Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose and Throat

An acute upper respiratory infection (URI) is any infection of the nose or throat, which are part of the body’s upper respiratory system. URIs cause the common cold and tend to be relatively mild infections.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease that leads to a slow progressive vision loss. It affects the central part of your vision field. AMD causes the retina to deteriorate and leads to blindness.

Burning mouth syndrome causes burning pain anywhere in the mouth or on the lips. It also causes tingling, dry mouth, taste changes, and mood changes.

A canker sore (also called an aphthous ulcer) is a small, painful ulcer inside your mouth. It is round and shallow with a whitish-grey base surrounded by a red ring. It is not contagious and usually goes away within 1 to 2 weeks but can be very uncomfortable.

A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye. Symptoms include blurry vision, difficulty seeing at night, glare, difficulty discerning colors, and increased nearsightedness. The only treatment option is the surgical replacement of the old lens with a synthetic lens.

The common cold is a frequent and regular viral infection of the nose and throat. Conditions are usually harmless and symptoms resolve within two weeks.

A cold sore is a painful, ugly cluster of tiny blisters on or around your lips. It’s also sometimes called a fever blister. The cause is a virus that’s highly contagious. When you catch the virus, you have it for life. A cold sore takes at least a couple of weeks to get through from start to finish. Drugstore ointments or certain prescription medicines may help move the healing process along.

Coxsackievirus is a highly contagious group of viruses that is common in children, It causes hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) and herpangina. Both cause fever and painful blisters. Though uncomfortable, they typically go away on their own.

A dental cavity is a common dental problem that signifies an infection of the tooth and loss of tooth mass. Symptoms include a toothache, pain in your mouth, and a tooth cracking or changing color. The best way to prevent a cavity is to practice good oral hygiene.

Diabetes can cause damage to your retina, potentially leaving you blind. There are four stages of diabetic retinopathy, and it's crucial to get treatment right away before it progresses to the next stage.

Ear infections are extremely common infections in kids although adults get them, too. They can be caused by a bacteria, virus, or fungus, and can be very painful, causing ear and head pain. Treatment options may or may not include taking antibiotics.

Esophageal cancer occurs as a malignancy of the esophagus and the majority of cases are either esophageal adenocarcinoma or esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Symptoms include difficulty swallowing, weight loss, and throat pain.

This article will review the symptoms, causes, management, and prevention of exertion headaches. Exertion headaches occur during or after strenuous physical activity and other activities that increase abdominal pressure, such as sports, sneezing, or intercourse.

Influenza, or the flu, is a respiratory illness caused by a virus. It causes muscle aches, headache, fever, sore throat and makes you feel tired. Most people recover on their own.

The flu is highly contagious and caused by influenza viruses. Kids—and adults—most often catch the flu in winter. In healthy kids, symptoms are mild. But very young children or kids with chronic conditions can have complications. The best way to protect your child is with a flu shot.

Gingivitis is a common condition consisting of inflammation of the gums of your mouth. The main symptom is swollen, discolored, bleeding gums. It is prevented and treated by good oral hygiene, and if untreated, it can progress to periodontitis.

Head lice is a condition that causes intense itching of the scalp and is mostly seen in children. Head lice are easily treated with oral or topical medication.

Sex headaches are caused by sexual activity and feel like a dull ache in your head and neck that builds up as sexual excitement increases; they are mostly harmless.

Ludwig’s angina is a rare bacterial infection on the floor of the mouth. It causes your mouth to swell up and can make it hard to swallow, talk, and breathe. It may be caused by dental work or poor oral hygiene. Ludwig’s angina is a medical emergency.

Migraines are throbbing headaches that are often accompanied by nausea, fatigue, and sensitivity to light and noise. They tend to recur. There are treatments available to try to reduce the frequency and severity of migraines.

Mononucleosis—often nicknamed “the kissing disease”—is a very common and contagious infection. It spreads through bodily fluids, like saliva or blood. The virus, called Epstein-Barr, can cause a fever, sore throat and extreme exhaustion, sometimes for months. There is no cure for mono—and no real treatment. But you can make symptoms better while the virus runs its course.

Mumps is a highly contagious infection that affects the salivary glands under the ears. It causes swelling in the side of the face, along with other symptoms.

Oral thrush causes white patches on the inner cheeks and tongue, a feeling of having cotton inside your mouth, changes in taste, and pain with eating and swallowing.

Orbital cellulitis is an uncommon condition in which an infection has breached or circumvented the outer portion of the eye and affected the tissues of the orbit.

Osteonecrosis is a process in which bone cells deteriorate and die. Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) occurs specifically in the cells of the maxilla and mandible.

Pharyngitis is the medical term for a sore throat. It means your throat is red and inflamed. It’s usually caused by a cold virus but could be caused by the flu or strep throat.

Strep throat is a highly contagious bacterial infection of the throat and tonsils, and needs to be treated with antibiotics. Strep is common in children, causing pain and redness in the throat, and often a fever. But adults can get it too.

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your joint to your skull. TMJ dysfunction disorder (TMD) causes pain and discomfort in your jaw, face, or neck. It can also cause your jaw to click, pop, or feel stiff. TMD can be constant or come and go.

A tension headache feels like pressure pain around your head as opposed to headache pain in one spot. How to diagnose a tension headache and avoid them in the future.

There are many possible causes of your sore throat, including cold and flu viruses. Understand the cause of your sore throat to get the right treatment.