Diseases of the middle ear dramatically worsen a person's well-being. This area is supplied with a large number of nerve endings. Therefore, most pathologies are accompanied by severe pain syndrome. Such diseases require immediate treatment, as they threaten hearing loss. Damage to the middle ear can also affect the organ of balance, so patients often experience dizziness. It is important for every person to know about the causes and symptoms of middle ear diseases. After all, such pathologies are very dangerous to launch.
Reasons
Most often, such diseases occur as complications of other pathologies of the ENT organs. After all, the middle ear communicates with the nasal cavity and throat. The following infectious diseases can provoke inflammatory diseases of the middle ear:
- rhinitis;
- sinusitis;
- sinusitis;
- angina;
- flu;
- pharyngitis.
Bacteria and viruses from the nose and throatenter the middle ear and cause inflammation. Most often this occurs in people with reduced immunity.
However, the pathology of the organ of hearing occurs not only after past infections. Otolaryngologists identify the following causes of middle ear diseases:
- ear irritation due to poor hygiene practices;
- long stay in the cold;
- water entering the ear canal;
- loud noises and fluctuations in external pressure;
- hearing injury;
- genetic ear defects;
- allergy;
- poor ear canal hygiene;
- old sulfur plugs.
Next, we will look at the most common diseases in detail.
Acute otitis media
Most often, patients have acute otitis media - inflammation of the middle ear. Children are especially susceptible to this disease, since their structure of the organ of hearing has its own characteristics. The infection enters the ear region from the throat or nose through the Eustachian tube. Most often, the causative agents of the disease are staphylococci, pneumococci and Haemophilus influenzae.
How does this middle ear disease progress? Symptoms of inflammation are usually very pronounced:
- There is severe shooting pain in the ear, radiating to the head.
- The temperature is rising.
- Dizzy from time to time.
- Person experiencing general malaise.
- The patient complains of congestion and noise inears.
- Feeling heaviness and fullness in the ear canal.
- Hearing gets worse.
As inflammation develops, the middle ear cavity fills with exudate. The patient feels severe pain, chills and constant dizziness. Disease of the middle ear, accompanied by suppuration, must be treated immediately. Otherwise, the inflammatory process can go to the area of the inner ear. This threatens the development of hearing loss, and sometimes complete hearing loss.
Influenza otitis media
This type of otitis occurs as a complication of influenza. In this case, the disease is not caused by bacteria, but by viruses. This pathology is otherwise called bullous otitis media. Bullae form in the middle ear cavity. They are filled with serous fluid or bloody contents.
The patient is concerned not only with pain, but also with discharge from the ear. When the bubbles break through, a clear or reddish liquid flows out of the ear canal. This creates favorable conditions for the reproduction of bacteria. Therefore, it is necessary to urgently sanitize the affected cavity and remove the exudate. Otherwise, the infection can go to the brain and cause meningitis.
Mastoiditis
Mastoiditis is a severe disease of the middle ear. Symptoms of the disease resemble otitis media. However, with mastoiditis, the inflammatory process spreads from the tympanic cavity to the mastoid process of the temporal bone. This disease often develops as a complication of otitis media. Patients with congenital disorders of the bone structure are especially susceptible to this pathology.
Exceptsigns of otitis media, a person feels pain behind the ears. It is accompanied by high fever and fever. The skin in the ear area turns red and swells. Pus comes out of the ear canal. When you press the skin behind the auricle, pain is felt.
With advanced forms of mastoiditis, the process of the temporal bone is destroyed. The infection can enter the brain or eyes, leading to meningoencephalitis and sepsis.
Glomus tumor
Glomus tumor is a benign neoplasm. However, this is a very dangerous disease of the middle ear. A tumor consisting of glomus cells is formed in the tympanic cavity or in the initial section of the jugular vein.
A person's hearing deteriorates, and the face becomes asymmetrical. These are the outward signs of the disease. However, a glomus tumor can only be detected with an MRI or CT examination. In the picture, it looks like a red clot behind the tympanic cavity.
This neoplasm is prone to overgrowth. The tumor can spread to the brain and blood vessels, which causes death. It is impossible to completely get rid of a glomus tumor, the treatment is aimed at stopping its growth.
Middle ear Qatar
Middle ear catarrh usually precedes suppurative otitis media. Bacteria enter the tympanic cavity with a sharp blowing of the nose or inaccurate washing of the nasal passages.
