Question Easy:
A 4-year-old boy presents with ear pain and fever. On examination, his tympanic membrane is bulging and erythematous. What is the most likely diagnosis? 🌡️👂
A) Otitis externa
B) Otitis media
C) Tympanic membrane perforation
D) Cholesteatoma
E) Foreign body in the ear
Question Medium:
A 65-year-old woman visits the GP complaining of difficulty hearing, especially in crowded places. She denies any pain or recent infections. She mentions that everything just sounds muffled, and wax removal didn’t help. What is the likely underlying cause of her symptoms? 👵🔊
A) Presbycusis
B) Otosclerosis
C) Labyrinthitis
D) Acoustic neuroma
E) Meniere’s disease
Question Hard:
A 30-year-old woman presents with sudden onset of vertigo, nausea, and tinnitus in her left ear. She has a history of similar episodes over the past year. Examination shows a positive Romberg test; the patient sways towards the left. An MRI is performed, showing normal results. What is the most likely diagnosis? 🤢🌀
A) Acoustic neuroma
B) Vestibular neuritis
C) Meniere’s disease
D) Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
E) Multiple sclerosis
Explanations & Answers:
Question Easy Answer: B) Otitis media
Question Easy Explanation: Otitis media is common in children and presents with ear pain, fever, and a bulging, erythematous tympanic membrane. According to NICE guidelines, this condition often follows an upper respiratory tract infection.
Question Medium Answer: A) Presbycusis
Question Medium Explanation: Presbycusis is an age-related sensorineural hearing loss, commonly affecting high-frequency sounds. Patients often struggle to hear in noisy environments. According to NHS guidelines, it is the most common cause of hearing loss in older adults.
Question Hard Answer: C) Meniere’s disease
Question Hard Explanation: Meniere’s disease is characterized by episodic vertigo, tinnitus, and fluctuating hearing loss. The presentation of recurrent episodes with tinnitus and vertigo fits this diagnosis. The NICE guidelines emphasize these characteristic triad symptoms and often suggest audiometry and lifestyle modifications as part of management.
Medical fact of the day: Did you know that the human ear can detect sounds as quiet as 0 decibels? In a medical setting, this remarkable sensitivity emphasizes the importance of protecting hearing against excessive noise exposure, which is a key prevention strategy advised by the NHS.
Quote of the day: “Every moment spent caring for patients is a testament to your resilience and dedication. Keep nurturing hope and healing.” 🌟