Causes, symptoms and treatment of otitis externa
Content:
- Otitis externa symptoms
- Causes of otitis externa
- Diffuse otitis externa
- Treatment of otitis externa in adults
Otitis externa is an infectious disease characterized by inflammation of the skin lining the external auditory canal. The most common causative agent of this disease is Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
This disease has several varieties: otitis externa can be simple, malignant, diffuse and fungal.
According to statistics, up to 10% of the world's population suffer from otitis externa. However, the majority of cases are children under the age of 5 years. Otitis externa is often referred to as swimmer's ear. This is due to the fact that the peak incidence occurs during the summer swimming season.
Otitis externa symptoms
Among the symptoms of otitis externa, it is customary to pay attention to the following:
- The appearance of pain in the ear with varying intensity. Unpleasant sensations tend to intensify when pressure is applied to the tragus. Also, the pain increases if the patient is pulled by the ear. The tragus is a process of cartilage that limits the ear canal.
- Patients often complain of a feeling of ear congestion.
- The appearance of discharge from the ear canal. Sometimes they are just purulent, and sometimes blood streaks can be observed in them.
- Hearing loss occurs. Patients often report the sensation of water in the ear.
- The ear swells enough that the patient cannot use earplugs.
- An unpleasant odor may come from the ear.
- General well-being is often disturbed, this happens against the background of an increase in body temperature. Sometimes it rises to high values, up to 39 ° C and even higher.
- The ear itself becomes inflamed and often increases in size.
- The external auditory canal is often covered with red, small pimples, sometimes with scratches or boils.
Causes of otitis externa
Among the reasons leading to the development of otitis externa are the following:
- Excessive and improper hygiene of the ear canal. If, during the toilet, the ear is cleaned from the depths of the passage itself, and not only from the auricle, this increases the risk of developing the disease. This fact is connected with the fact that sulfur is a protective lubricant of natural origin and has antibacterial properties. Its absence becomes a favorable breeding ground for bacteria and fungi.
- Microtrauma of the ear, resulting from improper care, or through negligence.
- Dirty water in the ear. Most often this happens while swimming in water bodies in the summer. But even swimming in pools with chlorinated water often leads to irritation in the ear. This becomes the cause provoking the development of the disease. Against the background of such a state, bacteria that are always in the ear canal exhibit pathogenic activity.
- Excessive sweating, excessive humidity or dry air.
- Frequent stress that reduces the body's defenses.
- Allergy.
- Diseases such as diabetes mellitus, syphilis, tonsillitis, pyelonephritis, or HIV infection.
- Eating disorders.
- Bad habits.
- Other types of otitis media are purulent, chronic.
- The impact of any aggressive substances on the ear cavity.
- Chronic fatigue syndrome.
Diffuse otitis externa
Diffuse otitis media is characterized by certain symptoms and clinical presentation. The manifestations of the disease begin with the fact that a person feels severe itching in the ear and bursting pain. These signs occur against the background of increased body temperature. At the same time, the pain radiates to the side of the head where the inflammation is located. It intensifies when a person commits chewing movements. At this time, a person has difficulty falling asleep and eating. The ear canal itself swells a lot, which causes hearing impairment.
The discharge is not abundant, at the initial stage of the development of the disease they are serous, then they become purulent. Against the background of the flowing diffuse otitis media, the nearby lymph nodes increase.
If the disease is difficult, then the auricle and the soft tissues surrounding the ear are involved in the pathological process.
The duration of the acute phase is on average 2 weeks. If treatment is started promptly, then the disease is eliminated. If therapy is inadequate, then diffuse otitis media takes a chronic form. This is fraught with scarring and severe hearing loss.
During the otoscopy of a patient with diffuse otitis externa, the doctor observes the edematous and reddened skin of the ear canal, multiple small erosions covered with serous contents. If the patient turns in an advanced stage, then the site of inflammation swells strongly, ulcers and cracks form inside the ear canal. The discharge from them is purulent, has a greenish tint. The patient suffers from hearing loss, which is clearly visible during audiometry.
