Internal and external otitis in the child, treatment

Otitis - an inflammatory disease of the organ of hearing; Most often - the middle ear located behind the tympanic membrane (an auditory tube running from the nasopharynx opens into its inner cavity). Less commonly, the outer ear, which consists of the auricle and auditory cancus, is inflamed.

Otitis externa

The external auditory canal in children is short, slit-shaped and tapering, which facilitates the easy spread of bacteria. When infection of scratches and microtraumas of the ear canal (they appear due to scratching, playing, cleaning the ears, etc.), external otitis develops . The child's symptoms will be quite typical: fever up to 39 degrees, intoxication, reddening of the skin of the auricle, puffiness and constriction of the auditory aperture, secretion of translucent liquid. Similar manifestations can be with an internal furuncle (this condition can be suspected with an increase in parotid lymph nodes, severe pain during chewing).

Internal otitis media

In the middle ear, acute otitis in children occurs quite often due to a number of anatomical features inherent in the period of newborn and early age. First of all, the auditory (or, as it is also called, the eustachian) tube in small children is broad and short. Because of this microorganisms, the smallest pieces of food and liquids very easily come from the nasopharynx into the middle ear, causing inflammation. The second point is that in the infants the drum cavity is filled with a special jelly-like tissue, which gradually dissolves, but additional internal chambers (cavities) are formed in which the infection "successfully" develops. With age, these anatomical features disappear, and the risk of otitis is reduced. Inflammation of the middle ear will also give fever and intoxication, less often - there will be clear or purulent discharge from the ear (in the latter case, the trouble was already caused, since the child had an opening in the tympanic membrane). If The purulent otitis in the child is revealed , the treatment must be started immediately, for which it is necessary immediately to call an ambulance. The presence of any form of otitis is quite easy to check by pressing on a tragus, which always causes severe pain and crying. Against the backdrop of intoxication and fever, this allows you to pinpoint the cause of the disease. In infants, pain in the ear will manifest as a cry, a violation of sleep, a refusal of food, a forced situation (the baby tries to lie on a sore ear); Less often is vomiting and diarrhea.

Treatment of otitis media

The first action with otitis symptoms is a doctor's call. With early and timely treatment for medical help, it is usually possible to cure a baby without unpleasant manipulations and with the use of a minimum amount of medicines. If otitis externa has developed in a child, treatment will consist of local remedies (ointments, balms, including antiseptic), less often antibiotics.

In case of inflammation of the middle ear, antibiotics (tableted or in the form of syrups) will be prescribed in any case. Pain will be removed with the help of
Anti-inflammatory drugs, and the permeability of the auditory tube is restored with vasoconstrictive drops. If purulent otitis develops, the child's treatment will necessarily include injectable antibiotics, a special ear toilet antiseptic, pus removal and other unpleasant manipulations. In the complex treatment of catarrhal (nonsusular) otitis successfully apply dry heat (blue lamp), semi-alcohol compresses, later - physiotherapy (UHF, UFO, etc.). However, we must clearly understand that one can not cure otitis with compresses and warming up! But "to sit down" to a purulent inflammation can be very simple.

If otitis in the child has developed, the doctor should prescribe the treatment, regardless of the form, cause and severity of the disease. "Folk medicine" and self-medication can quickly lead to serious complications, up to the inflammation of the meninges.