are ears and throat connected?
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The middle ear is connected to the top of the back of the throat by the Eustachian tube which is lined with mucous, just like the inside of the nose and throat. The Eustachian tube includes the tiny bones through which sound travels to the ear.
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Ear infections are not contagious or spread from one person to another, but the colds that result in ear infections are. Colds are spread when germs are released from the nose or mouth during coughing or sneezing.
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Throat infections If you find it painful to swallow and you have a sore throat, your earache could be a symptom of a throat infection, such as tonsillitis or quinsy (an abscess on one side of the back of your throat, which can sometimes make it very difficult to swallow even fluids).
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ENTs and Allergists commonly work together to treat conditions where allergies are causing problems in the ears, nose, sinuses and throat regions. ENTs often refer patients to Allergists when surgery is not indicated.
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Structure and Function The Eustachian tube is located in the para-pharyngeal space and is closely linked to the infratemporal fossa. The Eustachian tube continues from the front wall of the middle ear to the side wall of the nasopharynx, progressing along the posterior edge of the medial pterygoid plate.
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Eustachian tube blockage But instead of flowing down the throat, fluid and mucus can sometimes become trapped in the middle ear and clog the ear. This blockage usually accompanies an infection, such as the common cold, influenza, or sinusitis. Allergic rhinitis can also cause a blockage in the Eustachian tube.
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The ear can provide pathways for disease to attack the brain, positioned only a few millimeters from the middle ear. While a fatal ear infection is a rare event, especially when treated with the complete arsenal of modern medicine, other serious complications are possible, from extreme pain to deafness.
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An ear infection usually develops after a viral upper respiratory infection. The infection can cause inflammation and swelling of the Eustachian tubes. These thin tubes run from the ears to behind the nose at the upper part of the throat.
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Eustachian tube. A canal that links the middle ear with the back of the nose. The eustachian tube helps to equalize the pressure in the middle ear. Equalized pressure is needed for the proper transfer of sound waves. The eustachian tube is lined with mucous, just like the inside of the nose and throat.
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The ear belongs to the sensory system. This is a subset of the nervous system dedicated to gathering information about the world external to the body...
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Strep throat can cause a very painful sore throat that comes on very quickly. Sometimes, the bacteria from a throat infection can travel into the eustachian tubes and middle ear, causing an ear infection. Other symptoms of strep throat include: white patches or pus on the tonsils.
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The eustachian tube (pharyngotympanic tube) connects the middle ear cavity with the nasopharynx. It aerates the middle ear system and clears mucus from the middle ear into the nasopharynx. Opening and closing functions of the eustachian tube are physiologically and pathologically important.
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Muscle Tension or Jaw Problems If those areas become inflamed due to excess pressure, the sensory nerves that connect to the ear may become inflamed also, and ear problems may result. In these cases, pain may extend beyond the ear into the neck or jaw.
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A common symptom is the sensation of mucus at the back of the nose or throat, which often causes people to continually clear their throat. In some cases, it can cause difficulty swallowing. The ears also drain into the back of the nose via the Eustachian tubes, so occasionally LPR can cause problems with blocked ears.
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The larynx (voice box) is the area that connects the throat to the windpipe (trachea).
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Diagnosis. Your doctor can usually diagnose an ear infection or another condition based on the symptoms you describe and an exam. The doctor will likely use a lighted instrument (an otoscope) to look at the ears, throat and nasal passage. He or she will also likely listen to your child breathe with a stethoscope.
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An ear infection occurs when one of your eustachian tubes becomes swollen or blocked, causing fluid to build up in your middle ear. Eustachian tubes are small tubes that run from each ear directly to the back of the throat.