The role of the ear is the perception of sounds. Otitis - inflammation of different parts of the ear (external, middle or internal). What is tubootitis? This is inflammation of the middle ear with concomitant disorders of the auditory tube.
Tubootitis is often called eustachitis, i.e. inflammation of the auditory tube, but this is not entirely true. Eustachitis is a localized inflammation of the auditory tube, and with tubootitis, otitis media also joins. Another name for this disease is otitis media. The incidence rate in children is higher because their tube is shorter. In general, otitis media is the most common.
Anatomy
What is tubootitis? The ear consists of 3 sections, on average there are auditory ossicles and an Eustachian tube. The auditory ossicles are located in the thickness of the temporal bone, in the airway. The pressure here should be equal to the outside atmospheric pressure, only in this case the ear will function normally. To ensure such equality, the aural cavity should have free communication with the external environment.
This is provided by the auditory tube - tuba auditiva. It acts as a mediator between the middle ear and the nasopharynx in its upper part. The auditory tube opens into the nasopharynx and has a length of 3.5 cm, in children it is shorter - 2 cm.
In diseases of the nose and nasopharynx, the infection has the ability to penetrate the Eustachian tube, especially with improper blowing. From the auditory canal, pathogens can easily affect the eardrum and other departments.
What are these pathogens? Bacteria and viruses: staphilo, strepto, pneumococci, hemophilus bacillus, influenza viruses and adenoviruses.
Causes of occurrence
Now it’s clear what it is - tubootitis. Why does it arise? When the infection is localized at the mouth of the tube, all conditions for its inflammation are created. And there she gets from the nose, for example, with rhinitis, sinusitis. Due to inflammation, the patency of the tube is impaired, and the pressure in the ear increases. The mobility of the auditory ossicles is impaired, ear congestion appears.
What is it - tubootitis with vasomotor rhinitis? This type of rhinitis is the result of an allergic or neurovegetative rhinitis. It is characterized by persistent edema in the cavity, which is caused by a decrease in vascular tone and is very difficult to treat. There is no infectious onset here more often.
How does the disease develop? Infection leads to inflammation of the mucosa, then to its edema. As a result, the lumen of the tube narrows, and the inflammation develops further, already in the middle ear. Here, due to inflammation and swelling in the absence of treatment, exudate begins to accumulate and stand out - mucous, purulent or serous. Hearing is impaired. The fluid fills the tympanic cavity, eventually breaking through the eardrum and out into the external auditory meatus. There is a drop in pressure, which ensured the conduct of sounds.
What is tubootitis in a child? The development mechanism is similar to adults, but the hearing organ in children is imperfect and underdeveloped, therefore, it is more often infected.
Otitis can occur with:
- tonsillitis, pharyngitis and other ENT diseases;
- with childhood infections - whooping cough, measles, diphtheria, scarlet fever;
- adenoids and polyps;
- allergies
- chronic tonsillitis;
- turbinate hypertrophy;
- the splitting of the sky;
- tumors of the nasopharynx;
- deformities of the nasal septum;
- manipulations of the dentist with increased salivation in the patient's mouth.
The main thing in etiology is a decrease in immunity.
Classification
In the course of tubootitis is divided into acute and chronic, at the place of localization into one and two-sided.
Bilateral tubootitis - what is it? This is the spread of inflammation in both ears.
The acute stage lasts from 7 to 20 days. Symptoms are more pronounced, but treatment can reduce the course of the disease to several days. The subacute form lasts from 3-4 weeks to 3 months.
Chronic form: can last from 3 months to a year. It is the result of an untreated acute form. It occurs with relapses, the symptoms are mild, but prolonged.
What is tubootitis in a child? This disease, which is often bilateral and acute. It proceeds harder and gives complications. It should be noted that in boys otitis media is more common. In adults, this bilateral lesion is much less common.
Left-sided tubootitis - what is it? This is a diagnosis of middle ear inflammation on the left side.
Symptoms of ailment
The main manifestations of tubo-otitis are moderate hearing loss, a feeling of congestion, periodic noise in the ear. When otoscopy reveals the involvement of the tympanic membrane. Symptoms of tubootitis can also be considered that after swallowing saliva or after yawning, hearing improves. This occurs as a result of the temporary opening of the lumen of the auditory tube.
In children, tubo-otitis passes with fever, chills, headaches, tinnitus. Pain is a must. With otoscopy in the external auditory canal in a child, bubbles can be detected.
Acute stage
Acute tubootitis - what is it? With this form, there are:
- autophony - in conversation, the echo of his voice in his head;
- stuffiness in the ears;
- poor sound discrimination;
- noise;
- when head moves, the sound of iridescent liquid is heard.
Pain may be, but not always.
In an adult with an acute form of tubootitis, the general condition is rarely disturbed. Pathology is often one-sided.
Acute bilateral tubootitis - what is it? This is an inflammatory process that develops in two ears at the same time.
If treatment is delayed, fluid stagnation occurs in the ear cavity, which serves as a favorable environment for bacteria. As a result, a purulent form may develop, which will be much more difficult to treat. All this leads to a chronic process.
Chronic form
Such tubo-otitis, accompanied by purulent discharge, usually takes about a month. Symptoms such as fever, blood discharge from the ear cavity, dizziness join.
The form is dangerous for its complications due to the proximity of the brain. The most common manifestations of chronic tubootitis:
- hearing impairment;
- hyperemia of the mucous membranes;
- narrowing the lumen of the pipe;
- displacement of the eardrum - it often bulges.
