Otitis media

June 30, 2012

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Otitis media   - Is an inflammatory process that develops middle ear . Middle ear is called a small space, which is located between the inner ear and the tympanic membrane. Typically, the pain in the ear occur in humans due to the development of otitis media or otitis externa   (ie, inflammation of the external ear). But experts advise when a pain in the ear still consult specialists and undergo examination as to provoke such pain may be other, more serious diseases, as well as the development of tumors in different parts of the organ of hearing.

Otitis mostly occurs in preschool children. Otitis media in children often manifested by the fact that the structure of the middle ear in a child predispose to infection. According to medical statistics, about 90% of preschool children for seven years has suffered from otitis media. It is important to treat otitis media correctly, so that eventually the child did not develop more serious complications.

Causes of otitis media

In most cases, otitis media developed in conjunction with viral respiratory diseases . The development of infections in the nasal cavity after some time can capture auditory tube As their apertures open to the rear wall of the nasopharynx nose. Inflammation triggers the development of edema in the lumen of the auditory tube, which in turn causes disturbances in their equalizing pressure. As a result, a person constantly feels a certain stuffiness in the ears.

Infection may be in the tympanic cavity, entering there in other ways: as a result of injury , and meningogennym   means, extending into the middle ear through the ear labyrinth entire system. Rarer infection gets into the middle ear hematogenous   way, that is, blood .

Types of otitis media

Allocate different degrees of severity of otitis media. With acute otitis media   inflammation develops due to effects on the viral infection. In most cases, a person simultaneously observed infection of the upper respiratory tract. Under this condition the patient constantly feels some discomfort in the ear and nasal.

If the middle ear, which is in the normal state is always sterile, bacteria get, then it gradually begins to accumulate pus, which presses on the wall of the middle ear. In this case, we are talking about purulent (bacterial), otitis media . Very often viral otitis media gradually transformed into a purulent form. The latter occurs most often in children. It is important to distinguish between these states, as in bacterial otitis media treatment of this disease involves the reception antibiotics . At the same time, in the form of viral otitis antibiotics will not bring relief to the patient. Antibiotic therapy in purulent bacterial otitis is important to prevent the occurrence of various complications. After all, in the absence of adequate therapy pus through the eardrum can get into the external auditory canal of the patient and trigger the development of purulent mastoiditis . Another very dangerous disease that can develop as a consequence of improper treatment of purulent otitis media is otogenny meningitis At which the development of the inflammatory process meninges.

Provided one type of otitis media - otitis media with effusion . This form of the disease is serous otitis media or a sector. The disease manifests itself as a consequence of blockage of the lumen of the Eustachian tube and the subsequent reduction of pressure in the tympanic cavity. The reason for the development of this form of the disease is a viral infection or bacterial infection.

In some cases, the tympanic cavity accumulates fluid and thereby developing the type of conductive hearing loss. For some time (it takes several weeks or months) increases the density of the fluid in the middle ear, therefore, the conductive type of hearing loss is compounded. In this condition the patient should be carried out a special operation - tympanotomy In which the incision is made in the eardrum and middle ear administered small tube.

If a patient develops chronic purulent otitis Then it appears in the eardrum hole, and there is an active infectious process. It lasts for several weeks. Throughout this time the patient takes place otorrhoea   - The appearance of purulent discharge from the ear. In some cases, very small pus released accordingly, it can be considered solely under the microscope. In this form of the disease in a patient hearing much worse.

Symptoms of otitis media

Otitis media patient develops gradually, with different symptoms are observed. Initially, the patient developed acute catarrhal otitis media, in which gradually increase the symptoms that arise as a consequence of the accumulation of fluid in the middle ear cavity.

Subsequent symptoms of otitis media caused by the appearance and accumulation of pus in a cavity of the middle ear. Then the eardrum is broken and there is leaking pus.

On restorative stages of the disease there is a gradual reduction of inflammation, suppuration stopped going fusion edges of the eardrum.

In the first stage of the disease people mainly complain of severe pain in the ear, a feeling of congestion and excessive noise. Pain in the ear can be very diverse, but generally the pain is felt in the back of the ear. It can be stabbing, throbbing, piercing, periodically sweep. Pain is delivered to the patient is very severe suffering, completely depriving it of the rest. As a rule, the pain becomes intense at night. Accordingly, the sleeping person suffering from acute otitis media, virtually impossible. Pain may enroll in the head, teeth, she becomes stronger when swallowing or when a person sneezes or coughs. When otitis patient as a result of the inflammatory process is markedly reduced hearing. In addition, there is a general weakness, appetite disappears, and sometimes the body temperature rises to 39 degrees.

Examining the patient, the doctor draws attention to the swelling and redness of the eardrum. Available feeling soreness in the area of ​​the mastoid process.

The second stage of the disease, which is characterized by pus and for eardrum rupture and suppuration begins around the third day after the onset of illness. At that time people said that the pain becomes much less intense overall improved performance in body temperature comes to normal. If at this time there is no arbitrary perforated eardrum, then opening her doctor makes a small incision. With timely work of the puncture, which is called paracentesis , People recover faster, thus there is recovery of hearing and observed complications of the disease.

If otitis media is going well, then after that it should be the restoration, in which marked inflammation subsided and the gradual disappearance of rupture of the eardrum. Typically, the disease is completely cured in about two to three weeks. By this time, the person hearing is completely back to normal.

