Otolaryngology (ENT)

What Is Otolaryngology?

Otolaryngology is a branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases of the ear, throat, and nose. A doctor specializing in this area is called an otolaryngologist.

These specialists are in demand all over the world. This is associated with widespread diseases of the ear, throat, and nose and the fact that these organs are closely connected with each other and form a single system. If you have a sore throat, the infection may easily affect the nose or ear as well. Therefore, timely diagnosis and treatment of the ENT system problems help preserve health and prevent complications.

Due to the prevalence of ENT conditions and their frequent exacerbations, people do not consider visiting a doctor necessary. They self-diagnose and self-medicate, which is not always effective and can even be harmful. A slight cold and uncomplicated viral respiratory infections may actually be treated at home without consulting a doctor. But if there is no improvement within 2–3 days and the disease is only aggravating, you should consult professionals. The doctor will examine you, give referrals to the tests necessary to obtain detailed information about the state of the ENT system, and prescribe a really effective therapy.

A common mistake is self-medicating and advising medications to your family members and friends. After all, you do not know your definite diagnosis, possible contraindications, and side effects of a particular drug. A common misconception among chronic cases is the opinion that recurrent exacerbations are caused by low immunity, which needs to be stimulated with drugs. However, one should remember that immunomodulators and immunostimulants should be prescribed by a doctor only since any unconsidered intervention in the immune system can lead to serious consequences. In this way, an acute disease can turn chronic, and complications may appear in other organs and systems.

The Most Common Diseases

The most common problems making adults seek otolaryngologist’s advice are chronic tonsillitis, vasomotor rhinitis, and earwax build-up. In children, the most common conditions are rhinitis (acute rhinitis), adenoid problems, and tonsillitis. An otolaryngologist conducts examinations of children of certain ages to prevent possible hearing disorders.

Acute chronic tonsillitis is characterized by a sore throat and red tonsils featuring white discharge. The relapse of the disease is facilitated by inflammation of the ear or throat, caries, exposure to cold, stress, or a seasonal viral infection.

Vasomotor rhinitis develops as a result of impaired blood supply to the nasal mucosal vessels. This causes swelling of the nasal turbinates and nasal breathing difficulty. The disease can be provoked by the long-term use of vasoconstrictors. They may not be used for more than 5 days: such medications become addictive, and the vessels are no longer able to narrow by themselves without using the vasoconstrictors. Only a specialist can tell the details: drug manufacturers rarely give such information. In addition, rebound congestion is difficult to get rid of: the treatment will be long, and even surgery may be required.

Finally, the last of the three most popular reasons for visiting an ENT physician is earwax build-up. Earwax build-up means the accumulation of earwax in the ear canal, which blocks the canal and interferes with hearing. Earwax build-up can appear due to excessive earwax production by the glands, narrow ear canals, or improper hygiene. The latter is the most common reason: people usually use cotton swabs and other dangerous devices to clean their outer ears. However, the ears are able to remove excess discharge of ceruminous glands on their own: you should only wash your ears while taking a shower or bath and use no devices to clean them.

The patients also visit ENT physicians in case of:

  • ear and nose injuries and their effects;
  • foreign bodies in the ear, nose, or respiratory tract;
  • maxillary sinusitis;
  • tracheitis;

Late treatment of diseases of the ENT systems in the period of occlusion development can lead to swallowing, breathing, and speech disorders. All this can cause occlusion problems which later make these children visit an orthodontist. An orthodontist often refers their patients to an ENT physician since throat or nose disorders can affect the process of occlusion improvement.

ENT Conditions Treatment Methods

Surgery

An otolaryngologist also treats inpatients and performs operations. Modern ENT departments of foreign clinics possess all the necessary equipment for diagnosis and treatment. Surgical treatment based on endoscopic surgery involving minimal damage to tissues. After the operation, the patient quickly recovers from anesthesia and feels quite comfortable. Good health provided, a patient can leave the hospital the day following the surgery.

Surgery is used for:

  • complicated inflammation of the nose, paranasal sinuses, pharynx, larynx, and ear;
  • bleeding that requires immediate arrest;
  • injuries of the ENT organs;
  • hearing disorders;
  • congenital anomalies of the ENT system;
  • nasal septum deviation;
  • non-inflammatory ENT diseases;

Clinics in Israel, Germany, Austria, and Turkey are glad to provide international patients with hearing aids and other surgeries improving or maintaining hearing. Competent staff will also help adjust the hearing aid.

Non-Surgical Treatment

The main advantages of non-surgical treatment methods used for ENT problems and other conditions:

  • there is no damage to tissues, so recovery after therapy does not take much time;
  • noninvasiveness;
  • in most cases, the patient does not need to be hospitalized and can be treated at home according to the recommendations given.

