Staphylococcus in the ears can cause many diseases associated with the development of inflammation. When infected with staphylococcus, unpleasant symptoms occur in the auricles, often purulent discharge appears. At the first signs, you should immediately consult a doctor in order to eliminate the spread of the disease to neighboring tissues and remove the negative consequences. Only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the necessary therapy. We will talk about the symptoms and treatment of staphylococcus in the ears in this article.
About illness
Staphylococci are round-shaped bacteria found in the ears and mucous membranes. With a weak immune system, they can cause many diseases and inflammations. The bacterium enters the body in different ways, the most common being dirty hands. Provoke diseases associated with staphylococcus aureus can be a lack of vitamins in the body and weakened immune forces.
Staphylococcal infection has about three dozen strains that differ in their effects on humans. Some of them are not capable of causing harm, but most cause serious diseases with inflammation and purulent discharge.
The most common is Staphylococcus aureus. It can affect any organ, including the ear. Therefore, this type of bacteria is considered the most dangerous.
Often, Staphylococcus aureus in the ear causes otitis externa, the treatment of which must be timely, until the infection has spread to other organs and tissues. Also, staphylococcus aureus can cause the development of a furuncle of the auricle or erysipelas. Over time, the tissues affected by the infection begin to fester and become covered with erosions, if treatment is not started during this period, a necrotic process may develop.
Sustainability
Treatment of Staphylococcus aureus in the ear complicates its resistance to active substances and drugs. The infection remains active at high temperatures, is not afraid of direct sunlight and dehydration. The bacterium is resistant to ethyl alcohol and is able to absorb and process hydrogen peroxide using the catalase enzyme.
In addition, staphylococcus aureus is able to penetrate the skin into the vessels, using a special enzyme - coagulase, and clot the blood. This threatens with sepsis and the movement of infection throughout the body. When it enters the lungs through the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx, the bacterium cancause intractable pneumonia.
Staphylococcus dies when boiled. And, despite the resistance to certain types of antibiotics, he is afraid of aniline dyes. Therefore, by treating the wound with brilliant green, you can get a fairly reliable barrier to the penetration of staphylococcus.
Symptoms of staph in the ears
If there is a bacterium in the auricle, these signs are the main argument for going to the doctor:
- puffiness;
- ear fullness;
- faint noise in head;
- Itching and pain in the ear canal;
- crusting and adhesions;
- greenish mucus appears in the ear, an unpleasant odor;
- pus;
- damage to the epidermis;
- weakness, fever;
- the affected area turns golden.
In order to avoid complications such as pneumonia, mastoiditis, meningitis, hearing loss, infection of the blood with an infection, it is necessary to consult a specialist for treatment as soon as possible.
How it is transmitted
You can determine the presence of staphylococcus in the ears by taking a sample for bakposev or by already developed signs. But treatment involves not only efforts to destroy the bacterium, but also to find out the causes of infection.
Staphylococcus aureus in the ears of adults and children appears as follows:
- Contact-household way. Infection occurs through tactile contact with the carrierdiseases, as well as with his personal belongings - this is the most common route of infection. If a person uses a towel of a patient with erysipelas, then with a high probability he will soon also encounter such a problem.
- Airborne way. Infection occurs through the sneezing or coughing of an infected person.
- Alimentary way. It implies that the infection enters the body through the organs that are part of the digestive system, the release of bacteria also occurs through the intestines.
- Dust. It includes particles of the epithelium, dirt and microbes that can remain viable for a long time in such conditions and penetrate into the auricle if the rules for maintaining cleanliness are not followed.
- Medical way. Infection occurs during surgical treatment and damage to the ear in non-sterile conditions.
What else can provoke illness
- Immune diseases, including HIV and AIDS.
- Hypocooling of the body.
- Lack of vitamins.
- Weakening of the protective functions of the body.
- Diabetes mellitus.
- Problems with the endocrine system.
- Bad hygiene.
- Bad habits.
- Having a chronic disease.
- Dehydration.
- Long use of vasoconstrictor drops.
- Viral and colds.
- Injuries and damage to the mucous membrane or epidermis.
Symptoms of Staphylococcus aureus in the ear are most often seen innewborns, young children and the elderly, as during these periods the immune system is weakened in the human body.
