Self-Assessment Questions

4. Ear, nose and throat

• 1. What are the five cardinal features to illicit when consulting a patient with an ear problem??

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  Correct answer:

  • Pain
  • Discharge
  • Deafness
  • Tinnitus
  • Dizziness/vertigo

  See Chapter 10.

• 2. List the common causes of vertigo.

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  Correct answer:

  • Benign positional vertigo
  • Migraine
  • Vestibular neuronitis
  • Ménière's disease
  • Labrynthitis

  See Chapter 11.

• 3. A 24-year-old man presents after sustaining an injury to his nose while playing rugby. He has no other injuries, but his nose appears swollen. What are the key assessment and management steps?

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  Correct answer:

  • Assess for any obvious deformity, bearing in mind that swelling may make this challenging
  • Assess for septal deviation
  • Assess for septal haematoma
  • X-rays not indicated
  • Arrange review in 7–10 days once swelling has subsided and any deformity becomes apparent
  • Give first-aid advice regarding bleeding.

  See Chapter 12.

• 4. List the steps in the first-aid treatment of a nose bleed.

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  Correct answer:

  • Lean patient forward
  • Encourage them to breathe through the mouth
  • Spit out any blood running down the throat
  • Pinch the soft anterior portion of the nose
  • Cold water/ice on the back of the neck
  • Loosen all tight neck garments

  See Chapter 12.