Symptoms and Treatment of Otitis

Otitis is an acute or chronic inflammation of the hearing organ, which is divided into outer, middle and inner otitis (labyrinthitis).

Symptoms and treatment of otitis.

Otitis externa is an inflammation of the external auditory canal, which affects people of all ages equally, as a result of entering a bacterial infection from the outside (with a match, toothpick), or while swimming with prolonged stagnation of water in the ear canals.

It is manifested by acute pain in the ear, itching in the external auditory canal and the dense skin. During the course of the illness, the hearing may be slightly reduced, which is completely restored after recovery.

Symptoms and treatment of otitis.

Otitis media - inflammation of the middle ear, is more common in school-age children. The disease develops against the background of a viral infection and most often there is a viral etiology. There is an infection from the inflamed nasopharynx through the eustachian tubes (connect the nasopharynx with the middle ear) and infect the sterile cavity of the middle ear. Clinical manifestations of viral otitis: ear congestion, hearing loss, discomfort and itching in the ear. With the attachment of bacterial infection, acute purulent otitis media develops, which greatly aggravates the prognosis of the disease.

It is manifested by severe shooting pain in the ear, deterioration of the general condition, the appearance of symptoms of intoxication (fever to 38-39 degrees, weakness, headache), stuffiness in the ear, dizziness, when the purulent contents accumulate in the cavity, it melts the tympanic membrane and breaks into External auditory canal (suppuration from the ear). It is very important in such cases to start antibiotic therapy in time to prevent the development of complications such as, for example, purulent meningitis, meningoencephalitis.

When untimely treatment of acute purulent otitis media, it can go into a chronic form. Frequent otitis with suppuration develops, the hole in the tympanic membrane is not prolonged for a long time and promotes the further development of the infectious process. In the future, hearing loss is developing.

Symptoms and treatment of otitis.

Internal (labyrinthitis) - inflammation of the inner ear, is extremely rare. The disease develops as a result of infection from the middle ear, either by hematogenous or lymphogenous pathway in the presence of a foci of infection in the body.

It is manifested by a balance disorder, dizziness, severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, and hearing loss. If you do not start treatment in time, it can lead to a complete hearing loss.

Treatment of otitis.

When the above symptoms appear and otitis treatment should be immediate. It is not necessary to do home treatment, be sure to see a doctor-otolaryngologist.

Treatment of viral otitis media is usually performed in conjunction with the treatment of viral infection in the nasopharynx using antiviral drugs, interferons, immunostimulating drugs.

In no case can you warm your ear in an acute period! This will only exacerbate the condition, especially with bacterial otitis, and may contribute to the breakthrough of the tympanic membrane.

Otitis caused by a bacterial infection is usually treated with a course of antibiotic therapy for 7-10 days. In the external ear canal with severe pain, you can instill anesthetic drops, as well as solutions of antiseptics. To date, there are many. In the nose, vasoconstrictive drops are instilled, especially in middle otitis, as they remove the mucosal edema and improve the outflow of serous or purulent fluid and prevent the eardrum from breaking through.

Prevention of otitis.

Do not subject the body to hypothermia, overheating, after water procedures, drain external ear canals, wear headwear, and treat chronic foci of infection.