Using the tympanic membrane, the ear is divided into the middle and outer sections. It is a membrane that is impermeable to air and liquid, the diameter of which is approximately 1 cm, and the thickness is about 0.1 mm. Its main function is to transmit sound waves to the inner ear, while its auxiliary function is to protect the auditory system from the penetration of foreign bodies. In childhood, the membrane has the shape of a regular circle, in an adult - an ellipse. Inflammation of the tympanic membrane is a rather serious pathology, which, in the absence of adequate and timely therapy, can lead to complete hearing loss.
Description of pathology
Many are wondering what is the name of the inflammation of the eardrum. This is miringitis. It is an inflammatory process that affects the tissues of the membrane and, as a rule, is accompanied by infections provoked by pathogens that have entered the inflammatory focus from the bloodstream or adjacentfabrics.
The mechanism for the development of inflammation of the eardrum is always standard. At the initial stages of damage, the body synthesizes cytokines - specific protein compounds that trigger the immune response to damaging factors. Under the influence of cytokines, the blood vessels located in the eardrum expand. Through their walls, blood plasma with individual shaped cells enters the surrounding tissues. As a result, hyperemia and swelling of the membrane occurs.
The development of the inflammatory process is accompanied by pain in the ears, discomfort, the appearance of noise, in some cases - hearing loss, fever. When the disease passes into the hemorrhagic or chronic stage, vesicles filled with pus and blood form, bursting with the release of exudate.
Why does eardrum inflammation occur?
Reason for development
Morphologically, the membrane is part of the tympanic cavity and the external auditory canal. On the one hand, the surface of the tympanic membrane is covered with epidermis, on the other hand, it is a continuation of the mucous lining the tympanic cavity. Due to this structure, myringitis as an independent pathology is quite rare. As a rule, the membrane becomes inflamed due to the fact that pathological processes from adjacent organs spread to it. Such pathological processes can be:
- Bacterial, viral infections (tonsillitis, flu).
- Coldsdiseases.
- Inflammation of the middle or outer ear.
As an independent disease, miringitis usually develops with sound, thermal, chemical, mechanical trauma to the membrane. Myringitis as a result of trauma often occurs in children, as babies put various small objects in their ears.
Among the factors that provoke the disease are beriberi, malnutrition and poor nutrition, reduced immunity.
Classification
Specialists identify three main types of eardrum inflammation:
- Acute catarrhal. It often develops as a result of trauma. It is characterized by symptoms that increase rapidly, but mild manifestations are also likely. Timely therapy allows you to completely eliminate the disease.
- Chronic. It is the most common form of pathology. As a rule, it occurs together with other ENT diseases. The most characteristic sign is the formation of bullae (vesicles) on the membrane, which are filled with pus. The chronic form of miringin is prone to relapse even after full therapy.
- Bullous (hemorrhagic). It is a complication of other diseases, in some cases it is a consequence of the flu. The main distinguishing feature of hemorrhagic miringitis is the occurrence of bullae filled with blood exudate.
What are the main symptoms of eardrum inflammation? More on that later.
Symptomatics
Symptomatology of miringitis depends on the nature of the course and the form of pathology. In the initial stages of the development of the disease, the symptoms are mild. With the development of the disease - the transition to hemorrhagic, chronic, acute forms - they manifest themselves quite clearly.
In acute myringitis, the patient has the following symptoms:
- Pain in the head from the affected ear.
- General malaise.
- Bloody, serous discharge (occurs in about 60% of cases).
- Fever (as a rule, with influenza myringitis). This symptom occurs in half of patients.
- Hearing loss, tinnitus.
- Aching pain, discomfort (itching in the ear, heaviness, sensation of the presence of a foreign object, and cleaning the ear canals does not bring relief).
- Ear congestion.
- Sudden pain when sneezing, coughing.
Some unpleasant symptoms of inflammation of the eardrum in the photo can be seen with the naked eye.
Sharp shape
Exacerbated chronic and hemorrhagic miringitis are accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Pain, intense itching.
- Mild hearing loss.
- Isolation of blood, pus from the ear, accompanied by the appearance of a fetid odor.
How is eardrum inflammation detected in a child or adult?
Diagnosis
The leading role in the diagnosis of miringin belongs to the examination and questioning of the patient. A complete examination includesusing the following diagnostic techniques:
- Collecting an anamnesis, questioning the patient. The specialist focuses on the dynamics of the pathology, the sequence, the development of the disease, the absence or presence of similar symptoms in previous periods.
