who is too young to speak may pull or tug at the
ears. INFLAMMATION or infection of the auditory
canal, commonly called swimmer’s ear, is a fre-
quent cause of earache in older children and
adults. Referred pain in adults may indicate health
conditions such as temporomandibular JOINT
(TMJ) disorder, dental problems, SINUSITIS, TONSILLI-
TIS, and PHARYNGITIS.
Treatment depends on the underlying cause of
the earache. ANTIHISTAMINE MEDICATIONScan reduce
congestion due to allergic response. ANTIBIOTIC
MEDICATIONSare necessary when the infection is
bacterial. ANALGESIC MEDICATIONS to relieve pain,
such as acetaminophen and NONSTEROIDAL ANTI-
INFLAMMATORY DRUGS(NSAIDS), can ease the discom-
fort while HEALINGtakes place. Generally, treating
the underlying reason for the pain causes the ear-
ache to go away.
See also BAROTRAUMA; EUSTACHIAN TUBE; TEMPORO-
MANDIBULAR DISORDERS.
eardrum See TYMPANIC MEMBRANE.
ear lavage Gentle flushing of the outer EARto
remove accumulated CERUMENor foreign objects.
Typically a health-care provider performs ear
lavage in the doctor’s office or a clinical setting,
using a bulb syringe to instill warm water or other
liquid and a basin to collect the solution as it
drains from the auditory canal (ear canal). Ear
lavage generally does not cause discomfort. People
who have middle or inner ear disorders, vestibular
disorders, or MYRINGOTOMY tubes in place should
not undergo ear lavage.
See also CLEANING THE EAR; FOREIGN OBJECTS IN THE
EAR OR NOSE.
ear wax See CERUMEN.
electrolarynx A handheld device that makes
speech possible for people who have undergone
LARYNGECTOMY(surgical removal of the larynx) or
whose larynx is otherwise nonfunctional. The
normal larynx consists of the VOCAL CORDS, CARTI-
LAGE, MUSCLE, and ligaments. These tissues vibrate
to generate the sounds the structures of the MOUTH
convert into speech. The electrolarynx uses a rap-
idly moving diaphragm to generate vibrations that
can help restore speaking ability.
There are two kinds of electrolarynx in com-
mon use:- The transcervical electrolarynx rests against the
neck or the cheek and sends vibrations through
the muscles of the neck. Similar in appearance
to a small flashlight, the transcervical electro-
larynx requires one hand to hold it in place and
has a finger-activated switch. - The intraoral electrolarynx uses a small tube,
somewhat like a straw, that rests along the
inside of the cheek and sends vibrations directly
to the structures of the mouth. Some models
mount components in a denture or orthodontic
device. An external amplifier and speaker proj-
ect the sound.
Nearly all models of either kind operate on bat-
teries and are easy for most people to use. The
transcervical electrolarynx requires enough
remaining healthy muscle tissue in the neck to
transmit vibration. It is not a viable option when
there is extensive tissue loss due to injury, such as
trauma or BURNS, or surgery, such as for laryngeal
CANCER. The vibrating diaphragm of the electrolar-
ynx cannot produce the same intensity or range of
tone as the natural structures of the healthy lar-
ynx, resulting in speech that tends to be machine-
like and difficult to understand.
See alsoESOPHAGEAL SPEECH; LIGAMENT; SMOKING
AND CANCER; TRACHEOSTOMY.epiglottitis A severe and rapidly progressing
INFECTIONof the epiglottis, a broad flap of tissue in
the back of the THROATthat closes when swallow-
ing to prevent food from entering the TRACHEA
(windpipe). Epiglottitis brings on severe swelling
in the throat, obstructing the flow of air through
the trachea. Death can occur in minutes if the
swelling completely blocks the airway.Epiglottitis is a medical emergency that
requires immediate hospital care.Although epiglottitis can affect people of any
age, it most commonly occurs in children ages
two to seven years. The main cause of epiglottitis
in children is bacterial infection with Haemophilus
influenzaetype b (Hib). In adults, epiglottis gener-epiglottitis 21