinitis is an acute inflammation of the nasal mucosa, most often representing one of the first manifestations of a viral upper respiratory tract infection. More than 200 respiratory viruses can cause the clinical picture of the common cold; rhinoviruses are the most frequent pathogens, but similar inflammation can also be caused by seasonal coronaviruses, adenoviruses, enteroviruses,...

What happens in acute diffuse otitis externa . Acute diffuse otitis externa is inflammation of the skin of the external auditory canal, most often developing after water enters the ear, prolonged exposure to a humid climate, traumatic ear cleaning, scratching of the skin, or the use of in-ear headphones, earplugs, or hearing aids. Damage to the protective skin barrier and a reduction in earwax...

After swimming, water may remain trapped in the external ear canal, soften the protective layer of earwax, and cause maceration of the skin. Bacteria can penetrate through microcracks, most commonly Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus; fungal inflammation develops less often. A feeling of blockage, itching, increasing pain, tenderness when touching the tragus or pulling the auricle, swelling of the...