Otitis is an acute or chronic inflammation of the organ of hearing, which is divided into external, middle and internal otitis media (labyrinthitis).
Symptoms and treatment of otitis media.
External otitis media is inflammation of the external auditory canal, which affects people of all ages equally, as a result of introducing a bacterial infection from the outside (match, toothpick), or while swimming with prolonged stagnation of water in the ear canals.
It manifests itself as acute pain in the ear, itching in the external auditory canal and skin soaking. During the disease, hearing may be slightly reduced, which is fully restored after recovery.
Symptoms and treatment of otitis media.
Otitis media - inflammation of the middle ear, is more often observed in school children. The disease develops against the background of a viral infection and most often there is a viral etiology. An infection from the inflamed nasopharynx gets through the Eustachian tubes (connect the nasopharynx to the middle ear) and infect the sterile cavity of the middle ear. Clinical manifestations of viral otitis media: ear congestion, hearing loss, discomfort and itching in the ear. With the addition of a bacterial infection, acute purulent otitis media develops, which significantly aggravates the prognosis of the disease.
It manifests itself as severe shooting pain in the ear, worsening of the general condition, the appearance of symptoms of intoxication (fever up to 38-39 degrees, weakness, headache), stuffiness in the ear, dizziness, when purulent contents accumulate in the cavity, it melts the eardrum and breaks into external auditory canal (suppuration from the ear). It is very important in such cases to start antibiotic therapy in a timely manner to prevent the development of complications, such as purulent meningitis, meningoencephalitis.
With untimely treatment of acute purulent otitis media, it can go into a chronic form. Frequent otitis media with suppuration develops, the hole in the eardrum does not tighten for a long time and contributes to the further development of the infectious process. Further hearing loss develops.
Symptoms and treatment of otitis media.
Inner (labyrinthitis) - inflammation of the inner ear, is extremely rare. The disease develops as a result of infection from the middle ear, either by the hematogenous or lymphogenous route in the presence of a foci of infection in the body.
It is manifested by an imbalance, dizziness, severe headaches, nausea, vomiting and hearing loss. If treatment is not started on time, it can lead to complete hearing loss.
Treatment of otitis media.
When the above symptoms appear and treatment of otitis media should be immediate. Do not engage in home treatment, be sure to consult an otolaryngologist.
Treatment of viral otitis media is usually carried out in conjunction with the treatment of a viral infection in the nasopharynx with the help of antiviral drugs, interferons, immunostimulating drugs.
In no case should you warm your ear in the acute period! This will only aggravate the condition, especially with bacterial otitis media, and can contribute to the breakthrough of the eardrum.
Otitis caused by a bacterial infection is usually treated with a course of antibiotic therapy for 7-10 days. In case of severe pain, anesthetic drops, as well as antiseptic solutions, can be instilled into the external auditory canal. Today there are many of them. Vasoconstrictive drops are instilled into the nose, especially with otitis media, since they relieve swelling of the mucosa and improve the outflow of serous or purulent fluid and prevent the eardrum from breaking through.
Prevention of otitis media.
Do not expose the body to overcooling, overheating, after water procedures, drain the external auditory canals, wear a hat, treat chronic foci of infection.