In children
Bilateral tubootitis in children - what is it? This is a bilateral lesion, which is explained by the fact that the child’s auditory meatus is shorter and more even. This makes the task of bacteria and viruses easier. In children, such otitis media necessarily gives acute pain in the ear, chills and fever. Leukocytosis is observed in the blood.
Bilateral tubootitis - what is it? As already mentioned, this defeat immediately 2 ears. Of the signs, we can distinguish:
- worsening hearing;
- vesicles in the ear canal;
- redness and swelling of the auricle;
- cracking in the ears.
When sneezing and swallowing saliva, hearing improves for a while. Breasts become capricious, restless, cry, sleep poorly, refuse to breast. They constantly touch the ear and try to lean the sick side against a warm surface or to my mother’s chest.
The temperature can rise more than 38 degrees. Upon transition to a chronic form, discharge appears from the ear. Signs become fickle.
Complications
Tubootitis - what is it in adults? In adults, the course of the disease is most often sluggish, so usually patients do not pay attention to the disease. This causes complications, such as:
- Persistent dysfunction of the auditory tube with accumulation of exudate.
- The occurrence of adhesions between the auditory ossicles, as a result of which the hearing decreases steadily.
- Due to prolonged negative pressure in the ear cavity, cochlear irritation occurs, degenerative changes in the auditory nerve begin, sensorineural hearing loss occurs, and then deafness.
When suppressing exudate, purulent otitis can cause such complications:
- meningitis;
- brain abscess
- vestibulation disorders;
- sepsis.
Principles of Therapy
Now it’s clear what it is - tubootitis. The timing of treatment is of interest to many. Treatment of tubo-otitis in adults by methods is similar to therapy in children. The main way is taking medication. The treatment regimen is individual, there is no single one. Duration depends on the neglect of the disease and the general condition of the patient. If treatment is started on time, then the acute process is removed within a few days - 3-5 days.
In the chronic form, the disease proceeds with relapses and longer - for several months. For babies, treatment is prescribed carefully, taking into account age-related dosages and contraindications.
In general, the treatment regimen is as follows:
- Pathogen elimination - treatment is antibacterial or antiviral.
- Purulent inflammations are suppressed by antibiotics macrolides and penicillins, such as Amoxicillin, Amoxiclav, Augmentin, Azithromycin, Sumamed, etc.
- In severe cases, cephalosporins are prescribed as more powerful.
- Removal of pain is carried out by analgesics.
- Reducing the symptoms of inflammation and swelling - the appointment of anti-inflammatory non-steroids ("Ibuprofen", "Ibuklin", "Aspirin").
- Elimination of allergies and the removal of edema - the appointment of antihistamines (Suprastin, Cetrin, Zodak, Diazolin, Loratadin, etc.).
- Blowing, washing, irrigation with medicines of the Eustachian tube - to restore patency and improve its ventilation. For washing, solutions of "Furacilin", "Miramistin", "Chlorhexidine" are used. Washing should be carried out by a doctor, without strong pressure, with a Janet syringe.
- Catheterization of the Eustachian tube - for the introduction of drugs into the ear cavity to improve the patency of the tube and pumping fluid. It can be hydrocortisone, adrenaline.
- To accelerate recovery, physiotherapy is indicated: warming dry heat, pneumatic massage of the tympanic membrane, local ultraviolet radiation, laser therapy at the mouth of the tube, electromyostimulation, magnetotherapy, laser therapy, high-frequency currents.
- Restoring immunity - immunomodulators and vitamin complexes: Immunorix, Bronchomunal, Polyoxidonium.
Treatment is most often outpatient.
Local Therapies
Drops and sprays are included here - they can be containing antibiotics, vasoconstrictors, anti-inflammatory and painkillers. Only a doctor can recommend them. Drops with antibiotics are considered the most effective:
- "Otofa" - the basis of the drug is rifampicin, which prevents the development of bacteria. Its advantage is low systemic absorption and the absence of side effects. Drops are applicable for children.
- "Normax" - the active substance norfloxacin. Destroys gram-positive and gram-negative aerobic bacteria. It is not prescribed only for pregnant women and children under 12 years of age. The advantage is the possibility of instillation every 3 hours in severe cases of the disease.
- Anti-inflammatory - Sofradeks, Garazon.
- Painkillers - Otipaks, Anauran.
Housekeeping Assistants
At home, you can do:
- Ear massage in the form of periodic pressure on the tragus.
- Frequent yawning.
- Deep breathing with closed nostrils. This helps to open the auditory tube.
Surgical intervention
It is used for violations of the patency of the tube as a result of a tumor, to eliminate adenoids, polyps, alignment of the nasal septum. Of course, such a treatment can only be prescribed by a doctor.
Boric alcohol treatment
This method is more often referred to as traditional medicine. Boric alcohol is sold in any pharmacy, it is cheap and has bactericidal activity.
Treatment of eustachitis at home with boric alcohol is carried out as follows:
- Lie on a healthy side.
- To warm a bottle with alcohol in hands.
- In a pipette, collect 3-4 drops of alcohol and drip into the ear canal.
- After lying for 10 minutes, get up and close the ear canal with a dry cotton swab.
The procedure can be repeated 2-3 times throughout the day until relief appears.
Prevention
It is necessary to try to exclude actions associated with changes and fluctuations in pressure to reduce loads on the auricles, for example, flights on airplanes, diving to depths, climbing.
It is necessary to timely and fully treat nasopharyngeal infections. For the overall strengthening of the body you need to be tempered. It is necessary to try to avoid injuries to the head, nose and ears, to get used to blowing your nose correctly (open your mouth and alternately clean each side of the nostrils, without straining).
Most often, the prognosis of the disease is favorable. However, it all depends on the degree of neglect of the disease and the timeliness of contacting a doctor.