Many people who have an ear disease are well aware that if they are diagnosed with otitis media, what it is. The disease is characterized by rather unpleasant, and often painful, symptoms. In addition, even a mild form of pathology can quickly turn into purulent. In this situation, the treatment is much more complicated. After all, it is necessary to destroy the infection localized in the eardrum. Neglect and inadequate treatment very often lead to serious consequences. In this case, chronic otitis media is diagnosed. What is it and how to deal with it? Let's get it right.
Otitis - what is it?
The disease is an inflammatory process in the ear, which manifests itself under the influence of harmful bacteria and fungi.
With otitis media, symptoms such as:
- heat;
- hearing loss;
- pain
- excessive irritability;
- decreased appetite.
The structure of the ear and the variety of the disease:
- The outer part is equipped with a sink. It includes an auditory canal. With the formation of inflammation in this area, external otitis media occurs.
- Eardrum and ear bones separate the middle ear from the outside. Often the disease develops in this part of the ear cavity. Such a pathology is otitis media.
- The inner ear is a bone and webbed labyrinths. Inflammation of this place is more susceptible to children. The disease that covers this part is called labyrinthitis (or internal otitis media).
The most dangerous is the last form of the disease. However, with any kind of pathology, you should not hesitate to consult a doctor. It should be clearly understood if otitis media is diagnosed - what it is and how dangerous it is.
According to the course of the disease, the following types of ailment are distinguished:
- acute - develops with a duration of 3 weeks;
- subacute - can last about 3 months;
- chronic - can drag on for up to six months.
Chronic otitis media
Most often, such a pathology develops in the middle ear. Chronic otitis media practically does not occur in the external part. This area of the ear is less susceptible to pathogenic effects, as it prevents the infection from penetrating deep into the tissue. In addition, otitis externa is easily treatable.
Remember, it is necessary to consult a doctor with such a pathology as otitis media. Symptoms and treatment can only be correctly determined by a competent specialist.
The following signs signal a chronic pathology:
- systematic purulent discharge from the ear cavity;
- the eardrum is subject to persistent perforation;
- significant hearing loss.
Often this form of the disease develops in childhood. But over time, the infection provokes the development of the inflammatory process in the mucous membrane of the auricle. If you do not seek medical help on time, then serious inflammation can occur.
Causes of chronic otitis media
Why does this pathology arise? It is important to understand what triggers ear otitis. Symptoms and treatment of chronic pathology we will consider below. In the meantime, we will analyze what ailments and conditions cause such a serious illness.
The development of the chronic form is preceded by the formation of acute otitis media or the systematic resumption of inflammatory processes.
The causative agent of the disease is Staphylococcus aureus, whose action is supported by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other types of bacteria. Often in children with weakened immunity, one can find all sorts of mushrooms, the habitat of which is the eardrum.
Also, the development of otitis can be provoked by potent medications, such as antibiotics. Under their influence, the risk of chronic otitis media increases.
Causes of the disease:
- increased accumulation of harmful microorganisms;
- drugs that affect the weakening of the protective function of the body;
- unplanned interruption of the course of antibiotics;
- anemia;
- diabetes;
- avitaminosis;
- violation of respiratory function, the presence of chronic sinusitis, curvature of the nasal septum;
- frequent fluid in the auricle .
After acute otitis media is cured, chronic otitis may form within a few years. A similar pathology can develop for many years, during which a person’s hearing loss will be significantly reduced. It is dangerous that this process occurs slowly, almost imperceptibly for the patient.
Symptoms of pathology
One of the main signs of the presence of the disease is a systematic purulent discharge from the auricle. This process is not accompanied by painful sensations, which is why it does not cause any concern.
A visit to a doctor is often provoked not by purulent discharge, but by a serious complication, such as hearing loss. Unfortunately, this characterizes advanced ear otitis media.
Symptoms that make it possible to suspect a chronic illness:
- strong purulent discharge;
- unpleasant odor from the auricle;
- constant feeling of congestion;
- tinnitus;
- pain of a different nature that can occur when it is difficult to drain the purulent discharge;
- a feeling of constant fluid in the ear.
Types of disease
Depending on the course of the inflammatory process, chronic otitis media can be of one kind or another:
- Mesotempanic. It is caused by the formation of a hole in the eardrum. As a result of inflammation, damage to the cavity of the middle ear and auditory ossicle can occur.
