The inflammatory process in the ear causes a lot of discomfort. Pain syndrome, signaling the development of otitis media, overcomes more babies, but adults are no exception. To fight an ailment at home is quite realistic if the drops in the ears are correctly selected. With inflammation, they must necessarily be part of complex therapy.
Causes of Ear Inflammation
The inflammatory process that takes place in the auricle and is caused by bacteria entering it is called otitis media. The disease is perhaps more related to children’s, because 80% of patients with characteristic symptoms are babies of different age groups. Drops in the ears with inflammation have a local effect .
There are several forms of otitis media: middle, internal and external. Most often, otitis media is fixed, in which suppuration of the eardrum occurs. Staphylococci, pneumococci, streptococci and hemophilic bacilli can lead to a similar condition. Bacteria are able to penetrate the ear cavity from the nasopharynx for colds and viral diseases.
Otitis can be recognized by the following signs:
- Sharp (shooting) pain in the auricle.
- Temperature rise.
- Pain when trying to open your mouth.
- Slight swelling of the shell, redness.
- Pus excretion (2-3 days after the first signs).
Drops in the ears with inflammation and pain should be selected by the otolaryngologist after a preliminary examination of the patient. Delaying with a visit to a medical institution is undesirable, because otitis media in neglected form significantly impairs hearing and leads to the development of hearing loss.
Ear drops (anti-inflammatory): types
In most cases, otitis media proceeds in a purulent form and requires a special approach to treatment. Drops used for local therapy are divided into several groups:
- Mono - drugs - contain a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent.
- Combined drugs - several active substances have an effect.
- Antibacterial drops - able to fight a bacterial pathogen locally.
Such a classification allows you to choose the most effective drops in the ears. With inflammation and severe pain, you should seek medical help. Only a specialist can determine the etiology of the disease and choose an effective therapy. Self-medication can at best stop the pain for a while and lead to complications.
What to consider when treating otitis media?
The inflammatory process in the ear is almost always manifested by pain. Warming compresses that relieve the condition, it is forbidden to do at high temperature and purulent discharge from the ear canal. Children and adults are allowed to take painkillers based on paracetamol, ibuprofen. Ear drops (anti-inflammatory) can also eliminate acute pain. In case of a small child’s disease, it is necessary to immediately contact an otolaryngologist or call a local pediatrician at home.
The release of yellowish fluid indicates that the eardrum has broken. It is not necessary to lay cotton wool in the ear at this time or to clean the pus from the ear canal with a cotton swab. With such manipulations, the infection can penetrate deeper and cause complications. It is safe to clean the auricle with the help of turunds moistened with hydrogen peroxide.
Before burying drops in the ears, you should consult an ENT doctor. The drug is selected depending on the etiology of inflammation in the ear cavity. Mandatory prescribe vasoconstrictor drugs for the nose. Antibacterial therapy will be effective only with purulent otitis media, its duration is usually 5-7 days.
Otipax Drops: description of the agent
Most ENT doctors prefer to prescribe Otipax to patients with signs of otitis media . It contains lidocaine and phenazole, which block the pain syndrome. The combined drug effectively treats any type of otitis media and is approved for use in infants and pregnant women, which is confirmed by the instructions. Ear drops are produced in small bottles, on which a special soft pipette is put on before use.
In the acute phase of otitis media, the drug is not prescribed. In rare cases, an allergic reaction to lidocaine occurs. Despite the absence of an antibacterial component, the drops have proven themselves on the good side and can be used to eliminate ear inflammation. Otipax, the price of which ranges from 180 to 220 rubles, has no systemic effect and is not absorbed into the blood, which virtually eliminates contraindications for use and side effects.
When it is impossible to apply Otipaks drops?
If a tympanic membrane breakthrough occurs, the product must not be used. Do not prescribe drops for intolerance to the active components. During pregnancy and lactation, only the attending physician should do the appointment.
Drops "Normax": the effect of the drug
"Normax" - antibacterial drops that are used to treat inflammatory processes of bacterial etiology in the ear cavity and on the mucous membrane of the eyes. The active component - norfloxacin - is considered a fairly strong substance and destroys most pathological microorganisms. That is why the drug is prescribed for the treatment of all types of otitis media, as well as for ophthalmic pathologies.
The anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect is absent in the drug "Normax". Drops are well tolerated almost always, but are prohibited for use by children (up to 18 years old), women in position and lactating. Side effects rarely occur in the form of peeling and itching of the ear canal. Patients prone to allergic reactions may develop Quincke edema. In this case, you need the help of doctors.
How to choose ear drops: reviews and recommendations
Faced with an unpleasant ear pain, which sometimes can just unsettle, you should immediately visit the otolaryngologist and not self-medicate. Otitis is a rather serious ailment and, with the wrong therapeutic approach, can cause complications or go into the chronic stage.
Drops in the ears with inflammation are a mandatory component of complex treatment. In pharmacies, a wide selection of these funds is presented. Without the help of a specialist and preliminary examination, it is not recommended to use drops, because some of them are allowed only while maintaining the integrity of the eardrum, while others will be absolutely ineffective against the bacterial pathogen of otitis media.
You can hear many positive reviews regarding the drug "Otipaks". A significant advantage is its safety for pregnant women and newborn babies. A positive result of the application is possible only if the remedy was prescribed by a doctor. If the bacterial cause of the inflammatory process is established, therapy with such means as Normax (drops), Polydex, Otof, Sofradeks is needed.
Are Polydex Drops Effective?
Polydex ear drops contain neomycin, polymyxin and dexamethasone. The first two components are antibiotics that inhibit the development of gram-positive and gram-negative microbes, respectively. You can use the medicine only with a whole eardrum and strictly as prescribed by a specialist.
The antibacterial agent is used in pediatrics and is allowed for babies older than 2.5 years. During pregnancy, it is advisable to replace the drops with safer ones to prevent the development of pathologies of the hearing organs in the fetus.
Many people are already familiar with Polydex, since it is also available in the form of a spray for the nose. The drug is popular among doctors and patients, quickly copes with the task and alleviates the symptoms of the disease. It is still not recommended to independently apply it, so as not to cause irritation of the damaged eardrum and hearing impairment. As an analogue, you can use drops (on the recommendation of a doctor) “Otinum”, “Candibiotic”, “Otipaks”.
The price of "Polydex" is slightly different from the cost of similar drugs and is 230-260 rubles.
Bury the ears correctly
It can only have a therapeutic effect if used correctly. Wash hands thoroughly before dripping drops into ears. The auricle must also be carefully cleaned of purulent discharge. The bottle with the liquid is preheated in the hand.
The head should be tilted to the side, the sore ear should be on top. The lobe should be slightly pulled down and back so that the medicine gets into the ear canal. Having instilled the required number of drops, it is necessary to slightly press on the tragus and hold the head in this position for 1-2 minutes.