Sometimes an adult or a child gets pus in the ear. Such discharge from the ear canal is yellowish-brown in color and is characterized by an extremely unpleasant odor. Often this phenomenon is accompanied by severe pain. What diseases can pus in the ears indicate? And how to deal with an unpleasant state?
Main reasons
Why does pus form in the ear? The main reason leading to suppuration is the effect of bacteria and viruses. Such microorganisms are initially found in the larynx. Through the Eustachian tube, they move freely into the cavity located behind the eardrum.
If a person suffers from allergies, has a cold, then such a tube is clogged. As a result, a normal outflow of mucus is simply impossible. A similar picture is observed in children suffering from the growth of adenoids. Since the mucus is not excreted naturally, pathogens begin to accumulate. And this inevitably leads to the fact that the patient has pus in the ears.
Most often, people whose immunity is very weakened face a similar problem. Purulent discharge from the ear cavity is often observed inchildren. This is due to age characteristics. Babies have a wider and shorter auditory tube. That is why it is much easier for pathogens to penetrate it.
So, if pus flows from the ear, what diseases can we talk about?
Purulent otitis media
This is the most common reason. Purulent otitis media is an unpleasant pathology in which the mucous membrane of the middle ear becomes inflamed.
Most often the disease is provoked by the following sources:
- Various viruses, infections. Often, pus in the ear is a complication of tonsillitis, flu.
- Certain pathologies of the nasopharynx, nose. The basis of the formation of pus may be rhinitis, curvature of the septum, proliferation of adenoids.
- A baby's milk gets into the ear canal. This situation can lead to infection.
- Hypothermia. The development of purulent otitis media most often occurs in the summer, after swimming in ponds. The inflammatory process provoked by hypothermia leads to the development of the disease.
- Injury. This reason is mainly characteristic of children. A failed ear cleaning that breaks the septum or an object inserted into the ear by a small discoverer results in pus.
- Surgical interventions. Of course, patients who have undergone operations in the nasopharynx and nose are at risk.
Symptomatics for this disease is observed as follows:
- pain appears in the ear, most intensely making itself felt at nighttime;
- the patient's condition is seriously deteriorating;
- pus appears, initially at night;
- dry discharge observed in the sink;
- with the development of inflammation, pus begins to simply flow out of the ear;
- puffiness observed;
- temperature rising;
- has a headache;
- hearing declines.
Sometimes the pathology occurs in a chronic form. With such a disease, there may be no discomfort, including pain.
Treatment methods
Of course, the question arises: if pus is found in the ears - what to do? It is absolutely not recommended to attempt self-treatment if a person has purulent otitis media in the acute stage. This pathology can lead to meningitis. Therefore, it is extremely important to turn to lore in a timely manner.
The doctor will prescribe a course of antibiotic therapy to the patient. The most commonly used drug is Amoxicillin. It is strictly forbidden in the presence of pus to apply warm compresses to the sore ear. Do not self-administer any drops.
In the case of chronic otitis, the doctor will initially cleanse the cavity of pus. The patient will be recommended special antibacterial drops. And further methods of treatment depend on the size of the hole in the membrane. For small sizes, a film of artificial fabric is used. Under it, the wound of the week for 2-3 is completely tightened. If the hole is large enough, then a tympanoplasty (surgical repair of the eardrum) is performed.
Development of furunculosis
Pus in the ears in an adult can result from a variety of reasons. Sometimes the appearance of boils leads to its appearance. This disease is most often caused by staphylococci.
Furunculosis develops, as a rule, as a result of the following factors:
- penetration into the ear canal of water;
- shell combing;
- poor hygiene.
The disease is characterized by the following symptoms:
- severe pain in the ear cavity;
- discomfort increases during chewing or talking;
- Itching in the sink
- presence of discharge from the ear cavity, green or yellow (indicates the opening of a boil).
Therapy for furunculosis
How to treat pus in the ear in this case? It should be said that without consulting a doctor it is extremely dangerous to take any methods of dealing with the disease. Therefore, without delaying the visit, contact a specialist.
Most often the doctor prescribes this therapy:
- thermal treatments (it is recommended to apply a heating pad to the affected ear);
- analgesics;
- local remedies (put ichthyol ointment in the sink for 12 hours on a swab);
- antibiotics, with a deterioration in general well-being (drugs: Flucloxacillin, Amoxicillin).
