In this article, we will look at the symptoms and treatment of tubo-otitis.
This is an inflammatory process localized in the Eustachian tube, which connects the organs of hearing and breathing, that is, the tympanic cavity or middle ear and the nasopharynx in its back.
Some otolaryngologists tend to believe that tubo-otitis is the initial stage of otitis, but medical science classifies it as a number of independent pathologies. The disease is not contagious. It is also called eustachitis and tubotympanitis. Treatment of tubootitis will be discussed below.
Symptoms
The main specific symptom of the disease at the initial stage is a feeling of stuffiness in the ear, which significantly reduces the acuteness of auditory perception. In most cases, patients complain of tinnitus, sometimes a slight dizziness or a feeling of heaviness in the head.
In addition, the typical symptoms of tubo-otitis are:
1. Sensation of fluid gurgling in the ear.
2. Nasal congestion.
3. Tympanophony, that is, echoing in the ear of one's own voice.
4. Periodic headache.
Stages
There are several stages of tubootitis depending on the severity of the inflammatory process:
1. Acute tubo-otitis. It is provoked by infectious pathogens and lasts for several days.
2. Subacute tubo-otitis. Leaks for quite some time.
3. Chronic tubo-otitis. It appears periodically in an aggravated or mild form, but steadily impairs auditory perception.
In the acute course of the disease, in addition to the above symptoms, otalgia is added, that is, pain in the area of the inflammatory process in the ear. Tubootitis can be both unilateral and bilateral (however, it usually begins on the right or left side, gradually affecting both ears). The symptoms and treatment of tubo-otitis in adults and children are similar, but there are differences.
In an acute course, adult patients may also experience an increase in body temperature (subfebrile), as well as general malaise. The child's temperature will rise significantly and be accompanied by a feverish condition.
Itching of the ear canal is not a symptom of tubo-otitis. However, it may indicate the accumulation of sulfur in the ear, dermatitis, mycosis and inflammation of the auditory tube. It is not excluded with tubo-otitis inflammation of the lymph nodes. Most often, inflammation of the behind-the-ear lymph nodes occurs against the background of serous or purulent otitis media in an acute form.
Drug treatment of tubootitis: drops
Drugs that are prescribed for tubo-otitis includedecongestants and anti-inflammatory drugs. Their goal is to restore the normal functioning of the auditory tube, as well as the symptomatic treatment of respiratory infectious diseases that are accompanied by rhinitis.
Tubo-otitis ear drops are prescribed. The most common ones are:
1. "Otipax". The composition of the drug includes lidocaine and phenazone. Instill 3-4 drops in each ear three times a day. The duration of treatment should not exceed one week. A contraindication for the use of Otipax is damage to the eardrum.
2. "Otofa". The drops contain the antibiotic substance rifampicin. They are prescribed for staphylococcal genesis of tubo-otitis. Burying should be 5 drops for adults and 3 for children up to three times a day. Side effects of these drops are itching and rashes in and around the ear.
3. "Polydex". Often used in the treatment of tubo-otitis. They contain antibiotics such as polymyxin B and neomycin, as well as a substance from the category of corticosteroids dexamethasone. The use of the drug is allowed only in the absence of damage to the eardrum. The adult dosage is 3-4 drops, for children - 1-2 drops in each ear twice a day. Side effects from its use, in addition to an allergic reaction, can be a complication in the form of a fungal infection.
4. "Anauran". Similar to Polydex. The composition also includes neomycin, polymyxin B and lidocaine, which provides an analgesic effect. However, these drops are contraindicated for use inchildhood.
5. "Sofradex". Contains dexamethasone, gramicidin and neomycin. Designed to relieve the inflammatory process in the cavity of the outer ear in the treatment of tubo-otitis.
The use of all of these drops during pregnancy is prohibited, as they contain antibiotics that are absorbed into the systemic circulation, which means they can get through the placental barrier to the unborn child.
Additional drugs
To eliminate nasal congestion that occurs against the background of tubo-otitis, vasoconstrictor drops are used in the nose. The most commonly prescribed drugs are Naphthyzin, Sanorin, Vibracil, Nazol, Nazivin, etc.
Another effective vasoconstrictor drug that has a decongestant effect on the nasal mucosa is "Rint" in the form of a spray. It contains oxymetazoline. However, it is contraindicated for use in atrophy of the nasal mucosa, arterial hypertension of a pronounced nature, increased intraocular pressure, as well as hyperthyroidism and under the age of six years.
Nasonex is a corticosteroid and contains mometasone. It is used as an additional decongestant. As a rule, it is prescribed to patients who have a history of allergic rhinitis or chronic sinusitis in the acute stage.
To relieve swelling, antihistamines are also taken, such as Claritin, Suprastin, etc. In chronic rhinitis and allergic nasopharyngitis, Erespal or Fenspiril is prescribed. Adult drugsare prescribed in the form of tablets, syrup is available for children. Adverse reactions from taking these drugs are nausea and vomiting, drowsiness and heart rhythm disturbances.
Sinupret is a homeopathic remedy and is also prescribed for tubo-otitis if the patient complains of an unproductive cough and inflamed paranasal sinuses. The drug is taken two tablets three times a day.
