In this issue of HAUSARZT PRAXIS, the focus is on ORL.
You will find two exciting articles about this on the following pages. First, the topic of “voice disorders” is examined in more detail. The family physician is frequently confronted with this in his practice. He must ask himself what the possible causes of a voice disorder are: acute or chronic laryngitis, non-specific (functional) dysphonia, or a benign vocal fold lesion after all?
Salome Zwicky, M.D., Schlieren, Switzerland, demonstrates very clearly in her article how the general practitioner can make a differential diagnosis based on the medical history and without the possibilities of diagnostic loupe laryngoscopy. Although acute laryngitis is usually present in a short-lasting voice disorder, differential diagnoses such as vocal fold paralysis, vocal fold hemorrhage, or functional psychogenic dys- or aphonia should not be forgotten.
A voice disorder lasting longer than three weeks should in any case be clarified laryngoscopically in the absence of improvement, so as not to miss a laryngeal carcinoma.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPLS) is also relevant to the primary care physician. As the most common cause of vertigo symptomatology, it can be easily treated by means of simple positioning maneuvers, which, according to studies, is unfortunately not yet effectively implemented in practice in many cases. Based on concrete tips for diagnosis and therapy, PD Dr. med. Stefan Hegemann and Dr. med. Arianne Monge Naldi, Zurich, provide an overview of the various options for dealing with this clinical picture. Central is also here the exact anamnesis, which should be confirmed afterwards in the clinical examination (Dix-Hallpike-/Barbecue-maneuver).
Both ORL articles thus offer the interested reader a highly informative read with high practical relevance. I wish you a lot of fun with it and greet you warmly
Peter M. Herrmann, MD
HAUSARZT PRAXIS 2014; 9(3): 14
