Dr. Don Paul Setliff M.D.
Ear-Nose and Throat Doctor (ENT)
540 S 8th St El Centro CA, 92243Rating
3/5
About
Dr. Don Setliff is an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor, also known as an otolaryngologist, practicing in El Centro, CA. Dr. Setliff specializes in diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders of the ear, nose and throat, as well other parts of the head and neck, including skin cancer. He accepts patients of all ages. He served residencies at the University of Arkansas and the University of California at San Diego.
Education and Training
University of Arkansas BS, MD 1970
Residency at UC San Diego Otolaryngologist 1975
Board Certification
American Board of Otolaryngology
Provider Details
Dr. Don Paul Setliff M.D.'s Expert Contributions
What does white bumps on tonsils mean?
Most likely of no medical significance. Normal tonsils can vary a lot in appearance. READ MORE
Lately, my ears seem to have more wax than usual. Could this be a sign of an infection?
If you have no other symptoms, very unlikely. READ MORE
My daughter has a lot of wax in her ears. How can we clean them?
As long as the wax doesn't obstruct the canal, it is of no significance. Some of the most commonly seen ear problems are the result of people "cleaning" their ears, usually with Q tips. As wax is formed, the top layers dry and fall out of the ear, in small pieces that you may not see. The top layer of the ear canal skin is constantly and slowly migrating toward the opening and carries wax with it. If there is excessive visible wax, wipe it away with a tissue. Leave the canal wax alone. If she is having trouble hearing, visit an ENT doc. READ MORE
Pain in child's ear. Should we take him to the doctor?
I don't know when this question was written, but yes, you should always consult a physician for persistent ear pain. If severe, consider going to an ER if you can't get in to see an ENT physician, or it's a weekend or night. Your chance of getting a definitive exam and diagnosis and the correct treatment is MUCH greater with an ENT. In most ENT offices patients in acute pain are seen as walk-ins, regardless of the schedule, so just tell the receptionist what's happening. READ MORE
I have terrible ear pain. Could this be an infection?
Persistent ear pain is always best examined by an ENT physician, as soon as feasible. There are many possible causes. About half of all ear pain is from ear disease, usually infection. READ MORE
Can swimmer's ears cause deafness?
Not complete deafness, but temporary muffled hearing until the infection has resolved. READ MORE
Can swimmer's ear get worse?
A good preventive is to instill 3-4 drops of a mixture of one part vinegar and three parts water into each ear after prolonged swimming. Vinegar is acetic acid, usually about 11% by volume, so diluting it to 2 to 3 per cent creates an acid pH in the ear canal, which discourages bacterial infection. READ MORE
What are the symptoms of an inner ear infection in adults?
Google it. READ MORE
How can I remove a single large scar on my nose?
In the medical world, scars are not "removed." They are revised. This means that with most scars, in my experience especially those resulting from dermatologists' work, can be changed to be less noticeable. There are multiple potential procedures to accomplish this. The best trained specialists for these procedures are ENT surgeons, cosmetic surgeons, and plastic surgeons. Dermatology is not a subspecialty of surgery; it is a subspecialty of internal medicine. Most of the public doesn't know this. The methods of revising (improving) scars are too numerous to detail them in an email. I'd suggest you see a physician in one of the above-named specialties to inquire as to what can be done. Many of them don't even charge for an initial consultation. READ MORE
Antibiotics for candida in the ear?
It would be helpful to know your original ear symptoms, if you had any, and your current symptoms, if any. DO NOT take any more Cipro or dexamethasone drops. Steroids make fungus worse, not better. Antibiotics are effective. READ MORE
Is there a way to fill in preauricular pit?
No, you don't "fill them in." Pre-auricular pits are blind pockets lined with skin. The skin sheds into the pocket, so that occasionally you may have a very small amount of discharge from it (foul-smelling keratin debris). The deeper and/or longer it is, the more likely this is to happen. The more extensive ones sometimes become infected and form abscesses that require drainage and/or excision. Unusual ones can tunnel beneath the skin and extend as far as the neck, requiring rather extensive, but usually superficial surgery to remove. Most are short and cause no trouble. The extent can be determined by gentle probing with a lacrimal probe. If they cause no trouble, most people leave them alone. If infections arise, surgical excision can be offered after the infection is treated with incision and drainage and/or antibiotics. READ MORE
Is my snoring related to a nose blockage?
