ENT

Feel Better

Janning ENT Center is your trusted team for ear, nose and throat solutions in the region! You can trust our specialists to help you quickly get back to feeling like yourself again. Our team of specialists accurately identifies and treats common ENT problems and sleep disorders in all age groups. We work with passion and compassion to make your life better!

Children's Ear Exams in Willmar, Minnesota

Common Ear Problems

Ear Infections

Ear infections are pediatric problems related to Eustachian Tube (ET) dysfunction in the back of the nose. The ET is immature in children, and with recurrent head colds especially in winter months, the ears often get infected. Your child might have symptoms like poor sleep, ear pain, and fever. An exam of the ear drum will show pus in the middle ear. Treatment is with antibiotics, ibuprofen and acetaminophen. If your child has recurrent infections, hearing loss or complications of the infections, our professionals might suggest inserting ventilation tubes which will relieve the ET dysfunction for months to years. Ventilation tubes in children are done under general anesthesia and take only a few minutes with a quick recovery and instant improvement. The procedure can be done on adults as well.

Cerumen

Ear wax is very common and usually extrudes on its own. Sometimes wax gets obstructed and will need assistance in removal (especially to better see the eardrum). Blockage can cause hearing loss, pain and ringing. Our team of professionals will safely remove wax and give you counseling about good canal skin maintenance.

Eardrum Perforation

A hole in the eardrum can cause hearing loss and can create an unsafe ear which is prone to infections. Causes are diverse and repair is possible. An audiogram (hearing test) is strongly encouraged to help with diagnosis and treatment of this problem. Tympanoplasty is the most common surgical repair and is usually successful. Recovery is fairly easy. See our professionals about the work up and treatment of eardrum perforations.

Ear Pain

There are many causes related to the ear pain such as Eustachian Tube (ET) dysfunction (flying, fluid in middle ear), middle ear infection (children mostly), and canal infections or “swimmer’s ear.” There are also causes of ear pain not related to the ear. The most common cause is temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. This is inflammation of the jaw joint in front of the ear, arthritis of the joint, or inflammation of the chewing muscles. Our specialists will guide you in the correct diagnosis and various treatment options for ear pain.

ENT Specialists in Willmar, Minnesota

Common Nose Problems and Causes

Stuffy Nose/Congestion

One of the most common nose problems is congestion. It happens when the nasal tissues and vessels become swollen due to colds, flu, medication, dry air, bright lights, cold temperatures and hormonal changes, among others. Congestion can affect your ability to breathe, taste or smell. 

Snoring

There are many different factors that can cause snoring. For some people, their airway narrows as the tissues relax during sleep and produces a vibrating sound. Others who have enlarged tissues or tonsils, are overweight or have allergies may have restricted airways and experience snoring. 

Pediatric Snoring

Though more common in adults, snoring can also affect children. Your child needs a good night’s sleep to ensure their growth and development. Kids who snore have a higher risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, lung disorders and high blood pressure. Did you know snoring can also lead to increased urine production at night? This can result in bedwetting.

Loss of Smell

While usually only temporary, losing your ability to smell can be miserable whether it is partial or complete. The most common causes include allergies, flu, colds, nasal obstructions, sinusitis or non-allergic rhinitis, but loss of smell can also be caused by medications, diseases, hormonal imbalances, diabetes and age, among others.

Nasal Fracture

Also referred to as a broken nose, a nasal fracture can happen as the result of a vehicle accidents, contact sports or contact with a fixed object. Noticeable pain and swelling are signs of a nasal fracture. If you have unstoppable nose bleeds or find that your nose is out of place, you may have a nasal fracture. 

Nasal Obstruction

This common nose problem is a blockage in the nasal cavity that restrict airflow out of either one or both nostrils. Obstructions can be caused by allergies, sinus infections, cold or medications.

Deviated Septum

Most people have a deviated septum and may not know it. This condition happens when the bone and cartilage separating the nasal cavity is crooked or off center. It can be caused by injury or trauma to the nose as well as during fetal development. Those who have a deviated septum may experience frequent nosebleeds, sinus infection and nasal congestion as well as loud breathing or snoring. 

Nasal Polyps

These small, benign growths in the nasal passage create obstructions in the sinuses causing pain, pressure, snoring, discharge, congestion headaches and more. Most are brought on by sinus infections, hay fever, asthma and others. If left untreated, nasal polyps can grow large enough to create serious medical conditions like blood clots, aneurysms and obstructive sleep apnea. 

Nosebleeds

Nosebleeds are typically nothing more than a nuisance. They happen when the nasal passages become dry or irritated, causing the blood vessels to break. Some triggers include allergies, colds, nose picking, cold weather, blowing the nose too hard, frequent sneezing or trauma to the nose. Children under 10 and adults over 50 are more susceptible to nosebleeds.

Janning ENT Solutions

Nasal issues can be painful and bothersome. At Janning ENT Center, we have the solutions you need. Visit with our specialists to get an accurate diagnosis and specified treatment plan to get back to feeling like yourself again.

