Healthcare | Monday 20 April, 2015 10:08 am |

Antibiotics, vaccines and surgical methods for managing treatment of tonsillitis explored at ENT conference in Dubai

Diseases of the ear, nose and throat (ENT), such as tonsillitis, are some of the most common reasons for seeking medical treatment in the UAE, and for absenteeism from work. As a result, ENT experts from across the Middle East are renewing efforts to explore the latest advances in treatment and management of tonsillitis and other ENT disorders.

Tonsillitis, defined as the inflammation of the tonsils, is commonly caused by a virus such as the common cold or flu, but some cases are also attributed to the climate and indoor pollution in the UAE, or bacterial infections such as group A streptococcus .

According to Dr Faisal Al Kalbani, ENT Specialist, Oman Medical Specialty Board, Muscat. “There has been much advancement in the treatment and management of the spread of tonsillitis. These include new antibiotics treatment for bacterial infections, new surgical methodologies such as Coablation tonsillectomies, a new vaccine for tonsillitis as part of the flu vaccine currently implemented by many healthcare institutions in the region. This is in addition to ongoing research on bacterial biofilms to better understand chronic bacterial infections that cause tonsillitis, amongst other complications.”

While tonsillitis isn’t usually a serious condition, there are some complications that can sometimes occur such as a recurrent infection, puss collection, infection of nearby structures which may lead to neck spaces abscess, sepsis ,rheumatic heart disease, glomerulonephritis, febrile convulsion, thrombophlebitis, septic arthritis, breathing , and swallowing difficulties.

According to Dr Nada Al Marhoobi, who is a resident ENT at the Oman Medical Specialty Board in Muscat, and speaker at the 12th Middle East Update in Otolaryngology Conference & Exhibition (ME-OTO) that got underway today, “In the Middle East, tonsillitis is most prevalent amongst children between the ages of two and seven. Approximately 25-30 out of every 1000 children are known to suffer from the infection. In other age groups, the ratio is a lot less where it only occurs in every two in 1000 individuals.”

The Middle East Update in Otolaryngology Conference & Exhibition is the MENA region's largest gathering of head and neck surgeons, ENT specialists, and audiologists and continues until 21 April 2015 at Madinat Jumeirah Arena, Dubai. The exhibition features more than 60 leading companies in the field, showcasing the latest technology and innovation from across the world. ME-OTO also hosts a three-day conference addressing the major issues in rhinology, head & neck surgery, otology, audiology & speech therapy, rhinoplasty, endoscopic ear surgery and thyroid cancer.


About the Middle East Update in Otolaryngology Conference & Exhibition:
Website: www.me-oto.com

About Informa Life Sciences Exhibitions:
Website: www.informalifesciences.com

About Oman Medical Specialty Board
Website: www.omsb.org