Symptoms and treatment of otitis
Otitis – inflammation of the outer, inner and middle ear, the characteristic manifestations of which are pain and fever. In some cases, hearing impairment is observed. Treatment of otitis should be handled by a specialist. Otherwise, the disease can provoke meningitis, damage to the temporal bone, paralysis of the facial nerve and lead to complete hearing loss. According to statistics, children of preschool age (secretory otitis) are most often affected by ear inflammation. Adults are three times less prone to the disease.
Types of the disease depend on:
- course of the disease (acute and chronic otitis);
- localization of inflammation (internal, middle and external);
- causes (infectious and non-infectious);
- type of inflammation (purulent, exudative otitis, catarrhal);
- prevalence (unilateral and bilateral).
Children most often develop otitis media.
Factors and causes of otitis
The factors that increase the likelihood of the disease in adults include: frequent acute respiratory infections, the presence of chronic sinusitis and tonsillitis, reduced immunity, otitis experienced in childhood, as well as nasal injuries, neoplasms and curvature of the nasal septum. In babies, such factors can be: anatomical features (wide auditory canal and Eustachian tube), enlarged adenoids and frequent colds.
Causes of acute otitis media:
- infections;
- chronic rhinitis and tonsillitis;
- immunodeficiency states, hypothermia;;
- benign neoplasms (polyps, adenoids);
- injuries (burns, frostbite, bites).
Symptoms of otitis in adults
Common symptoms of otitis are acute pain, redness of the ear canal and gradual deterioration of hearing. Clinical manifestations depend on the location of the inflammatory process.
External otitis. In this case, the patient most often complains of pain and itching in the ear canal. Discharges with an unpleasant smell and an increase in temperature are also possible.
Otitis media is characterized by shooting pain, hyperemia and discharge of pus, symptoms of general intoxication, temperature up to 38°C. It is often accompanied by a runny nose, pain and unpleasant sensations in the head, cough. It is worth noting that catarrhal otitis media with improper and untimely treatment can turn into a purulent form.
Characteristic signs of internal otitis (labyrinthitis) are dizziness, tinnitus, nausea, gradual hearing loss. Such symptoms are similar to the clinical manifestations of other diseases, so to provide the correct diagnosis, the patient is usually referred to brain MRI, electronystagmography, audiometry or CT. On our website - https://dobrobut.com/ - you can familiarize yourself with the cost of the above examinations and the qualifications of specialists. Doctors will answer the questions that concern you, including "how to treat otitis". Contact us - we work around the clock.
Acute otitis and chronic form: diagnosis
Diagnosis of otitis is based on clinical and otolaryngological examination of the patient. For this, otoscopy (examination using an otoscope), otomicroscopy and audiometry are most often used. In some cases, X-ray and computer tomography are prescribed. In case of infectious and bacteriological nature of the disease, laboratory research methods are used.
Diagnosis and treatment of otitis in children has its own characteristics. Thus, the mother's observations play the main role in making a diagnosis in children under two years of age. Increased anxiety, irritability, refusal to eat, as well as crying when pressing on the bridge of the ear are symptoms that should cause concern in the mother. An alarming sign is the tendency of the baby to sleep in one position (the child tries to put the sick ear on a warm pillow).
How to treat otitis
Treatment, as a rule, is conservative and is carried out under the strict supervision of an otolaryngologist. The scheme of prescribing medicines and the duration of their administration is also within the competence of a specialist.
Otitis externa in adults. Local therapy in the form of compresses and turunds is prescribed. Appropriate vitamin therapy and physiotherapeutic procedures.
Inflammation of the middle ear. The course of treatment consists of antibiotic therapy, antipyretic drugs and painkillers. Washing of the auditory canal and anti-inflammatory drops are prescribed locally. In the recovery stage, it is worth adding physiotherapy (solux or UVC).
Inflammation of the inner ear. In most cases, treatment is carried out in hospital conditions. The patient is prescribed dehydration therapy, antibiotics and bed rest.
Otitis in children: features of medical therapy
Treatment of otitis in babies is aimed at restoring the patency of the auditory tube, relieving pain and inflammation, as well as lowering the temperature and affecting the infection. The course of therapy is prescribed by a doctor. During the treatment, the specialist can make adjustments, taking into account the condition and age of the baby. This moment is especially important for purulent otitis media in a child.
Prevention of otitis
As you know, prevention is always better than any treatment. And inflammation of the ear is no exception. The main preventive measures include: a healthy lifestyle, strengthening immunity and timely treatment of respiratory diseases. It is also worth avoiding hypothermia and injuries. Eliminating chronic foci of infection in the body is the best prevention of both acute otitis and other forms of it.
Parents of babies are recommended to pay attention to the hardening of the child (after consultation with the pediatrician) and carefully monitor the condition of his nasopharynx.
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