Due to their physiological characteristics, children are more likely to experience inflammation of the middle ear, but adults do not favor this disease. Consider why otitis media develops in the middle ear, symptoms and treatment of pathology, depending on its variety.
What are the causes of otitis media?
The middle ear is one of the components of the auditory system, the main function of which is sound conductance due to the transformation of air vibrations. It is a small chamber located between the external ear canal and the inner ear, in which there are: a drum cavity with sound bones, an eustachian tube (auditory) and a cave.
Otitis of the middle ear is an inflammatory lesion that mainly occurs in infectious diseases of the upper respiratory tract obstructing the ventilation of the nasal passages and the permeability of the auditory tube: rhinitis , rhinitis, sinusitis , tonsillitis, etc. In such cases, the infection penetrates the Eustachian tube connecting the nasopharynx with the space middle ear. In this case, pathogens often act as pathogens, less often mixed bacterial and viral flora, viruses, fungi.
In rare cases, pathogenic microorganisms enter the area under consideration with a blood flow (for example, with influenza, scarlet fever). Sometimes the development of the disease is associated with the growth of polyps on the nasal mucosa, curvature of the nasal septum, diving, long reception of antibiotics, allergies, severe hypothermia, improper blowing out. In addition, the cause can serve as external traumatic factors, when the tympanic membrane breaks through (it often happens when the ears are treated with cotton buds).
Acute otitis media
If the duration of the inflammatory lesion does not exceed 2-3 weeks and ends with recovery, it is an acute otitis media of the middle ear. This form of the disease arises as a catarrhal inflammation, passing into a purulent process. Any of the above reasons can provoke it, while in most cases, the main "culprits" are streptococci , pneumococci, hemophilia, morocelles.
Chronic otitis media
If acute inflammation in this auditory department has been very difficult, repeatedly or not received sufficient treatment, chances are high that chronic otitis media will develop. It is a slow, often purulent-inflammatory process with the presence of a defect in the tympanic septum, which takes months and even years, with periodic exacerbations. The causative microflora is often: staphylococcus, E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, peptococci.
Otitis media of the middle ear - symptoms
Depending on the shape and stage of otitis media, the symptoms and treatment are somewhat different. The severity of the clinical picture is due to the localization of inflammatory reactions in the middle part of the ear, although more often all pathways are involved in the pathological process. Consider what otitis symptoms have separately for its basic forms.
Catarrhal otitis media
When acute catarrhal otitis media develops, which is the initial stage of the disease, there is a violation of the ventilation functions of the middle ear due to the blocking of the Eustachian tube. This is accompanied by a restriction or complete blocking of airflow into the middle ear cavity, as a result of which the septum becomes retracted and changes color. The pressure in the tympanic cavity is characterized as negative, and under such conditions an accumulation of inflammatory fluid takes place in it. There are no infectious processes at this stage.
Catarrhal otitis media has the following symptoms:
- slight pain inside the ear;
- auditory perception disorder;
- feeling of pressure, raspiraniya in the ear;
- satisfactory overall condition.
Exudative otitis media
Aseptic inflammation in conditions of persistent absence of air exchange and swelling of the auditory tube can be accompanied by the accumulation of serous exudate, which is released through the walls of blood vessels. Acute middle serous otitis often goes into a chronic stage with an erased symptomatology, but with the development of an infectious flora passes into a purulent stage. The average serous otitis can manifest itself by such signs:
- a feeling of heaviness in the head;
- dizziness;
- dull pain in the ears;
- hearing impairment (may increase, but sometimes accompanied by periods of improvement);
- noise, sensation of splashing of fluid in the ear canal when turning the head;
- the appearance of a transparent or unclear fluid from the ear canal when the eardrum is broken.
Purulent otitis media
Penetration into the middle-middle cavity of infection entails acute purulent otitis media, characterized by the brightest symptomatology. This pathological process tends to spread, and if treatment with otitis media is not started on time, auditory ossicles, a labyrinth, a periosteum, etc. can be affected.
You can detect purulent otitis media of the middle ear by the following manifestations:
- a sharp pain in the ear of a pulsating character, intensified by touch, movements;
- spread of pain in the area of the temple, jaw, orbit;
- increased body temperature;
- general deterioration of the condition;
- increased parotid lymph nodes;
- significant hearing loss;
- noise in the ear.
With this form of the disease, independent breakthrough of the thinned membrane is possible with the outflow of purulent contents. At the same time, the patient's state of health improves somewhat, pains subside, and the temperature decreases. The contraction of the defect of the tympanic septum occurs later (in a few weeks), but when the disease passes to the chronic stage this may not happen.
How to treat otitis media?
If you suspect otitis media, you should start treatment immediately, for which you need to contact an otolaryngologist. Only with medical help can you establish the form of the disease, identify provoking factors, which is very important for choosing therapeutic tactics. When examined, the type of tympanic membrane is assessed, its mobility is checked. If the process is chronic, a measurement of the acuity of hearing, of the intra-arterial pressure may be prescribed.
Catarrhal, purulent and exudative acute otitis media are similar. First of all, use medicamentous techniques aimed at eliminating factors that cause obstruction of the auditory tube. To reduce mucosal edema and mucus secretion, use:
- sosudosuzhivayuschie drops in the nose - Naphthyzine, Nazole, Galazolin, etc .;
- corticosteroids of local action - Dencamethasone, Nazonex, Aldecin, etc .;
- salt solutions for washing the nose - Aqua Maris, Marimer, No-salt, etc.
In the ear canal are administered drugs that provide analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effects, for example:
- solution of boric acid;
- Otinum;
- Otypax ;
- Sofradex;
- Garazon;
- Otisol and the like
To remove the contents from the middle ear and restore the patency of the auditory tube, special catheters, pneumomassage membranes, blowing techniques (according to Politzer, by forced exhalation) are used. If the otitis media of the middle ear, the symptoms and treatment of which coincide with the above, does not go away, resort to surgical techniques (a section of the tympanic membrane with the installation of drainage).
Antibiotics for medium otitis media
Diagnosed middle otitis with purulent contents in the tympanum without antibiotics is not treated. It is often prescribed systemic drugs in tablet form, able to penetrate well into the middle chamber and have a wide range of activities:
- Amoxicillin;
- Augmentin;
- Aksetil;
- Spiramycin;
- Biseptol ;
- Clarithromycin and others.
Bacterial study of the contents of the middle ear with the detection of the sensitivity of pathogens to these or other drugs is not always carried out, because the results become known as much as a week later. The appointment of first-line drugs is carried out immediately, without taking into account the results. However, in the future, if the prescribed remedy proves to be ineffective, correction of the treatment is carried out according to the analysis data obtained.
UHF-therapy for otitis
A variety of physiotherapy procedures can be included in the complex of therapeutic activities, among them UHF. Often, this method treats chronic purulent otitis media in the remission phase. Thanks to the procedures, the blood flow in the ear region is improved, the inflammation decreases, the protective mechanisms of the organism are strengthened.
Treatment of otitis media folk at home
When there is an otitis media of the middle ear, treatment must be carried out under the supervision of a doctor. It is inadmissible to self-medicate using folk methods, the organ is close to the brain, and complications resulting from inadequate therapy can be very serious. The only thing that can be done to relieve the condition before calling a doctor is to apply dry heat to the ear (a woolen shawl, cotton wool, etc.), but in no case should it be heated with a warmer. In the process of treatment prescribed by a doctor, it is permissible to use folk remedies to improve immunity.