Eustachian tube dysfunction

Eustachian Tube Dysfunction

Eustachian tube dysfunction (pronounced: yoo-STAY-shee-un tube dysfunction) is a medical condition that affects the Eustachian tube, a small canal that connects the middle ear to the upper throat and back of the nasal cavity. The Eustachian tube helps to equalize the pressure in the middle ear. When this tube is not working properly, it can cause symptoms such as ear pain, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

Etymology

The term "Eustachian" is derived from the name of the Italian anatomist Bartolomeo Eustachi, who discovered the tube. The term "dysfunction" comes from the Greek word "dys" meaning "bad" or "difficult," and "function" meaning "work."

Symptoms

Symptoms of Eustachian tube dysfunction may include:

• Ear pain
• Hearing loss
• Tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ear)
• Feeling of fullness in the ear
• Vertigo (a sense of spinning)

Causes

Eustachian tube dysfunction can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

• Allergies
• Colds or other upper respiratory infections
• Sinus infections
• Smoking
• Certain medications

Treatment

Treatment for Eustachian tube dysfunction may include:

• Decongestants
• Steroids
• Antihistamines
• Ear tubes (in severe cases)

See Also

• Otitis media
• Barotrauma
• Meniere's disease

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Eustachian tube dysfunction
• Wikipedia's article - Eustachian tube dysfunction

This WikiMD article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.

---

Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski