Throat Conditions and Treatments

Just imagine for a moment what goes on in your throat. You breathe air in and out of your throat 24 hours per day. Food and drink goes in several times a day. This is the place where communication begins with words, speech, singing, yelling etc. So, when someone has tonsillitis, sore throat, acid reflux, thyroid disease, sleep apnea, snoring or a tonsillectomy, it can be a major problem. Fortunately Dr. Kitt and his staff are prepared to help the many Bakersfield patients who need medical treatment of the throat. If you have any questions, please give us a call at our Bakersfield ENT Clinic.

Here are a few samples of the types of conditions that we treat at our Bakersfield ENT Clinic:

  1. Sore Throats - In children tonsillitis represents recurrent infections on residual lymph nodes which no longer fight germs. They may cause pain discomfort, and their enlargement may cause oral partial airway obstruction. At times it may cause sleep apnea at night and serious consequences. In adults a sore throat affects the entire throat membrane (pharynx), it may be constant irritating, hard to swallow and painful which can be caused by exposure to irritants such as smoke or chemical fumes, and nasal obstruction can force dry air through the mouth. Treatment must be individualized such as tonsillectomy and management of the underlying conditions.

  2. Lumpy or choking sensation in the throat; A “phantom” subjective sensation, such as a discomfort, a tight feeling, a ticklish spot from the Adam’s apple or the neck down to the upper chest area. It can be associated with discomfort when swallowing at meal time, frequent throat clearing and coughing to dislodge the sensation but seems to make it worse. Many associated physical conditions from the nose, pharynx, and many abnormal functions of organs in the neck, acid reflux from stomach up to esophagus and throat may precipitate the symptoms. All the treatments must be individualized accordingly.

  3. Snoring and Sleep Apnea. Snoring is a problem for many which can be a social nuisance. It can be associated with sleep apnea with significant implications such as waking up tired, or headache, feeling sleepy, and falling asleep at work or while driving, short temper, or diminished attention. Severe sleep apnea may associate with health problems including high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke. A detailed history and upper airway examination is important and many diagnostic techniques including multiple sensors, a sleep at home sensor, and in a sleep lab to verify the severity. Many treatment modalities like nonsurgical and air pressure devices (CPAP and BPAP) or surgical outpatient procedures in selected patients are very helpful.

  4. Acid reflux may cause many throat symptoms and diseases such as lumpy and choking sensation, frequent throat clearing and coughing, hoarseness, sore throat, and trouble swallowing. It requires accurate diagnosis before medical regimen and treatment can be implemented.

  5. Miscellaneous Hoarseness, difficulty in swallowing, sudden weight loss, may require throat examination with mirrors or small nasal scopes. They can be done in an office setting. When more details and biopsies are needed, outpatient procedures can be arranged.