If you experience pain or inflammation in the ears, do not delay the treatment, as this can lead to serious complications. There is even a risk of hearing loss.
The pathology associated with soreness in the ears is commonly called otitis media. This ailment has several forms. The symptomatology of the disease is familiar to many, especially children. At a young age, the manifestation of otitis is the greatest danger. Therefore, it is worthwhile to carefully study the main varieties of this pathology and determine the possible therapy.
Otitis externa
As a rule, a similar pathology manifests itself against the background of the fact that the skin of the auricle was infected with a fungus or bacteria. According to statistics, more than 10% of all people at least once in their life suffered from such manifestations.
A variety of factors can lead to the development of otitis externa. For example, if a child walked for a long time in the cold, then due to hypothermia in the auricles, an ailment could develop. Also, mechanical damage and improper removal of sulfur from the auditory canals leads to a similar result.
Harmful microorganisms spread very well in the auditory canal, since a humid environment is observed in it. Because of this, bacteria multiply very quickly. It is worth noting that this pathology can be diagnosed in each person.
Earwax does not appear at all in order to cause inconvenience to a person, but to block unwanted substances that may occur inside the human body. That is why this liquid performs important bactericidal functions. Incorrect removal of earwax leads to the likelihood that a person will get otitis media.
As a rule, otitis externa refers to a variety of skin diseases. Therefore, most often it is treated and diagnosed, as well as dermatitis, candidiasis and furunculosis. This means that otitis can cause streptococci and staphylococci, as well as various fungal bacteria.
Middle ear inflammation
This damage to the auditory canal is one of the most dangerous. In this case, patients complain of hearing problems, pain and vestibular disorders. Only antibiotics are effective for treating middle ear inflammation. In this case, it makes no sense to try folk remedies, since they will be powerless. Therefore, it is better not to take risks.
The fact is that otitis media can lead to the death of the auditory nerve, if the pathology is in an advanced degree. In addition, the patient may develop complications such as brain abscess, encephalitis, meningitis and other serious pathologies that can even lead to death.
Speaking about the symptoms and treatment of middle ear inflammation in adults and children, it is worth paying attention to the varieties of this pathology. In this case, otitis media happens:
- Catarrhal. By and large, this is the initial stage of the disease. In patients, it lays ears, noise appears.
- Exudative. This type of inflammation of the middle ear is characterized by the appearance of a special inflammatory secret, characterized by viscosity. It manifests itself in the form of increased pressure, congestion of the ears, noise and pain.
- Purulent. This is the most complex form of middle ear inflammation . Patients have severe pain, congestion, fever and purulent discharge.
Features of otitis media in children
In babies, middle ear inflammation symptoms are much more common than in adults. This is primarily due to a weakened and incompletely formed immunity. In addition, it is worth noting that the structure of the auditory tube of the babies is slightly different. Stagnant processes occur in it. It also often leads to middle ear inflammation in the child.
Breasts during the first 12 months of their lives are most often located in a horizontal position, which is why stagnant processes occur in the middle ear. In this case, you should pay attention to how the child behaves. If he became tearful, sleeps poorly and refuses to breast, then this may be one of the manifestations of inflammation of the middle ear.
If we are talking about childhood otitis media, then treatment must be carried out immediately, since the pathology can go into a chronic form and constantly make itself felt throughout the baby’s life.
The cause of otitis media
To determine how to treat inflammation of the middle ear, it is necessary to understand why this pathology appeared in humans. As a rule, otitis media is caused by bacteria. If this happens, the doctor prescribes antibiotic therapy. Slightly less often, otitis media is formed on the background of influenza, acute respiratory viral infections and other viral diseases, as well as respiratory infections. In this case, we are talking about the most common forms of the disease, which manifest much faster.
The use of antibiotics can also lead to the development of otitis media. This leads to the appearance of a fungus in the ears. It is also worth paying attention to factors that stimulate the development of the pathogen in the human body.
First of all, if the patient has not been treating infections of the nasal cavity for a long time, this leads to a large accumulation of harmful bacteria. If at this time a person does not begin the necessary treatment, then the lesion will gradually begin to pass into the mucous membrane of the middle ear.
It is also worth paying attention to the diameter and duration of the Eustachian tube. In this case, children are more susceptible to pathology, since they have this organ much wider and shorter. Because of this, pathogens are much easier to get inside.
