Inflammation of the Eustachian tube: treatment and causes

In the ordinary state of the Eustachian pipe is closed. At the moment of ingestion of food, due to the function of certain muscles located in the soft sky, the Eustachian tube opens and promotes the penetration of air into the middle ear. This is the constant aeration of this region.

If the aeration is broken for some reason, the atmospheric pressure exceeds the pressure inside the tympanic membrane. As a result of this, her position changes, she becomes drawn in, approaching the wall of the promontory. There is inflammation of the Eustachian tube, the symptoms, the treatment of which is described in this article.

Cause of disease

All diseases that are accompanied by swelling of the mucous membrane and catarrhal changes in the nose and nasopharynx, can cause simultaneous inflammation of the Eustachian tube, the treatment of which should be started in a timely manner.

Pathology is provoked by the following reasons:

• Runny nose, flowing in acute or chronic form;
• Hypertrophic process in the posterior ends of the lower shells;
• Presence of adenoids;
• Neoplasm of the nasopharynx;
• Frequently recurring tonsillitis;
• Hypertrophic process in tonsils, capable of causing secondary pathological changes;
• Defects in ear anatomy ;
• Presence of anterior or posterior tamponade with nasal bleeding after surgery.

Usually, tubo-otitis is caused by staphylococci or streptococci. In children, the disease is more often provoked by pneumococci, as well as diseases of the viral nature.

Infection of the nasopharynx extends to the Eustachian tube, as well as the middle ear. As a result, its patency is sharply reduced.

If the patient has a predisposition to allergies, puffiness of the middle ear and increased secretion secretion, the risk of the appearance of the disease increases at times. All manifestations of the pathological process depend on the form, which he accepted. Inflammation of the eustachian tube, which is treated by a laryngologist, can be both acute and chronic.

How is the acute form manifested

The acute form, as a rule, develops on a background of a virus defeat of an organism, cold which inflames a nasopharynx. At the process proceeding in the acute form, the patient marks stable general state of health. The temperature indicator usually does not exceed 38 ° C. Intense pain is not felt. The patient can make a complaint about hearing impairment, nasal congestion, increased hearing of his own voice (the feeling that an echo is heard), the seeming transfusion of water in the ear, constant noise.

On examination, the swelling of the auditory tube is revealed, the narrowing of its lumen, and the mucous membrane is irritated. The closed eardrum provokes a decrease in pressure and dilatation of the vessels, whose walls are thinned. This causes a leakage of blood through the capillaries.

How is the chronic course of the disease manifested?

If in acute form all the symptoms are temporary and after a while they stop worrying, then in chronic course they are resistant. Chronic disease is inherent atrophy in the mucous membrane of the tympanic membrane and membrane. The membrane becomes cloudy, necrosis can form.

In chronic course, the tympanic membrane is retracted and deformed, the lumen of the tube narrows, the hearing is severely impaired, some local areas turn red. There is sclerosis of the tympanic membrane. Inflammation can be complicated by adhesive otitis, which provokes the appearance of adhesions that violate the patency of the eustachian tube and ossicles in the ear.

How does the disease manifest in children

The anatomy of the auditory canal of a child has great differences from the structure of an adult. Therefore, the child is more predisposed to ear diseases. Signs of eustachyte at the age of children are exactly the same as in the adult. The following symptoms are noted:

• Presence of noise;
• nasal congestion;
• Hearing loss.

What if there arose in such an area as Eustachian tube inflammation? Treatment at home is not recommended. You should consult a specialist.

Diagnosis of the disease

Only the laryngologist can detect the disease. Diagnosis is based on clinical manifestations and otoscopy. Manipulation can reveal the degree of retraction of the tympanic membrane, shortening of the hammer handle, a sharp protrusion towards the auditory passage of a small appendage.

Tone audiometry is used to determine hearing impairment. In addition, the regent of the paranasal sinuses is performed, the function of the auditory tubes is examined by sampling with a gulp of Toynbee, Poltitser's test and the so-called Valsalva maneuver.

Principles of treatment

How does the inflammation of the Eustachian tube stop? Treatment begins after a thorough diagnosis and clarification of the cause of the inflammatory process. Having determined it, it is necessary to eliminate the pathogen, so that the recovery can proceed as soon as possible.

The disease requires immediate therapy, since the acute form can quickly take a chronic course and lead to a persistent hearing loss. And this significantly reduces the quality of life of the patient.

Medication

Treatment of eustachyte depends on the cause that caused it. In the case of pathology of the nasopharynx, therapy is aimed at eliminating it. At jumps of atmospheric pressure when flying on an airplane or raising and descending in water, blowing the ears with the help of ordinary swallowing and a sharp exhalation with clamped nostrils and a closed mouth is used.