In addition to medications, including anti-inflammatory and antibiotics as the most popular ones, physiotherapy is used to treat ENT conditions. The doctors also resort to ultrasound, laser, magnetic and ultraviolet radiation, thermal procedures, electrophoresis, etc. These treatment methods are safe and can be used even in elderly people with concomitant diseases. Physiotherapy helps relieve distressing symptoms and ensure a quick recovery.

If a person suffers from a chronic disease of the ENT system featuring frequent and prolonged exacerbations, an immunologist can take part in their treatment. This doctor will give recommendations on the immune system reinforcement, compliance with which will enable the patient to overcome unceasing exacerbations of chronic infections.

Rehabilitation

Timely comprehensive rehabilitation can significantly reduce the risks of late complications and prevent recurrent exacerbations of chronic ENT conditions. The rehabilitation includes inhalations, physiotherapy, exercise therapy, conditioning to the cold, and many other procedures. All these procedures have a positive effect on the body and the immune system: a person becomes more resistant to relapses of ENT problems, especially inflammation.

Otolaryngologists, professional rehabilitation physicians, who are hard to find in Russia due to the absence of a base for their training, take part in the preparation of the rehabilitation procedures set. Those patients, who underwent a full rehabilitation program, have sleep and overall health improved and are brought into long-term remission for their chronic diseases.

Hospitals — 12

Otolaryngology (ENT) — лечение в Hadassah hospital

Jerusalem, Israel

Average speed of response

Average level of demand

  • 1913 – foundation year
  • 1 189 beds
  • 850 specialists

Hadassah is a medical center considered one of the largest in Israel, where patients worldwide undergo examination, treatment, and recovery. The hospital is located in Jerusalem, there are two locations: Mount Scopus and Hadassah Ein Karem.

Treatment price

Please inquire

Cost of an estimate

Free of charge

Otolaryngology (ENT) — лечение в Rambam Medical Center

Haifa, Israel

Average speed of response

Average level of demand

  • 1 000 beds
  • 6 labs,
  • 36 inpatient departments
  • 45 outpatient departments

One of Israel’s leading public hospitals, Rambam, is located in the city of Haifa and has everything necessary to provide first-class medical service to patients worldwide. Here they carry out diagnostics, therapy, and rehabilitation of children and adults with various ailments, ranging from hearing and vision problems to malignant tumors of internal organs.

Treatment price

Please inquire

Receive an estimate

Free of charge

Otolaryngology (ENT) — лечение в Shamir Medical Center (Assaf Harofeh)

Tel Aviv, Israel

Average speed of response

Average level of demand

  • 1948 – foundation year
  • 1000 beds
  • 3 400 medical personnel
  • 460 specialists

The Yitzhak Shamir Hospital is a modern center for treatment and diagnostics, which, in terms of the number of patients and staff, as well as the range of services provided, ranks 3rd among the state medical institutions. It occupies an area of about 0.3 hectares and is located in Beer Yaakov. Until 2017, the clinic was called Asaf HaRofe and was renamed in honor of the Israeli Prime Minister in the early 90s of the twentieth century.

Treatment price

Please inquire

Receive an estimate

Free of charge

Otolaryngology (ENT) — лечение в Shaare Zedek Medical Center

Jerusalem, Israel

Average speed of response

Average level of demand

  • 1 000 beds
  • 30 inpatient departments
  • 70 outpatient departments
  • 28 000 surgeries per annum
  • 150 000 patients per annum

Shaare Zedek is a hospital with more than a century of history (founded in 1902) with 1,000 beds and a wide range of medical services for patients from Israel and other countries. It was initially located on Jaffa Street in Jerusalem but was subsequently moved to the western part of the city. Since 2013, a branch of the Bikur Holim clinic has been operating with two maternity wards and offices of specialized specialists.

Treatment price

Please inquire

Cost of an estimate

Free of charge

Otolaryngology (ENT) — лечение в Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov)

Tel Aviv, Israel

Quick response time

High demand among patients

  • 150 departments
  • 500 specialists
  • 25 000 surgeries per annum
  • 94 000 patients per annum

The Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov) is one of the three largest Israeli hospitals, and even after being renamed in 1973, it is known among patients as the Ichilov clinic. People come here for primary examinations and verification of diagnoses, emergency care, and a wide range of surgical interventions, as well as for recovery and preventive tests. The hospital has gained popularity not only among residents but also among foreign tourists who are interested in receiving first-class medical services at reasonable prices.