Diagnosis
During a visit to an otolaryngologist, a visual examination and questioning of the patient is carried out. Then the specialist determines the exact location of the focus of infection and draws up a treatment regimen that is individual for each patient. It is important not only to make a diagnosis in a short time, but also to do it accurately, because any error can lead to ineffective treatment and complications. For a more accurate diagnosis, studies such as:
- blood and urine test;
- expanded immunogram;
- bacanal analysis - crops are taken from the affected areas, heated throughout the day and the type of staphylococcus is determined;
- nursing women donate milk for testing;
- serological method - if the disease is in a chronic form, it is important to determine the amount of antibodies in the blood that should fight bacteria.
Complications
Internal ear pathologies, erysipelas, otitis media and other diseases caused by Staphylococcus aureus in the ears require timely treatment. The sooner the disease is eliminated, the less the risk that the bacterium will spread outside the ear. Otherwise, there is a risk of developing serious complications, such as:
- Meningitis. Infection and inflammation of the brain occurs, the disease is dangerous and can be fatal.
- Sepsis - when a bacterium and its metabolic products enter the bloodstream, there is a risk of infectionblood. With incorrect and untimely treatment, it can lead to the death of a person.
- Toxic shock syndrome is an acute reaction of the body to the spread of infection.
In addition, the disease can develop into a chronic form, in which case the infection will develop immunity to the drugs used against it.
Treatment methods
How to treat staphylococcus in the ear? Depending on the affected area, therapy can be general or local. With external otitis, local treatment is effective. In this case, ear drops, ointments that contain neomycin, colistin, polyxin, or corticosteroids are prescribed.
It is not recommended to instill drugs directly into the ear canal, it is best to moisten a cotton or gauze cut with the medicine and carefully insert it into the ear. This procedure should be repeated three to four times a day. If the pain persists, it is recommended to use dry heat, quartz treatment and tablets. Gentamycin ointment is popular and needs to be treated on the ear canals within a week.
General therapy for otitis media. In this case, a course of antibiotics is prescribed, most often ampicillin. Also, the therapy includes antipyretic drugs and painkillers, a specialist may recommend warm compresses. If there is no improvement within two to three days, tympanopuncture or tympanocentesis may be prescribed. This is a puncture of the eardrum, after which the ear canal is freed from exudate, while the liquid is taken forresearch and determination of resistance to various types of antibiotics, after which the treatment is adjusted.
During the course of medication, you can not take a break or stop treatment prematurely, focusing on improving the condition. This may lead to the adaptation of staphylococcus to the action of the drug.
Folk remedies
Traditional medicine in the treatment of staphylococcus in the ear is quite effective, but it can only be auxiliary in relation to traditional therapy. Medicinal plants contain active substances that can relieve pain and inflammation, inhibit pathogenic bacteria, disinfect the affected area of the skin and have a positive effect on the immune system.
Here are some tips for using folk remedies:
- St. John's wort. A decoction and infusion of this plant is used to wash the ears, previously cleaned of sulfur. This remedy relieves inflammation well. It is best to do this washing before taking the main medication. St. John's wort is considered an excellent natural antibiotic and is effective when applied topically.
- Dioxidine solution. Four drops of medicine are instilled into the ear, after 10-15 minutes it is dried with a cotton swab. The procedure is repeated twice a day - in the morning and in the evening.
- Infusions and decoctions of chamomile, sage, calendula can also be used as an addition to the main therapy. It should be borne in mind that some types of herbs cause allergic reactions. The decoction should be approximately the temperature of the human body,
- You just need to pay attention to the fact that some herbs can cause allergic reactions in people. A decoction or infusion should be approximately the temperature of a person's body. A cold remedy will lead to vasoconstriction and will not bring the desired effect.
Prevention
In order to avoid the disease or prevent the recurrence of staphylococcus in the ears, you must adhere to the following rules:
- avoid contact with infected people;
- use only your personal hygiene products;
- after walking down the street and visiting public places, be sure to wash your hands;
- timely process and disinfect the skin in the auricles in case of injuries;
- constantly carry out hygiene procedures for the ears;
- wash fruits and vegetables well before eating;
- drink only purified water;
- maintain immunity;
- get rid of bad habits;
- avoid hypothermia.
Conclusion
Treatment of Staphylococcus aureus in the ear should be started as soon as possible. It cannot be ignored. The bacterium can cause many dangerous diseases and significantly reduce hearing. It may take a long time for a complete cure, but an experienced doctor always tries to prescribe the most effective therapy in order to quickly restore a person's he alth.
