Digital otoscopy in remote consultations.

Introduction: Otoscopes and otomicroscopes are the most commonly used instruments for visualizing the ear. Digital otoscopy (DO) could be used to improve diagnostics in primary health care by utilizing image enlargement. The aim of the study was to explore the possibilities of DO in remote consultations.

The relative proportion of comorbidities among rhinitis and rhinosinusitis patients and their impact on visit burden.

Background: The aim was to evaluate the relative proportion of Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug exacerbated respiratory disease (NERD) and other comorbidities, and their impact on the burden of outpatient visits due to allergic rhinitis (AR), non-allergic rhinitis (NAR), acute rhinosinusitis (ARS), and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and without (CRSsNP).

Methods: We used hospital registry data of a random sample of 5080 rhinitis/rhinosinusitis patients diagnosed during 2005-2019. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD10) diagnoses, visits, and other factors were collected from electronic health records by using information extraction and data processing methods.

Severe acute otitis media and mastoiditis caused by group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus.

Objective: To describe the characteristics, diagnostics, treatment, and outcome of severe acute otitis media (AOM) and acute mastoiditis (AM) caused by group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GAS).

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Methods: The yearly incidence of inpatient care-needing GAS AOM/AM patients in our hospital catchment area between 2002 and 2018 was investigated.

Acute epiglottitis after COVID-19 infection.

In patients with acute epiglottitis, the possibility of COVID-19 should be ruled out. Repeated nasofiberoscopy examinations or a tracheostomy, which may produce infectious aerosols, may be required.