Otitis externa can be infectious or non-infectious. Depending on the duration, chronic and acute otitis externa are distinguished. Also, according to localization, it is divided into limited and diffuse.
Reasons
The causes of otitis externa include a bacterial or fungal infection. For its development, suitable conditions are created due to a reduced or increased amount of earwax. Lack of sulfur makes it impossible to provide the necessary level of protection, while its excess keeps dust and moisture in the ear. One of the most favorable factors for the development of infection is the prolonged presence of water in the external auditory canal, humid or hot weather. Most often, external otitis develops when hygiene rules are not followed - careless use of an ear stick or cleaning the ears using sharp objects.
Limited otitis media
The occurrence of limited external otitis is due to the appearance of an inflamed hair follicle or boil, the localization of which can be outside or inside the ear canal. Limited external otitis is manifested by pain in the ear, aggravated by chewing, touching the ear area. After the abscess matures and breaks through, the pain decreases. howAs a rule, hearing is preserved. Hearing disorder is fixed only if the boil blocks the ear canal.
Diffuse otitis media
Otitis externa of this form often affects the skin around the ear, covers the auricle and the entire ear canal. Such otitis is divided into:
Bacterial
Such otitis externa is manifested by the occurrence of edema of the skin around the ear canal, auricle and ear. The patient has complaints of pain in the ear, which may be replaced by itching. Hearing may be reduced due to swelling of the ear canal, the skin is thickened, red, swollen. If the inflammation spreads to the eardrum, there is a clear discharge from the ear, hearing loss, the eardrum itself becomes red.
Fungal
Manifestations of such otitis may vary and depend on the type of fungus: the patient has complaints of liquid discharge from the ear (candidiasis), or the appearance of crusts and plugs in the ear canal (aspergillosis). One of the characteristic symptoms is itching in the ear. All other symptoms are no different from bacterial otitis media.
Allergic
Edema of the auricle, autophony and hearing loss are the main signs of allergic otitis media. The use of drugs that cause allergic rhinitis, allergies are the main diagnostic signs in which allergic otitis externa occurs.
Treatment
If the cause of otitis media isskin disease, then this disease should be treated first. In the treatment of bacterial otitis media, antibiotics are most often prescribed. Fungal otitis externa is treated with general antifungal therapy, since the use of local agents cannot give the desired effect. In addition, in the treatment of otitis externa caused by fungi, general strengthening drugs are prescribed. Treatment of allergic otitis is aimed at getting rid of allergies. In this case, the doctor prescribes general antiallergic drugs and local remedies. In the treatment of limited external otitis, a boil is opened, the purulent contents are removed, and swabs with hormonal antibacterial ointment are used to relieve swelling.