Complications of otitis media

If the treatment of otitis media is not made at all, or is assigned to the wrong treatment, the disease can lead to the appearance of purulent forms of otitis media in a few days. In turn, the consequence is often purulent otitis eardrum, pathological processes affecting the auditory nerve. As a consequence, there is a significant hearing loss. Among the most serious complications of otitis media should be allocated mastoiditis . When the disease occurs inflammation in the mucous membrane of the cells of the mastoid process. With the development of such complications the patient must carry out urgent surgery. If pus accumulated in the course of progression of otitis, penetrates into the cavity of the skull, such a state is dangerous to human life. When the disease purulent meningoencephalitis there is a high mortality rate. Therefore, in order to prevent the above complications should be carefully treat otitis media, guided by a specialist appointments. If a trip to the therapy would be wrong, such a situation is fraught transition otitis chronic. Treat chronic otitis media is much more complicated, and the patient may eventually lose hearing. If the patient wants to completely cure chronic otitis, it is often necessary to carry out complex surgery.

Additionally, complications of otitis media can be labyrinthitis . brain abscess . sepsis .

Diagnosis of otitis media

If there are suspicions on the development of diseases of the ear, you should immediately see a doctor ENT specialization, or to call a doctor in the house if trouble shows a small child and at the same time he complains of an earache.

Initially, the doctor finds out what the common symptoms in humans. After that produces specialist examination, otoscopy and palpation. During the inspection it definitely marks the presence or absence of certain characteristic features (presence paresis   facial nerve, the temperature and condition of the mastoid region, swelling of the skin over it, the state of the lymph nodes, which are located near the ears, etc.).

Carrying otoscopy in children, babies and infants is complicated by the fact that the external ear canal is very narrow, and the eardrum is nearly horizontal. Therefore, the physician must take into account these and other features during the inspection and can only assess the state of the upper sections of the eardrum child.

Whenever possible, the process of diagnosis is also carried out a study of auditory function of the patient. It is also important to be sure to determine the mobility of the eardrum.

The patient for diagnosis blood test: with otitis there is increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, leukocytosis with a left shift. Carrying out of radiological research appointed only if the patient is suspected manifestation of complications .

The most revealing in the process of diagnosis is considered pus to break the eardrum. Sometimes pus conduct special puncture. But in the absence of pus and the development of otitis media can not be excluded, since it is possible that he had not yet come.

Treatment for otitis media

Acute otitis media is treated viral origin about one week, with the disease purulent otitis ailment is cured for about two weeks. If the patient diagnosed with acute otitis media, then it is assigned the conservative therapy. It is important to determine what kind of otitis media - purulent   or viral   - Occurs because antibiotics only in the development of suppurative otitis media. In this case, a course of antibiotics lasts about one week.

If a patient diagnosed with acute catarrhal otitis media, after consultation with the doctor sometimes for two days of illness is used expectant management. It is important to monitor the condition of a sick child or an adult. If necessary, the patient is assigned to receive drugs with antipyretic properties. In addition, with the progression of acute otitis patient is required to appoint local agents. This nasal drops with vasoconstrictor influences that contribute to the improvement of the auditory tube patency.

At catarrhal otitis good effect is manifested after the dry heat treatments in the ear. They make it possible to more active circulation of blood and lymph in the place where the inflammation, stimulate the production of protective blood cells. For this purpose, use a heating lamp blue, compresses vodka turundy with ear drops.

If the patient developed purulent otitis, particular attention should be paid to the purification of pus with cotton turundas. This procedure is necessary during illness to produce regularly. To enhance the effect, you can wash the ear disinfectants. Suitable for this purpose, for example, a 3% solution hydrogen peroxide . Besides these treatments often with otitis doctor prescribes a course of physical treatments with heat. This may be a UHF therapy, ultraviolet irradiation, or treatment of mud therapy, carried out using a laser.

To prepare vodka compress or diluted alcohol, it is necessary to prepare a gauze folded in four. It should completely cover the bowl of the ear and have even reserve, going beyond the ear by about 2 cm. Napkin cut in the middle, making a special place for the ear. Then wipe wetted vodka or diluted alcohol. After the ear is inserted into the slot should be imposed waxed paper, completely covers the compress. From above it is advisable to put a large piece of vyty. Keep a wrap for several hours.

Use of ear drops is possible only after a doctor's prescription, as it is important to determine the characteristics of the inflammatory process. Dripping into the middle ear at rupture the eardrum can cause damage to the auditory nerve or the auditory ossicles. As a result, the patient may develop hearing loss. The most gentle method is to instill drops turunda, which are made of dry cotton wool. Her very carefully placed in the ear canal outside the field which it drip medication beforehand warmed to normal body temperature. The easiest way to warm up with a medicine dropper in hot water.

To make it easier to transfer the child otitis media, it is important to provide him with the opportunity to freely breathe through the nose. The child must be periodically clean the nasal passages. You can use cotton swabs, a little dribbling in vegetable oil. Ears sick person should always remain in the warmth, so it is important to ensure that the child is wearing a hat, even in warm weather. Sometimes complicated otitis patients underwent surgical treatment.

Prevention of otitis media

The development of otitis media in particular is often a consequence of the common cold. Therefore, any manifestation of colds should be properly treated. To prevent transfer of purulent otitis media in the form it is important to promptly treat all diseases, which are associated with purulent processes - sinusitis , Runny nose. Sometimes, in order to prevent aggravation of the process there is a need to remove adenoids That grow in the throat. It is to teach the child the right to blow his nose, in turn, closing the nostrils. However, the most important thing in the presence of certain symptoms immediately consult a specialist.