Otitis - what is it? Chronic otitis media: symptoms and treatment in adults and children

Many people who are faced with a disease of the ears, perfectly understand, if diagnosed with "otitis", what is it. The illness is characterized by a rather unpleasant, and often painful, symptomatology. In addition, even an easy form of pathology can quickly go into purulent. In this situation, treatment is significantly more complicated. It is necessary to destroy the infection, localized in the tympanic membrane. Disregarding attitude and inadequate treatment very often lead to serious consequences. In this case, chronic otitis media is diagnosed. What is it, and how to deal with it? Let's understand.

Otitis - what is it?

The disease is an inflammatory process in the ear, which is manifested under the influence of harmful bacteria and fungi.

With otitis, symptoms such as:

• heat;
• Low hearing;
• Painful sensations;
• Excessive irritability;
• A decrease in appetite.

The structure of the ear and the variety of the disease:

1. The outer part is equipped with a sink. It includes an auditory canal. In the formation of inflammation in this zone, external otitis occurs.
2. The eardrums and earbones separate the middle ear from the outer part. Often an ailment develops in this part of the ear canal. Such pathology is otitis media.
3. The inner ear is bone and membranous labyrinths. Inflammation of this place is more vulnerable to children. The disease that covers this part is called labyrinthitis (or internal otitis media).

The most dangerous is the last form of the disease. However, with any kind of pathology, you should not hesitate to consult a doctor. It should be clearly understood if otitis is diagnosed - what it is and how dangerous it is.

According to the course of the disease, the following types of ailment are distinguished:

• Acute - develops with a duration of 3 weeks;
• Subacute - can last about 3 months;
• Chronic - can last up to six months.

Chronic otitis media

Most often, this pathology develops in the middle ear. Chronic otitis practically does not happen in the outer part. This area of the ear is less prone to disease-causing effects, as it does not allow the infection to penetrate deeply into the tissue. In addition, otitis externa is easily treatable.

Remember, it is necessary to consult a doctor with such pathology as otitis media. Symptoms and treatment can correctly identify only a competent specialist.

About the chronic pathology signals the following signs:

• Systematic purulent discharge from the ear;
• The tympanic membrane is prone to perforation;
• A significant decrease in hearing.

Often, this form of the disease develops in childhood. But over time, the infection provokes the development of the inflammatory process in the mucosa of the auricle. If you do not seek medical help on time, you may have serious inflammation.

Causes of development of chronic otitis media

Why does this pathology arise? It is important to understand what triggers an ear otitis. Symptoms and treatment of chronic pathology, we consider below. In the meantime, we will analyze what diseases and conditions cause such a serious disease.

The development of a chronic form is preceded by the formation of acute otitis or the systematic resumption of inflammatory processes.

The causative agent of the disease is Staphylococcus aureus, whose action is supported by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other bacterial species. Often in children with weakened immunity, it is possible to find various kinds of mushrooms, the habitat of which is the eardrum.

Also, the development of otitis can provoke strong medicines, such as antibiotics. Under their influence, the risk of chronic otitis media increases.

Causes of the disease:

• Increased accumulation of harmful microorganisms;
• Drugs that affect the weakening of the protective function of the body;
• Unplanned interruption of antibiotics;
• anemia;
• diabetes;
• avitaminosis;
• Violation of respiratory function, the presence of chronic sinusitis, curvature of the septum of the nose;
• Frequent ingress of liquid into the auricle.

After acute otitis is healed, the chronic can occur within a few years. This pathology can develop for many years, during which the person will significantly reduce hearing. It is dangerous that this process is slow, almost imperceptible to the patient.

Symptoms of pathology

One of the main signs of the presence of the disease is a systematic purulent discharge from the auricle. This process is not accompanied by painful sensations, which is why it does not cause any concern.

Referring to a doctor is often provoked by no purulent discharge, but a serious complication, such as hearing loss. Unfortunately, this characterizes the started otitis media.

Symptoms that make you suspect a chronic illness:

• Severe purulent discharge;
• Unpleasant odor from the auricle;
• A constant feeling of stuffiness;
• Noises in the ears;
• Painful sensations of a different nature that can occur if the outflow of purulent discharge is difficult;
• Feeling of permanent presence of liquid formations in the ear.