Considering the symptoms and treatment of middle ear inflammation, many do not pay attention to nasal congestion. If a person has such a sign that does not disappear for a long time, then this can also provoke otitis media. Sometimes, in addition to a stuffy nose, a person suffers from hearing loss. This indicates that a strong edema developed in the nasal mucosa, which covered the opening of the Eustachian tube. Because of this, the natural process of fluid outflow is disrupted.
Types of pathology
If we talk about the duration of the disease, then in this case, acute otitis media is isolated, the duration of which is no more than 1 month and chronic (in this case, pathology can bother a person up to 6 months or more). Also, when classifying a pathology, it is taken into account which particular fluid appears in the ear canal during inflammation.
Certain symptoms also play a role.
Signs of the disease
To determine that a person is suffering from otitis media, it is worth paying attention to some common symptoms of middle ear inflammation. First of all, it is worth noting intense pain, which manifests itself mainly in the form of lumbago.
Also, the patient's hearing may be greatly reduced. If a person complains of clicks in the ears, this is due to a change in internal pressure. Also, in the process of the development of pathology, general intoxication may occur. It is characterized by chills, fever and fever. If we are talking about a child, then vomiting and nausea may additionally be observed.
If these symptoms of middle-ear inflammation in an adult are accompanied by secretions with pus and blood, and the person experiences strong pain, then you should immediately consult a specialist, as this is the main sign that the eardrum has ruptured. It is recommended to visit a doctor if at least one of these signs is manifested. The sooner a specialist can diagnose a pathology, the faster and more effective the treatment will be.
Traditional therapy
In this case, a comprehensive treatment of middle ear inflammation in adults is considered. The doctor prescribes several varieties of drugs that will cope with the disease faster. These include:
- Antibiotics. Means of this type are necessary in order to quickly destroy infections. As a rule, antibiotics are prescribed in the form of tablets or special solutions. However, after such a course of treatment, additional rehabilitation therapy may be required.
- Antiviral agents. Treatment of this type is necessary in order to prevent the further spread of the virus.
- Vasoconstrictor drugs. Local remedies will be required in order to reduce swelling in the nasal region. This improves the outflow of fluid from the damaged ear.
- Antiseptics. Means of this type have warming and analgesic properties. As a rule, the doctor prescribes drugs that are instilled directly into the affected ear itself.
- Anti-inflammatory. Drugs of this type help get rid of pain and other symptoms of pathology.
Folk remedies
Natural medicines can only be used if it is a pathology of the external type or with inflammation of the middle ear in adults and children. As a rule, in alternative medicine, the most popular are warming compresses. However, before using these recipes, you must always consult with a specialist. If pus has formed in the ear, then warming up is strictly prohibited.
Compresses
Before performing the procedure, it is recommended to treat the area around the auricles with a baby cream or petroleum jelly. After that, a clean napkin or piece of gauze is wetted in heated alcohol, wrung out and applied around the auricle. The compress is left overnight. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that the shell and the ear canal are covered. However, this treatment is only suitable for an adult.
If we are talking about otitis media in a child, in this case it is worth trying brown bread. To do this, cut off the side of the loaf, heat it in a water bath and wrap it with foil. After that, the bread is wrapped in gauze and applied to the child’s ear.
Ointments
Also at home, you can cook special creamy formulations. For example, with fungal otitis media, garlic will help. To do this, grind 150 grams of the product and mix it with the same amount of olive oil. After that, the composition is placed in a jar and infused for 10 days in the sun. After this time, a few drops of glycerin and eucalyptus oil are added to the mixture. After this, the liquid must be poured into a dark glass bottle and put in the refrigerator. The result is a very effective ointment.
Also, tincture of Japanese sophora helps to get rid of otitis. To alleviate the condition, it is necessary to drip 3 drops of liquid into a scorched ear twice a day.
If the patient suffers from shooting pains in the ear, then in this case you can try to instill propolis on an alcohol basis. Camphor oil is used for the child. If we talk about the effectiveness of such treatment, then doctors agree that alternative methods often turn out to be very effective.
Prevention
In order to prevent the development of this ailment, it is necessary to timely treat any inflammatory processes that occur in the oral cavity.
It is also worthwhile to be vigilant when even a common cold appears. If we are talking about a child, then it is worth starting hardening procedures that will help his immunity to be more resistant to hypothermia. It is also not recommended to clean the ear canals of the baby with cotton flagella and sticks.
Finally
In order to timely detect the development of pathology, it is necessary to periodically contact the otolaryngologist. This is especially true for young children who are most susceptible to this pathology. If any alarming symptoms occur, urgent need to take action.