Snoring almost always takes place at the base of the tongue. Weight gain is the most common cause. It has nothing to do with the nose or the lungs. READ MORE
Will using mouthwash kill good bacteria in my mouth as well as bad?
Sometimes. My own opinion is that mouthwashes are no better than water, and are a waste of money and effort. The main benefit is the flushing action to dislodge food particles from between teeth, and it doesn't even do a great job of that. The human mouth is a cess pool of micro-organisms--bacterial, viral, and yeast. The poorer one's dental hygiene is, the more offensive the micro-organisms, mainly bacteria, can become. Mouthwash does NOT make up for poor oral hygience (brushing, flossing, and dental visits for cleaning). The ads on TV showing a drop in bacteria after using mouthwash don't show what happens within a short time after that, which is that the bacteria replace themselves. Excessive use of mouthwashes can even do harm by altering the pH of the mouth, upsetting the normal balance of power among the bacteria, viruses, and yeast, and allowing one group to flourish. A significant cause of aphthous ulcers, also called canker sores, which are viral. READ MORE
Swallowing is hurting and nearly impossible?
Despite what you may have read in the Mother's Manual, "coated" tongue is of NO medical significance. The appearance of the tongue varies over time, and no one knows why. There are some patterns that can idicate underlying disease, but your tongue is within normal limits. Incidentally I do not recommend brushing the tongue, since it often leads to irritative symptoms. As for "hardly swallowing," I don't know what you mean. Generally a person either has dysphagia (trouble swallowing) or does not. If you weight is stable, your swallowing is likely okay. Anxiety due to stress is often the cause of subjective and intermittent dysphagia. Bottom line is that your symptoms don't point to any underlying disease. I recommend exercise for anxiety. READ MORE
Lingering cough for 2 months?
If you had a viral upper respiratory infection at the onset of the cough, it will most likely fade away within the next month, and you should just wait. The only drug that truly suppresses a cough is codeine, and its sedative side effects make normal functioning difficult. It may help at night, however. Remember that it is potentially addictive. If you had no viral URI, you should see a physician. READ MORE
I have the symptoms of COPD apart from the cough-is it COPD?
Not enough info to draw conclusions. But if you smoked as much as a pack per day, it is very probable that you have damage to your lungs. You should consult a pulmonologist. READ MORE
Could my auditory nerve get damaged at birth?
The auditory nerve is deep enough in your brain that it is not susceptible to damage from forceps. Rubella can cause congenital deafness. Any one or more of numerous congenital developmental abnormalities in the ear can produce deafness. Some are treatable. You should see an ENT doc. READ MORE
What could be the reason for my "hazy" hearing?
I suggest you obtain an ear exam and hearing test in an ENT office. READ MORE
Sinus or allergy problem?
Septum surgery has nothing to do with your sinuses. Most likely you do not need further surgery. Sinus x-rays, including CT's, change over time. A simple cold almost always makes the sinus CT markedly abnormal, but only for about 6 weeks. That would be VIRAL sinusitis, for which there is no effective treatment, and which resolves with no treatment. "Sinus headache" is mostly an invention of television, designed to sell "decongestant" pills, which never underwent clinical trials and in truth do not decongest anything! Most patients with the worst sinus disease possible seldom complain of headache. Pressure yes, but not headache. 95% of all headaches are tension headaches, caused by tension, and the best treatment I know of for that is exercise, even a simple walk 2-3 times a week. You should seek medical advice for a chronic cough, although an answer is not always forthcoming. The most common cause is a viral URI, which can trigger a cough that very slowly improves for as much as 3 months, Some blood pressure medicines have cough as a side effect. READ MORE
Itchy ear canals?
The most common cause of itchy ears is the use of Q tips. Leave your ear wax alone, and itching is likely to resolve. You should never use OTC ear drops in your ears if you have tubes. READ MORE
Areas of expertise and specialization
Treatments
- Hearing Loss
- Ear Infection
- Swimmer's Ear
- Ear Wax
- Outer Ear Infection
Dr. Don Paul Setliff M.D.'s Practice location
Dr. Don Setliff, MD
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