Inflammation of the eustachian tube (treatment, drugs are chosen only by a laryngologist!) Is stopped by various drugs. The main direction is the use of drugs that help narrow the vessels of the eustachian tube and nasopharynx. This group includes "Tizin", "Nazivin", "Rinostop", "Galazolin", "Xylen". They are issued without a prescription. Drops are injected into the nose 2-3 times a day. Use these funds can not more than five days.

Antibacterial drugs include ear drops Polideks, Sofredeks, Normaks, Danzil. As additional therapy, antihistamines - Suprastin, Eryus, Claritin, Tavegil, Telfast, Zirtek, are acting.

In some cases, hormonal agents of local action are prescribed. For example, "Nazonex", "Avamis", "Fliksonase" is used. They have a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect.

If found in an area such as the Eustachian tube, inflammation, treatment involves the use of anti-inflammatory drugs and anti-microbial agents. Usually used drugs that are instilled in the ear (3-4 drops three times a day). Apply them no more than 10 days.

As local preparations against inflammation apply furatsilin and boric acid 3%. For oral administration, antibiotics such as Amoxiclav, Cefuroxime, and Afenoxin can be prescribed. They are taken twice a day, at a dose of 250-700 mg, strictly according to the doctor's prescription.

Eustachian tube blowing through a catheter has a high degree of efficiency. Introduced hydrocortisone or adrenaline. With proper therapy, the disease is stopped within a few days. If the measures were taken late, the disease can acquire a chronic form, which can be treated with difficulty.

If the process is running, surgical intervention may be necessary. In the region of the tympanic membrane, an incision is made into which a catheter is inserted to suck out the liquid. The operation is performed under general anesthesia.

To enhance the effect of treatment, physiotherapy is carried out, and compresses are also used. From fizioprocedures should be noted UFO, UHF area of the nose, laser therapy.

How else can an inflammation of the auditory Eustachian tube be eliminated? Treatment after relief of acute flow with a safe reduced hearing involves the use of a method of blowing the auditory tubes or pneumatic massage. For blowing, the method of the Politzer or catheterization is used.

Politzer Method and Catheterization

Ear blowing through the Politzer is carried out by means of a balloon made of rubber, which is connected by a rubber tube to the olive. The olive is inserted into the nostril of the patient. The wings of the nose are clamped. To get air into the tympanic membrane, the patient must swallow the air and loudly syllables to pronounce the word "cuckoo". When stressed on the syllable, the palatal curtain is raised and pressed against the back wall of the pharynx. At this point the doctor makes a light compression of the balloon. The control of air penetration is carried out by means of the otoscope.

With successful manipulations, as a rule, the patient's condition is optimized after 1-3 procedures. May improve the hearing for several days. In this case, additional purges are required in 1-2 days. The procedures are carried out for 2-3 weeks.

At low efficiency of the method of the Politzer, catheterization of the auditory tube is carried out . The air is blown into the eardrum with a special ear catheter and a rubber balloon. After manipulation, a pneumatic massage of the tympanic membrane is performed.

The essence of the catheterization lies in the fact that a variable pressure is applied to the tympanic membrane, which increases its elasticity, makes it mobile, prevents the appearance of scars leading to hearing loss.

Application of folk remedies

How else can the inflammation of the Eustachian tube be removed? Treatment with folk remedies involves the use of a number of recipes:

• Aloe juice is mixed with warm boiled water in a 1: 1 ratio. This remedy is buried in the nose every 5 hours. In addition, they moistened the tampon and injected into the ear.
• In the nose, the onion juice is buried before going to sleep, and a warm bulb is placed in the ear area.
• Eucalyptus, lavender celandine, yarrow are taken in equal proportions. Two spoons of herbal tea are poured into 0.5 liters of boiling water. The agent is infused in the thermos for 12 hours. Infusion is drunk three times a day for ¼ cup.

Complications of the disease

Inflammation of the Eustachian tube (symptoms, treatment of folk remedies and medications we described in this article) with timely therapy, as a rule, is completely eliminated and does not cause any complications. But due to the fact that the symptoms of the disease are worn out, the patient does not always get on time to see a laryngologist, which provokes undesirable consequences. There can be a steady decrease in hearing, purulent otitis in the acute form, deformation of the membrane, scarring of the tissues of the middle ear. Eustachiitis can lead to complete loss of hearing.

Prevention

To prevent the inflammation of the Eustachian tube, the treatment of which is difficult enough, it is necessary to curtail the diseases that provoke it in time. It is necessary to constantly strengthen the immune system, not to use a large number of antibiotics, to abandon bad habits. Be healthy!