Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) in Metro Manila

Ear, nose, and throat, ENT for short or Otolaryngology, is a medical specialty that focuses on the care and treatment of the ears, nose, and throat. Physicians who specialized in ENT are called otolaryngologists or ENT doctors and are qualified and trained in both the medical and surgical management of the following conditions:

• Conditions of the ear – ENT doctors can help with ear disorders or other issues, such as ear infections, hearing impairment, ear noise (tinnitus), balance disorders, nerve pain, as well as facial and cranial nerve disorders. They can also manage congenital disorders (disorders that are present since birth) of the inner and outer ear. 
• Conditions of the nose – one of the primary skills of ENT doctors in the care of the nose, nasal cavity, and sinuses. They can diagnose, treat, and manage allergies, deviated septum, smell disorders, sinusitis, polyps, and nasal obstruction because of a deviated septum. They can also perform rhinoplasty surgery to correct the appearance of the nose.
• Conditions of the throat – disorders, and conditions that affect the throat, larynx (voice box), and the esophagus or upper aero-digestive tract can be diagnosed and treated by ENT doctors, including voice and swallowing disorders. 
• ENT-related conditions of the head and neck – ENT doctors are trained to treat infectious diseases, tumors, trauma, and deformities of the head, face, and neck. They can also manage problems with the nerves in these areas that control smelling, sight, hearing, and facial movements. In addition, they can perform cosmetic and reconstructive surgery to the head and neck area.

The procedures that ENT doctors perform include, but are not limited to:

• Tympanostomy
• Myringoplasty
• Tympanoplasty
• Stapedectomy
• Tympanomastoidectomy
• Laryngoplasty
• Esophagoscopy
• Laryngoscopy
• Microlaryngoscopy
• Septoplasty
• Nasal valve reconstruction
• Nasal fracture reduction
• Rhinoplasty
• Functional endoscopic sinus surgery
• Parotidectomy
• Neck mass biopsy
• Submandibular gland removal
• Airway reconstruction
• Tonsillectomy
• Adenoidectomy
• Thyroidectomy
• Parathyroidectomy.

How Long Should I Stay in Metro Manila?

Your length of stay depends on your condition and the type of treatment you underwent. For surgical procedures, you may need to stay in the hospital for a few days or you can leave the hospital immediately. However, it is advisable that you stay in Metro Manila for at least 2 weeks or until your ENT doctor says it is safe to travel home. This is because the change in the aircraft’s cabin pressure can cause problems with the surgical site. During your stay, you also need to attend a follow-up appointment where your doctor will remove the stitches (if necessary) and monitor your healing progress.

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

Your ENT doctor will give you a specific recovery timeline, including when you can resume your normal activity and return to work. In general, you need to avoid all activities that may increase blood pressure in your head area for at least 3 weeks. You also need to avoid strenuous activity for at least two weeks. 

What Aftercare is Required?

Your ENT doctor will give you instructions on how to protect the health of your ear, nose, and throat, as well as how to prevent your disease from reoccurring or complications. Make sure to follow all the instructions closely. Depending on your specific condition, you may be required to attend regular checkups. In most cases, you have the choice to have regular checkups with your local doctor at home or with your ENT doctor in Metro Manila.

What's the Success Rate?

The continuous advancement of ENT has increased the success rate of ENT procedures. While there are no general statistics for all ENT procedures, most procedures are proven to be safe and highly successful. For example, the success rate of tympanoplasty is around 90%. Risks and side effects of ENT procedures depend on the specific procedure and the health status of the patient. All surgical procedures generally carry the risk of bleeding, infection, and an adverse reaction to the anesthetic.

Are there Alternatives?

In most cases, there is no alternative to ENT when you have problems with your ear, nose, and throat. However, depending on your condition, your ENT doctor may work with or refer you to a relevant specialist.

Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) in and around Metro Manila

About Manila

Manila is the capital of the Philippines and is divided into 16 districts; it is one of the densest and populated cities of the world. Each district has its own history and cultural legacy. The city was under the rule of Spanish conquerors for almost three centuries. You can see the remains of that era in the ruins of the historical buildings. Today, the City is very modern with tall skyscrapers and modern architecture.