Septoplasty

This surgical procedure will correct a deviated septum. It straightens the septum to allow air to properly flow through both sides of the nose. The procedure takes between 30 and 90 minutes while you are under local or general anesthesia. 

Surgery

Other surgeries may be performed depending on your condition. You can trust the team at Janning ENT Center to fix nasal fractures, nasal polyps and other obstructions. Talk with our specialists to find out of surgery is needed.

Medication

There are medications to help with nasal congestion and other symptoms such as allergies, colds and more that cause problems in the nose. Talk with our specialists to find out which medication is right for you.

ENT Specialists in Willmar, Minnesota

Common Throat Problems

Sore Throat

A sore throat can have many causes. A comprehensive history and exam in our office will likely help the patient find the causes and treatment options. Tonsillitis is very common, especially in children. With enough episodes of tonsillitis and adenoiditis, adenotonsillectomy can be curative. Adult tonsillitis is not as common, but we see this also.

Reflux Disease

Reflux disease is a very common cause of sore throat. Most people have experienced GERD—gastroesophageal reflux disease. In our office, we more likely see LPRD—laryngopharyngeal reflux disease. This involves stomach contents (acid, pepsin, etc.) getting into the throat, usually at night. It causes sore throat, swallowing and voice changes, a lump in the throat (throat clearing, globus), and cough. Management usually involves diet modification, weight loss, raising the head of bed and sometimes medications. We usually look at the throat including the vocal cords with a small fiberoptic endoscope. This gives us a lot of information about vocal movement, lesions, nodules, and so on.

Post Nasal Drainage

Post nasal drainage (URI, rhinitis and sinusitis) also causes a sore throat. Many forms of treatment are used in our office. Please see the section about nasal disorders.

Hoarseness

Hoarseness or dysphonia is commonly caused by vocal abuse, infections (usually viral laryngitis), acid reflux, lesions and nodules, vocal cord weakness and other causes. It is important to have the vocal cords evaluated in our office if hoarseness has been present for a few weeks. This is especially true in smokers, who are at significantly higher risk for cancer. A small flexible fiberoptic endoscope is placed through the nostril to better evaluate the vocal structures. Treatment depends on the cause. A vocal polyp or lesion might need resection or biopsy. Most patients are instructed to hydrate well, use good voice hygiene (avoid yelling, coughing, whispering, singing, and so on) and see a voice therapist.

Difficulty Swallowing

Difficulty swallowing is called dysphagia and sometimes includes pain (odynophagia), a lump in the throat sensation (globus), voice changes and other symptoms. Work up usually involves placing a small flexible fiberoptic endoscope into the nose to evaluate the voice and swallowing structures. A swallow study (like an X-ray) or evaluation of the esophagus under anesthesia (esophagoscopy) might be indicated. In our office, we usually discuss careful swallowing techniques which are then enhanced by a swallowing expert or therapist. Diet modification and good hydration are usually suggested as well. Treatment of difficulty swallowing depends on the cause. We will do everything possible at Janning ENT Center to help you swallow better!

Common Neck Disorders

Thyroid Nodule

A thyroid nodule is very common, especially in women. This is usually evaluated in our office with laboratory tests, a needle biopsy, ultrasound and sometimes other testing. Nodules can be benign or malignant and may be removed. Surgery is called a thyroidectomy which is very successful in treatment of thyroid cancer. Any nodule noted in the lower neck should be evaluated in our office.

Salivary Gland Mass or Swelling

Salivary gland swelling is fairly common. The major saliva glands are in front of the ear (parotid gland), just under the jaw (submandibular gland) and along the floor of mouth (sublingual gland). There are also many smaller glands throughout the mouth and throat that can be swollen or infected. Swelling of the glands is usually due to infection of the duct that carries saliva into the mouth. Infection is treated with antibiotics, good hydration, and lemon drops or lemon in water, which enhances saliva formation. A mass in any gland might need a biopsy and imaging (CT scan, ultrasound). Surgical excision is done for cancer and is usually very well tolerated and curative.

Lipoma

A lipoma can show up anywhere on the body. It is often in the neck. This is a benign fatty mass and may require excision. Imaging like a CT scan can be helpful. Excision vs. observation depends on many factors like airway compromise, pain, and so on.

Neck Cancer

Any mass in the neck should be evaluated in our office. At Janning ENT Center, we can help determine if the mass is concerning and what further work up and treatment are needed. Cancer in the neck (excluding thyroid cancer) is most often called squamous cell carcinoma. This is a very serious cancer and needs urgent management. The primary source of cancer is NOT from the neck but usually from a part of the aerodigestive tract. This could be the tonsil, base of tongue, vocal region, nasopharynx or other areas. We will strongly recommend further evaluation with a flexible fiberoptic endoscope to look at these structures. Imaging is needed, usually a CT scan. Biopsy is also needed and often can be done easily in our office. Squamous cell carcinoma is almost always secondary to tobacco use. It is imperative that the patient quit using tobacco. Surgery is often the treatment, and options will be discussed in our office. Other treatment like radiation therapy and chemotherapy (medications) will be considered. There are many other less common types of neck cancer. Please make an appointment with us for any concerning neck mass.

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