Types of the disease

Depending on the course of the inflammatory process, chronic otitis can be of one type or another:

1. Mesotempanit. It is caused by the formation of a hole in the tympanic membrane. As a result of inflammation, the middle ear cavity and the auditory ossicle can be affected.
2. Epitimpanitis. It can be characterized by a violation of the upper part of the tympanic membrane and the middle ear. Pathology can serve as a trigger for bone damage. This type of otitis can take a long time and have a negative effect on the brain. In this case, an indispensable surgical intervention is required.
3. Exudative otitis media. Occurs as a result of a malfunction in the auditory tube. But with this process the tympanic membrane remains intact. Often, this pathology accumulates fluid, which, in turn, affects the inner tissues of the ear. This provokes unpleasant pain. Often such discomfort can not be tolerated.
4. Adhesive form. It is a complication of systematically recurring otitis. It is manifested in the form of scarring of the cavity of the tympanic membrane. Sometimes there is another clinic. In some patients, a connection of the membrane and the auditory ossicle occurs. It is in this case that a sharp decrease in hearing occurs.

Possible complications

With the development of a chronic form of the disease, acuity of hearing can be significantly impaired. This is due to the deformation of the membrane.

Chronic otitis can be of two types:

1. Benign. It manifests itself in the form of a pathological change in the mucosa (the region of the tympanic membrane). However, the bacteria do not leave the cavity of the shell. Basically benign otitis does not cause complications and is of limited character. This kind of infection lasts a few days. Benign inflammation occurs only in the tympanic membrane (mesotimbanum).
2. Malignant otitis media. As a result of rapid development of inflammatory processes, the infection can spread to the bony walls of the ear canal. It is there that the carious cavity grows. As a result, bone formations are destroyed.

It is the second type of otitis that can cause the most serious complications:

• Destruction of bone tissue;
• Development of mastoiditis;
• Formation of granulations;
• Complete hearing loss;
• Development of cholesteatoma;
• Brain abscess;
• Deformation of the facial nerve.

These consequences can be avoided if you seek help from specialists in time. They will diagnose and determine otitis. Symptoms and treatment of pathology are important points that should be considered and described only by ENT.

Diagnosis of the disease

Initially, the doctor will visually inspect the auricle. When otitis can identify the following conditions:

• Fluid in the middle ear, resulting in adhesion of the membrane to the bones;
• Air bubbles;
• Presence of a hole in the tympanic membrane;
• Redness of the middle ear;
• Deformation of the membrane (its destruction).

Diagnostic tests:

1. Auditory tests to detect a decrease in hearing acuity.
2. Analyzes of the ear extracts. They help to determine the type of infection, which became the cause of the development of chronic pathology.
3. CT of the head cavity to detect the presence of bone processes.

Initial methods of treatment

The first thing to do is to sanitize the airways. To perform this procedure, you may need to remove adenoids and polyps. This will restore breathing. Also one of the main goals of this procedure can be called the resumption of the normal functioning of the ear canal and the stopping of the development of the infectious process.

Often a mini-intervention is performed, in the course of which it is easy to remove granulations that delay the natural outflow of purulent fluid. To achieve this goal, moxibustion is recommended.

Treatment of pathology

In the formation of the inflammatory process, it is necessary first of all to clean the ear cavity of pus.

Otitis in adults requires such therapy as:

1. Pipe blowing.
2. Washing of the auricle with antiseptics.
3. Treatment of the shell with boric alcohol, "Resorcinol", "Furacilin", "Hinozolum", "Granulin".
4. Introduction of decongestants, vasoconstrictors (in case of severe puffiness).
5. Administration of antibiotics in the form of drops. These can be Penicillin, Polymyxin, Dioxydin, Streptomycin, or Synthomycin.
6. Infusion of proteolytic enzymes, such as "Trypsin", "Chymotrypsin", "Lidase", "Lizotzim."
7. Use of antimycotics in the case of fungal otitis (on turundas): "Fluconazole", "Ketoconazole".
8. Local input of inducers of interferon, hyperimmune plasma.

Taking antibiotics can cause allergic reactions and fungal infections of the ear canal. Such drugs can significantly affect the development of the disease. To their admission should be treated responsibly and comply with all the recommendations of the doctor.

The final stage of treatment

After otitis, or rather - after the acute inflammatory process subsides, physiotherapy methods will benefit:

• Electrophoresis;
• Vibromassage;
• Microwave treatment;
• UHF;
• Mud treatment;
• Pneumomassage.

As you can see, the treatment is long and rather difficult. And in some cases the only way to eliminate the pathology is surgical intervention. Therefore, be attentive to your health and contact the specialists in a timely manner.