If you are pregnant, you’d visit a gynecologist. If you experience some vision problems, you’d definitely look for an ophthalmologist. And if you want to treat your heart better, you’d check in with a cardiologist. But who do you go to if you develop an issue with your head or neck? This head and neck doctor is called an otolaryngologist.
Otolaryngologists are medical professionals who treat and manage disorders of the ear, nose, throat, and head & neck. They are commonly known as ENT doctors. Aside from treating diseases of the ear, nose, and throat, they are also qualified to treat diseases that affect the face, head, and neck. Moreover, they can perform surgery on the delicate tissues of the head and neck.
So, if you or your loved ones are experiencing any of these head or neck problems, you might want to see a head and neck specialist in Singapore.
1. Enlarged or swollen lymph nodes in the neck. If your child has an enlarged or swollen lymph node in his or her neck, he or she might be suffering from lymphadenopathy. Lymphadenopathy refers to the enlargement or swelling of the lymph nodes or glands. It usually occurs in children and is caused by viral or bacterial infection.
While it is normal to feel some lymph nodes under the skin, it becomes a problem if they get bigger than usual. If your child experiences symptoms, such as lumps under the jaw or back of the net, pain, redness, fever, and headache, it is best to have your child examined by a head and neck doctor right away.
2. Facial paralysis. Facial paralysis is the inability to move your face due to nerve damage. It can happen on one or both sides of your face and is commonly caused by stroke, head and neck tumor, middle ear infection, head trauma, and infection of the facial nerve.
Be sure to discuss all your symptoms with your ENT care specialist in Singapore in order for him to provide you with an appropriate treatment plan. Your doctor may also ask you to smile, frown, and lift your eyebrow. He or she may also perform some tests to determine why your face is paralyzed.
3. Head and neck masses. Some head and neck masses are congenital – meaning they are present at birth. And the most common types are branchial cleft cysts, dermoid cysts, and thyroglossal duct cysts. Branchial cleft cysts are lumps that develop on one or both sides of your child’s neck. Here, the tissues that form the throat and neck do not develop normally, which as a result creates open spaces in the neck.
On the other hand, dermoid cysts are usually found on the face, scalp, and inside the skull. Also occurring in children, thyroglossal duct cysts are fluid-filled masses or lumps in front of the neck. These masses or lumps have to be removed by a head and neck doctor to prevent infection and recurrence.
Conclusion
Each health problem is unique. This is why it is important to consult an otolaryngologist or a head and neck specialist in Singapore as soon as possible to treat it early and keep it from getting worse.