Diffuse otitis media requires the appointment of antibacterial drugs, as well as a complex of vitamins and antihistamines. If necessary, prescribe immunomodulators. Local treatment is also indicated in the form of washing the ear and using antimicrobial drops.
Treatment of otitis externa in adults
An otolaryngologist is involved in the treatment of otitis externa in adults. Mostly it comes down to local therapy. The patient is prescribed drops containing an antibiotic and hormones. This contributes to the fact that not only inflammation is relieved, but also edema is reduced. It is unacceptable to use drops on your own. Before starting treatment, the patient should be examined by a doctor. This is due to the fact that most drugs have a contraindication for use in case of perforation of the tympanic membrane. Self-medication can cause permanent hearing impairment and worsening symptoms.
For therapy, a significant point is the proper toilet of the ear. It must be thoroughly cleaned from the contents by a doctor, which will allow the drug to act more targeted. This will increase the effectiveness of treatment and significantly shorten its duration.
On the subject: Treatment of otitis media at home
If a person experiences severe pain that is not relieved by the introduction of local anti-inflammatory drops, then pain relievers, for example, Ibuprofen, can be additionally used. A cotton wool turunda with a drug applied to it will help relieve pain and swelling faster. Pain relievers are usually prescribed in the first three days from the start of therapy.
If the disease is severe and does not respond to local treatment, then oral antibiotics are indicated. This must be done with a prolonged increase in body temperature.
If the treatment was not prescribed on time, then this can lead to serious consequences. Otitis externa becomes chronic and often recurs, reducing the patient's quality of life. Also, the infection tends to spread, involving the lymph nodes, the cartilage of the auricle and the auricle itself in the pathological process. The most severe complication is the development of necrotizing otitis media, which provokes mastoiditis, yarmen vein thrombosis, osteomyelitis, meningitis. Therefore, therapy should be prescribed in a timely manner, and when the first symptoms of the disease are detected, it is worth seeking help from a specialist as soon as possible.
For the treatment of otitis externa, the following drops are most often used:
- Sofradex. They have a pronounced antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect. They are able to relieve puffiness. Since the product contains hormones, it should be used in the exact dosage prescribed by the doctor. Sometimes, after using the product, allergic reactions may develop, manifesting in the form of irritation and itching. Do not use during gestation, infants, people with kidney and liver pathologies.
- Otipax is a popular drug for the treatment of otitis externa. It is able to quickly and effectively relieve pain, swelling and inflammation. Approved for use in pregnant women and even babies. It is especially effective if used at the initial stage of the development of the disease. However, it should not be used before otoscopy, as it is contraindicated for perforation of the tympanic membrane.
- Normax - drops with antimicrobial effect, often prescribed for otitis externa. It has some side effects, among which the most common are the occurrence of rashes, the appearance of a burning sensation and itching in the ear. If, after using the drops, a side effect is observed, it is worth canceling the drug and contacting an otolaryngologist for advice.
- Canbiotic. These drops are also prescribed to eliminate otitis externa. It is effective in that it contains several antibiotics that have a bactericidal effect on a wide range of bacteria that cause disease. In addition, the agent is supplemented with an antifungal component. However, drops cannot be used during pregnancy and in children under 6 years of age. May cause allergic reactions.
On the subject: Antibiotics and drops in the ears for otitis media
If the drops do not have the desired effect on the course of otitis externa, then they are supplemented with the following antibiotics used orally:
- ampicillin trihydrate
- amoxicillin
- ciprofoloxacin
- netilmicin
Although otitis externa, with timely treatment, lends itself well to therapeutic effects, it is better to avoid the disease. To do this, it is enough to avoid ear injuries, carefully and carefully carry out its hygiene. When swimming, you should try to avoid getting water into it, which is especially true for rivers and lakes. If there is a foreign body in the ear canal, do not try to remove it yourself. These recommendations will help to avoid the development of otitis externa.
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The author of the article: Lazarev Oleg Vladimirovich | ENT
Education: In 2009, he received a diploma in the specialty "General Medicine" at the Petrozavodsk State University. After completing an internship at the Murmansk Regional Clinical Hospital, he received a diploma in Otorhinolaryngology (2010)