- Epitympanitis. It can be characterized by a malfunction of the upper part of the eardrum and middle ear. Pathology can serve as an impetus for bone damage. This type of otitis may occur for a long time and have a negative effect on the brain. In this case, indispensable surgical intervention is required.
- Exudative otitis media. It occurs as a result of a malfunction in the work of the auditory tube. But with this process, the eardrum remains intact. Often with this pathology, fluid accumulation occurs, which, in turn, affects the internal tissues of the ear. This provokes unpleasant pain. Often such discomfort cannot be tolerated.
- Adhesive form. It is a complication of systematically recurring otitis media. It manifests itself in the form of scarring of the eardrum cavity. Sometimes there is another clinic. In some patients, a combination of the membrane and the auditory ossicle occurs. It is in this case that a sharp decrease in hearing occurs.
Possible complications
With the development of a chronic form of the disease, hearing acuity can significantly deteriorate. This is due to deformation of the membrane.
Chronic otitis media is of two types:
- Benign. It manifests itself in the form of a pathological change in the ear mucosa (the region of the eardrum). However, bacteria do not leave the cavity of the shell. Basically, benign otitis media does not cause complications and is limited. This type of infection lasts several days. Benign inflammation occurs only in the tympanic membrane (mesotympanum).
- Malignant otitis media. As a result of the rapid development of inflammatory processes, the infection can spread to the bone walls of the ear cavity. It is there that the carious cavity grows. As a result of this, bone structures are destroyed.
It is the second type of otitis that can cause the most serious complications:
- destruction of bone tissue;
- development of mastoiditis;
- granulation formation;
- complete hearing loss;
- cholesteatoma development;
- brain abscess
- facial nerve deformity.
These consequences can be avoided if you seek help from specialists in a timely manner. They will diagnose and determine otitis media. Symptoms and treatment of pathology are important points that should be considered and described only by ENT.
Diagnosis of the disease
Initially, the doctor will visually examine the auricle. With otitis media, you can identify conditions such as:
- fluid in the middle ear, resulting in adhesion of the membrane to the bones;
- air bubbles
- the presence of a hole in the eardrum;
- redness of the middle ear;
- deformation of the membrane (its destruction).
Diagnostic tests:
- Hearing tests to detect hearing loss.
- Ear discharge tests. They help determine the type of infection that caused the development of chronic pathology.
- CT of the head cavity to detect the presence of bone processes.
Initial Treatment
The first thing you need to do is sanitation of the respiratory tract. To perform this procedure, you may need to remove adenoids and polyps. This will restore breathing. Also, one of the main goals of this procedure can be called the resumption of normal functioning of the ear cavity and stop the development of the infectious process.
Often a mini-intervention is performed, during which it is easy to remove granulations that delay the natural outflow of purulent fluid. To achieve this goal, cauterization using acids is recommended.
Pathology treatment
With the formation of the inflammatory process, it is necessary first of all to clean the ear cavity from pus.
Otitis in adults needs such therapy as:
- Blowing pipe.
- Rinsing the auricle with antiseptics.
- Shell treatment with boron alcohol, “Resorcinol”, “Furacilin”, “Chinosol”, “Granulin”.
- The introduction of decongestant, vasoconstrictor drugs (in case of severe swelling).
- Prescription of antibiotics in the form of drops. It can be Penicillin, Polymyxin, Dioxidin, Streptomycin, or Syntomycin.
- Infusion of proteolytic enzymes such as Trypsin, Chymotrypsin, Lidase, Lysozyme.
- The use of antimycotics in case of fungal otitis media (on turundas): "Fluconazole", "Ketoconazole".
- Local input of inducers of interferon, hyperimmune plasma.
Taking antibiotics can cause allergic reactions and fungal infections of the ear cavity. Such drugs can significantly affect the development of the disease. Their reception should be treated responsibly and follow all the doctor's recommendations.
The final stage of treatment
After otitis media, or rather, after the acute inflammatory process subsides, physiotherapeutic methods will benefit:
- electrophoresis;
- vibration massage;
- microwave treatment;
- UHF;
- mud therapy;
- pneumatic massage.
As you can see, the treatment is long and quite difficult. And in some cases, the only way to eliminate the pathology is surgery. Therefore, be attentive to your health and contact a specialist in a timely manner.