- Otoscopy. With the help of an otoscope, a specialist examines in detail the state of the membrane, all the pathological changes that have occurred to it. With catarrhal myringitis, redness, swelling of the eardrum is observed. In some cases, a small amount of serous exudate is released. In the chronic form of the disease, there is a protrusion and thickening of the membrane, the formation of granules with purulent contents. The appearance of bullae filled with serous-hemorrhagic exudate testifies to hemorrhagic myringitis. If the pathology is of herpetic origin, the vesicles are small in size. Flu bullae are quite large.
- Laboratory research. They allow you to detect an increase in ESR and leukocytosis. With a viral etiology of myringitis, 2-4 days after the onset of the pathology, the level of leukocytes decreases, and lymphocytosis develops. To determine the type of pathogen, a virological or bacteriological study is necessary with culture of a smear taken from the external auditory canal.
- Threshold tone audiometry. The purpose of this study is to determine the degree of hearing loss and the choice of treatment tactics. The essence of the study is the generation of sound signals of variousintensity using a special device (audiometer) and the determination of sound conduction by the middle and inner ear.
- Differential diagnosis. It is carried out to isolate myringitis from otitis media, otomycosis, and some other otolaryngological pathologies. To differentiate myringitis from otitis, the blowing method is used. It consists in the fact that the specialist passes air into the tympanic cavity and the auditory tube through the nasopharynx, after which he listens to the process through an acoustic apparatus having two tubes. With otitis media, the Eustachian tube is often blocked. With miringitis, it remains passable.
Treatment of eardrum inflammation
Therapy of miringitis consists in symptomatic, pathogenetic, etiotropic treatment. In some cases, there is a need for surgical intervention. Therapeutic methods are the same for adult patients and children. The only difference is that children are treated with more gentle antibiotics (if required).
In order to eliminate the inflammatory reaction and evacuate the purulent-bloody exudate from the auricle, antiseptic solutions are used: "Chlorhexidine", "Miramistin", "Furacilin", boric acid, and other similar medicines. If a significant amount of exudate is released, sterile gauze swabs should be placed in the ears and periodically changed.
What else is used in the treatment of eardrum inflammation? Antibacterial andantiviral agents are recommended for use depending on the variety of the pathogen, established by the result of a virological, bacteriological study. As a rule, the patient is prescribed amantadine derivatives (for viral damage), fluoroquinolones, second and third generation cephalosporins, macrolides.
In order to suppress the inflammatory process, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Dexamethasone, Diclofenac and others), as well as glucocorticosteroids are used.
In cases where miringitis is accompanied by intoxication, detoxification therapy is carried out with infusions of saline, 5% glucose, low molecular weight plasma substitutes.
In order to eliminate hyperemia and swelling, it is indicated to use antihistamines. To eliminate scars and adhesions, biostimulants and physiotherapeutic methods can be used. To strengthen the general condition with inflammation of the eardrum, otolaryngologists recommend that patients use vitamin complexes and immunostimulating drugs.
Surgical treatment
During surgery, the bullae are pierced with a special thin needle. Do this in order to remove the contents of purulent and hemorrhagic vesicles. After piercing the bull, the exudate is removed and the area is treated with antiseptic agents.
Inflammation of the eardrum: treatmentfolk remedies
The feasibility of using folk remedies for the treatment of miringitis should be discussed with an ENT doctor.
Traditional healers are often advised to use an ordinary onion to eliminate miringitis. One onion should be peeled, cut off the top of it and make a small indentation. It is filled with cumin seeds and covered with a cut top. After that, the onion is baked in the oven until it becomes soft. After that, the juice is squeezed out of the baked onion and used to instill the ears. It is recommended to carry out the procedure twice a day.
Probable Complications
Inadequate therapy or its absence can lead to the development of severe consequences in the form of sepsis or complete deafness. The main complications are:
- Mastoiditis.
- Labyrinthite.
- Facial paralysis.
- Penetration of pus into the lining of the brain.
- Perforation, complete destruction of the membrane.
Forecast, preventive measures
Preventive measures include:
- Maintaining normal immunity: vitamin therapy, hardening, a he althy lifestyle.
- Follow personal hygiene recommendations.
- Avoiding colds, hypothermia.
- Timely and complete therapy of chronic pathologies that can provoke the development of myringitis.
- Caring for the ears, avoiding any injury.
Prognosis for myringitis depends on the etiology of the disease and the adequacy of the therapy used. Acute catarrhal and hemorrhagic myringitis, as a rule, is cured completely. The chronic form is characterized by a change of exacerbations and remissions.
We looked at the symptoms and treatment of eardrum inflammation.