The appearance of otomycosis
The fungus can also provoke pus in the ears of an adult. It is this pathology that is called otomycosis in medicine. For sicknesscharacterized by the penetration of the fungus into the outer region of the ear, as well as the walls of the ear canal. This pathology tends to spread over time. In this case, deeper tissues are affected.
Otomycosis leads to metabolic disorders, weakening of the whole organism, the occurrence of vitamin deficiency (hypovitaminosis).
Signs of the disease appear as the disease progresses. At the initial stage, the pathology practically does not manifest itself. The symptoms are almost invisible. As soon as otomycosis becomes acute, the patient has the following complaints:
- severe pain;
- ear swollen;
- may have a cheesy white discharge from the ear cavity;
- itch;
- hearing declines;
- purulent brown discharge flows from the sink.
Treatment of otomycosis
Everyone understands: if it was the fungus that provoked pus in the ear, what to do in this case. Of course, the pathology should be treated with special antifungal agents.
But do not rush to undertake therapy yourself. It is very important to correctly identify the causative agent of the disease and choose adequate therapy. For these purposes, the doctor will take a swab from the ear cavity. According to the results of the study, competent treatment will be selected.
The patient is advised to carefully protect the ear from the penetration of water into it. Do not forget that in a humid environment, the fungus develops rapidly.
Also, remember that otomycosis is an extremely insidious pathology. If timelydo not take the necessary treatment, then the disease can become chronic. In this case, it will become very difficult to completely cure him.
Development of cholesteatoma
This is an extremely severe pathology. Cholesteatoma is characterized by the appearance of a tumor in the ear, which has a layered structure. In the center of such a formation is a core containing a yellowish-white liquid with a putrid unpleasant odor.
This pathology is most often characterized by congenital origin. Its development is based on various disorders in the temporal zone.
Typical for pathology:
- presence of pain in the ear area;
- pus in ear;
- hearing loss.
Methods of dealing with the disease
Self-treatment is out of the question. If it is cholesteatoma that provoked pus in the ears, treatment is prescribed exclusively by professional doctors.
Surgical intervention is undertaken in this disease. The operation is aimed at removing all the affected or infected bone tissue. To save the ear, doctors perform one of the interventions, depending on the spread of the disease: mastoidectomy, atticoanthrotomy, atticotomy.
If during the operation it is possible to connect the external auditory canal with the postoperative cavity, then the discharge from the sink will continue. Such a clinic is observed until the cavity is covered with skin.
Other reasons
Most often, it is the above diseases that become the source of pus in the ear cavity. Howeverthese are not the only reasons that can provoke such an unpleasant phenomenon.
Sometimes the patient has pus from the ear as a result of such pathologies:
- Various injuries. Very often they lead to the development of an inflammatory process in the sink, against which pus is formed in the cavity.
- Polyps. Discharge of a purulent-bloody nature testifies to such a pathology.
- Infectious meningitis. In some cases, pus flowing from the ear cavity is a symptom of an extremely serious illness.
- Various pathologies of the ears and eyes.
Diagnostic Methods
As you already understood, regardless of whether there is pus from the ear in a child or in an adult, the first thing to do is to see a doctor. Only a specialist can correctly identify the nature of such a phenomenon.
A doctor may suspect pathology by the following signs:
- Pain in the ear, accompanied by purulent discharge, most often indicates the development of otitis media in the patient, in an acute form.
- A patient who is fond of swimming or affected by seborrheic eczema is most often diagnosed with otitis externa.
- A previous operation in the temple area or a head injury may indicate liquorrhea.
- When a perforation of the membrane or chronic dysfunction of the auditory tube raises the suspicion of the presence of cholesteatoma.
To make a diagnosis, of course, there will be a physical examination. Otoscopy allows to determine the perforation of the membrane, to identifysymptoms of otitis externa, notice a foreign body in the cavity. If necessary, the patient will be assigned additional methods of research.
Conclusion
The appearance of pus in the ear cavity is an extremely negative symptom that can indicate a variety of diseases. But remember: it signals a problem in the body. So be sure to pay attention to it. And to avoid serious consequences, contact your doctor immediately and start adequate treatment.