The Philippines is developing into one of the top countries in the world for medical tourism. Approximately 15 million people globally travel to other countries in search of quality medical care at affordable prices. Manila is a favorite destination due to the following reasons:

• It provides state-of-the-art procedures at affordable prices.
• With excellent infrastructure, the City can handle the large numbers of foreigners who visit Manila.
• The Hospital and clinic staff are very competent, friendly, and educated and have a good knowledge of English to communicate with their patients.  
• The doctors are very well-qualified and hold international certifications.
• The city has a reputation in providing excellent post-surgical care by the nurses and physiotherapists.
• The Medical Industry provides many alternative therapies at some of the best spa resorts. You can combine a surgical procedure with alternative healing therapies at the same time.

Popular Areas in Manila

Manila Bay has many tourist spots and you will find many monuments that depict the Spanish occupation of the country. There are many Baroque Colonial Churches that will enable you to appreciate the artistic designs.

The National Museum of the Philippines, Bahay Chinoy, the National Art Gallery, and the Metropolitan Museum of Manila are some of the popular museums that you must visit in Manila. Rizal Park also known as Luneta is a historical urban park that is worth visiting.

There are also many organized tours that can help you get the best out of your sightseeing, for example, the Intramuros Tour, Rizal Park Tour, or the Skyscraper Gazing Tour and more.

Manila is a very modern contemporary city as the historical buildings have been replaced by modern architecture with better planning and layout and the buildings are earthquake resistant.

The city has many cultural and religious festivals throughout the year. There are plenty of shops, both big and small where you can buy branded goods at affordable prices.

Weather and Climate in Manila

The Philippines is a tropical country and in Manila, you will not experience too much temperature variations. January is the coolest month while May is the warmest month. The average temperature remains between 14°C and 38°C. The rainy season is between May and November. The rest of the months are dry. Manila is a humid city and bad weather such as Typhoons may occur during the months of June and September.

Getting around in Manila

People traveling from nearby countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia can use the City’s sea entry points. For all other passengers, the best option is to take the air route.

The Ninoy Aquino International Airport is the City’s major international airport. It has four different terminals that connect via bus transfers. If you are taking a connecting flight, remember to keep some time as a buffer, as transfers may force you to travel through the busy streets of Manila. Terminal 1 caters to International flights and Philippine Airlines uses T2 and domestic carriers and international carriers use T3 with budget carriers largely using T4.

You can take a bus from the airport to the city. Taxis have meters and you can hail a cab outside the airport. Buses and small vans or jeepneys are popular modes of transport within the city.

Manila has three light rail systems and one heavy train line. The light rail systems are the LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3. You can also use the pedicabs and tricycles for shorter distances. In some areas, you can even find horse-driven carriages called calesa.

Tourist Visas in Manila

The visa process is not a very complex system as the Philippines has a visa waiver program for certain countries. All European nations, South American countries, and many others form part of this program. Citizens from these countries can stay in Manila for up to 30 days, whereas nationals from Brazil and Israel may stay in Manila for 59 days. Hong Kong, Macau, and Portugal residents can stay for 14 days without a visa. Tourists belonging to other countries need to apply for a visa to enter the Philippines, in the consulate in their respective countries.

You must also have a valid return ticket. Passport must also be valid for at least six months and beyond to stay in the country. Visa-exempt people may extend their stay by one or two months after which they will have to apply for a visa.

Additional Information

• The currency of the Philippines is Peso (symbol: ₱). It is strong in the world market and the usual exchange rate is 1 Dollar equals 50 Pesos. Dollars are easy to exchange compared to other currencies.
• Credit cards are acceptable in almost every place. The city also has many ATMs from where you can withdraw money without difficulty. However, ATMs will charge you a minimal exchange fee on foreign cards.
• Bargaining and negotiating are acceptable in most places and it can get you better deals.
• Restaurants may add a service charge of up to 10%. You can pay a cash tip of 5 to 10 %. People often round off the taxi fare.
• Manila is a city full of people who speak English proficiently. Filipino and English are the two official languages. Filipino is a variety of Tagalog, Austronesian languages.
• Hindu, Muslim, Buddhism, and Christian religions have left their mark on the Philippines at different periods. Today, a majority of the population is Roman Catholic.
• There are many public holidays in Manila. Some of the important ones are Christmas Eve, Christmas, Eid al-Fitr (Ramadan), Labor Day, New Year, and Good Friday, etc. The Independence Day falls on June 12th and Manila Day on 24th June.