Treatment price

Please inquire

Cost of an estimate

Free of charge

Otolaryngology (ENT) — лечение в Assuta Hospital

Tel Aviv, Israel

Quick response time

High demand among patients

  • 1934 – foundation year
  • 400 beds
  • 765 specialists
  • 90 000 surgeries annually

The Assuta clinic chain ranks 7th in terms of profitability among Israeli medical institutions and attracts thousands of medical tourists from different parts of the world. The hospital’s history began in 1934, and the founder is Dr. Ben-Zion Harel, who arrived from Germany before the founding of Israel and opened a small center in Tel Aviv. Now, in addition to the main building, which occupies eight hectares, the network includes ten more clinics and dozens of clinical and inpatient departments throughout Israel.

Treatment price

Please inquire

Cost of an estimate

Free of charge

Otolaryngology (ENT) — лечение в Herzliya medical center

Herzliya, Israel

Average speed of response

Average level of demand

  • 550 specialists
  • 120 departments
  • 8 000 patients annually
  • 20 000 surgeries annually

Topping many popularity ratings among Israeli and foreign patients, Herzliya Medical Center is a new-generation medical facility where patients can expect prompt and qualified care at fair prices.

Treatment price

Please inquire

Cost of an estimate

Free of charge

Otolaryngology (ENT) — лечение в Sheba Medical Center

Ramat-Gan, Israel

Average response speed

Average level of demand

  • 150 departments
  • 1990 beds
  • 1000+ medical specialists
  • 1M+ patients yearly

Having gone from an ordinary military hospital to an internationally recognized medical center, the Sheba Clinic has a huge clinical, rehabilitation, and research base, annually occupying the highest high positions in the ratings of Israeli hospitals. It has the status of a university center and about 150 departments. Sheba actively cooperates with other medical institutions in Israel, the USA, Germany, Japan, and other countries.

Treatment price

Please inquire

Cost of an estimate

Free of charge

Otolaryngology (ENT) — лечение в Rudolfinerhaus Private Hospital (Rudolfinerhaus Privatklinik)

Vienna, Austria

Average speed of response

Average level of demand

  • Founded in 1882
  • 156 beds
  • over 500 specialists

The Rudolfinerhaus Clinic, which began its activity thanks to Dr. Theodor Billroth in the second half of the nineteenth century, is now one of the leading private diagnostic and treatment centers not only in Vienna and Austria but throughout Europe. Adhering to the principle of providing high-quality service to each patient, the hospital is constantly introducing the latest technologies and improving the conditions for patients’ stay, as well as creating opportunities for comfortable treatment of foreign patients. The clinic is multidisciplinary – they treat here with various pathologies of the heart, nervous and urinary systems, blood vessels, oncology, and many other health problems.

Treatment price

Please inquire

Cost of an estimate

Free of charge

Otolaryngology (ENT) — лечение в Confraternität Private Hospital (Privatklinik Confraternität)

Vienna, Austria

Quick response time

High demand among patients

  • 3 operating theaters
  • 2 procedure rooms
  • 96 beds
  • 2 beds in the interdisciplinary sleep laboratory

The Confraternität Privatklinik was founded in 1729 and is located in the very center of Vienna, 25 km from the airport and 3.5 km from the railway station. The clinic is a multidisciplinary private medical institution providing patients with high-quality diagnostic and therapeutic services.

Treatment price

Please inquire

Cost of an estimate

Free of charge

Otolaryngology (ENT) — лечение в Privatklinik LEECH

Graz, Austria

Quick response time

High demand among patients

  • 44 beds
  • 20 high-level specialists

The Austrian medical institution “Privatklinik LEECH” is a part of the Sunlass Holding, which consists of 10 clinics. This is a private hospital, opened in 2005, located in the city of Graz. Nearby are shopping centers and a botanical garden.

Treatment price

Please inquire

Cost of an estimate

Free of charge

Otolaryngology (ENT) — лечение в Vienna General Hospital—Allgemeines Krankenhaus der Stadt Wien

Vienna, Austria

Average speed of response

Average level of demand

  • Founded in 1693
  • 2,137 beds
  • 1,464 specialists
  • 26 multidisciplinary clinics
  • 42 clinical institutes

A modern advanced university hospital with over three hundred years of history and thousands of employees. AKH is the oldest university hospital in Europe. With the capacity of 30 clinics and partner institutions, the Central Clinical Hospital of Vienna is rightfully considered one of the largest and most popular medical institutions among patients (including foreigners) in the country. AKH is called “a city within a city” because its vast territory has everything necessary for living, diagnosing, treating, and rehabilitating patients, as well as accommodating their accompanying persons.

Treatment price

Please inquire

Receive an estimate

Free of charge

Treatment inquiry

To patients