When tubootitis therapy does not work, the pain is not relieved, and the patient's condition worsens, antibiotic drugs are prescribed. If the disease is provoked by staphylococci or streptococci, then antibiotics from the amoxicillin category are taken, such as Augmentin, Amoxiclav, Clavocin, Flemoxin Solutab, etc. Side effects of such drugs can be an allergic reaction and diarrhea.
Another antibiotic prescribed for tubo-otitis is Ciprofloxacin. It is contraindicated in children under 16 years of age, as well as women during pregnancy. It can provoke the development of such negative reactions as nausea and vomiting, headache, dizziness, rash and pain in the abdomen.
"Biseptol" is an antimicrobial drug and is prescribed for the treatment of infectious diseases of the ENT organs. Children can take the drug from the age of 12. For a younger age, the form of the drug is provided in the form of a syrup. Contraindications are kidney failure, hematological diseases and pregnancy.
Treatment of tubo-otitis in children
Acute Eustachitispresents with symptoms:
- congestion of the ear or ears, foreign body sensation;
- hearing your own voice in your head;
- extraneous noises in the head;
- ear and head pain;
- gurgling or overflow of water in the ear;
- hearing loss.
Pain can vary in intensity from mild to severe, cutting, causing unbearable torment to the child.
Against the background of pathology, signs of neurasthenia develop: tearfulness, poor sleep, causeless screaming, refusal to eat. The younger the child, the more difficult it is for the acute form of tubo-otitis. In rare cases, the disease is asymptomatic or the signs are mild and the patient's behavior does not change much. Parents can diagnose salpingo-otitis by hearing loss.
Symptoms and treatment of tubootitis in children are interrelated.
Drug therapy is aimed at stopping the symptoms of the inflammatory process and the infectious focus. For this, drugs from several groups are used:
- Antibiotics. In children, tubootitis is treated with antibiotics to stop the focus of infection. The doctor prescribes the drug "Otofa" or "Tsipromed" for instillation into the ears. For oral use, "Amoxicillin", "Azithromycin". In the advanced stage, intramuscular injections of Cefazolin are prescribed.
- Antihistamines. Assigned to children with allergic reactions "Tavegil", "Suprastin", "Erius", "Zodak".
- Vasoconstrictor drops fornose. To relieve nasal congestion, Otrivin, Naphthyzin are prescribed.
- Immunomodulating drugs. Necessary to improve the protective functions of the body. The child is prescribed "Broncho-Vax", "Immunoriks", "Amiksin".
- Glucocorticosteroids. Their action is aimed at eliminating the inflammatory process. Of modern drugs, Nasonex is suitable for children.
Physiotherapy
Treatment of tubootitis may be accompanied by physiotherapy using common electrotherapy techniques. Electrophoresis is performed using preparations based on zinc and calcium through the external auditory meatus.
In addition, short-wave diathermy and UHF procedures are often prescribed directly to the area of the paranasal sinuses.
Darsonvalization with alternating current allows you to activate blood flow in tissues damaged by tubo-otitis and improves their trophism. In addition, this physiotherapy reduces otalgia. The condition is alleviated by infrared and ultraviolet radiation.
Eardrum massage
In some situations, a patient with tubo-otitis is prescribed a special massage of the eardrum. It helps to maintain its elasticity and helps to avoid damage.
Among other things, you need to know how to properly blow out your ears with tubo-otitis. This is done to open the auditory tubes. To do this, a deep breath is taken, the nose and mouth are closed and pinched with fingers, then an attempt is made to inhale the air. Part of the air escapesdirectly into the auditory tubes and ear congestion is removed.
How else is tubo-otitis treated in adults and children?
Treatment at home
The most common method of traditional medicine in the treatment of both otitis media and tubo-otitis is ear heating. It should be borne in mind that this procedure can be carried out only with full confidence that the otitis media is not of a purulent nature, and also in the absence of temperature. In other cases, warming up can be hazardous to the he alth of the patient. In general, the treatment of tubootitis at home should be done with great care.
Warming up
Warming up is carried out with a blue lamp for ten minutes, then the ear should be insulated. Sometimes a vodka compress is made. You can also use boric acid or boric alcohol. To do this, a flagellum is made, which is wetted in a 3% liquid and inserted into the ear canal. The flagellum changes periodically. It is strictly forbidden to bury alcohol in the ear. Also used tincture of calendula and propolis.
If the inflammatory process in the ear occurs against the background of SARS, tonsillitis or nasopharyngitis, it is permissible to carry out inhalations. To do this, you can use a solution of soda, steamed boiled potatoes or alkaline mineral water.
Phytotherapy
In addition, it is possible to carry out herbal medicine with the following medicinal herbs:
1. A decoction of a mixture of flowers of meadow clover, nettle, helichrysum and pine buds should be taken after meals, 50 ml each.
2. During antibiotic treatmentyou should drink a glass of decoction of eucalyptus, dandelion root, yarrow and fireweed.
3. You can also make a decoction of marigold flowers and take 100 ml after meals twice a day.
Treatment of acute tubo-otitis should be under medical supervision.
If the disease is accompanied by a high temperature, then walking is not recommended. Children are given exemption from physical education.
Reviews on the treatment of tubootitis
Reviews about the treatment of the disease are mostly positive. Pathology responds well to treatment, especially if it is timely.