In catarrh, the mucous membrane of the Eustachian tube becomes inflamed. The pathological process does not yet extend to the entire cavity of the middle ear. Bacteria stimulate activityglands that produce mucus. The patient has persistent discharge from the ear. They have a liquid consistency and contain an admixture of mucus. Exudate fills the ear canal, which leads to hearing loss. The secretion of mucus creates favorable conditions for the growth of microorganisms. Later, the patient develops otitis media.
Tuberculosis of the ear
Tuberculosis of the tympanic cavity is a rather rare disease of the middle ear. This pathology accounts for approximately 3% of all cases of purulent otitis media. This disease is never primary, it always develops against the background of pulmonary tuberculosis. The causative agent of the disease (Koch's wand) enters the tympanic cavity with the bloodstream or when coughing.
Tubercles and infiltrates form in the tympanic cavity. In the future, ulcers appear in their place. In advanced cases, bone tissue is exposed, which leads to its destruction.
In the acute course of pathology, the symptoms of the disease resemble signs of purulent otitis media. If the tuberculous process proceeds in a chronic form, then the patient may experience only suppuration from the ear canal without pain.
Ear syphilis
Syphilitic lesions are rare diseases of the middle ear. It occurs in patients in the secondary and tertiary period of syphilis. The causative agent of the disease (pallid treponema) enters the cavity of the eardrum with the bloodstream.
In the middle ear, inflammation develops, accompanied by the formation of nodules (gum) and ulcers. Over time, this leads to tissue destruction. The pathological process can spread to the processtemporal bone.
Tympanic syphilis is very rarely accompanied by pain. Often patients complain only of tinnitus. Such patients are usually registered with a venereologist and rarely seek help from an otolaryngologist.
Diagnosis
In case of discomfort in the middle ear (pain, congestion, noise), you should consult an otolaryngologist. The patient is prescribed the following tests and examinations:
- X-ray of the temporal bone;
- MRI and CT examination of the tympanic cavity;
- external ear swab;
- Bacterial culture of middle ear aspirate;
- audiometry.
If you suspect tuberculosis or syphilis, you must undergo a Mantoux test and take a blood test for the Wasserman reaction. However, middle ear damage usually occurs in the later stages of such pathologies, when the underlying ailment has already been diagnosed.
Treatment
The choice of method of treatment of diseases of the middle ear depends on the type of pathology. After all, each ailment requires its own approach to therapy.
For otitis media and catarrh of the middle ear, patients are prescribed oral antibiotics:
- "Amoxiclav";
- "Ampicillin";
- "Levomycetin";
- "Ceftriaxone".
In severe cases, drugs are administered in injectable form. Topical application of anti-inflammatory andantibacterial ear drops. The following drugs are prescribed:
- "Otofa";
- "Tsipromed";
- "Otinum";
- "Sofradex";
- "Otipax".
If the ear cavity is filled with pus, then paracentesis is necessary. In this procedure, the doctor makes an incision in the eardrum. As a result, the exudate comes out. Then sanitize and wash the inflamed cavity with antiseptics.
Treatment of mastoiditis is carried out by similar means. In most cases, this disease is amenable to conservative therapy. In the later stages of the pathology, an operation is indicated - a mastoidectomy. Under anesthesia, the patient is incised in the subcutaneous tissue and periosteum, and then the affected areas of the bone are removed.
The humus tumor in the middle ear cannot be completely removed. To avoid dangerous complications, it is necessary to stop the growth of the neoplasm. For this purpose, the tumor is cauterized with a laser. This disrupts blood flow to the area of the neoplasm and prevents further growth.
If a patient is diagnosed with a tuberculous or syphilitic lesion of the middle ear, then it is necessary to carefully treat the underlying disease. Topical treatment is the same as for otitis media.
Prevention
How to prevent the pathology of the tympanic cavity? Prevention of diseases of the middle ear is to follow the following recommendations:
- It is necessary to cure diseases of the nose in time andthroat.
- If water enters the ear, immediately remove the liquid.
- Blowing your nose too hard should be avoided during rhinitis.
- You need to carefully observe the hygiene of the external auditory canal and remove wax plugs in time.
- When cleansing the ears, use cotton swabs and avoid rough exposure to the hearing organ.
- Patients with TB and syphilis need to see a doctor regularly and follow the recommended treatment regimen.
If you have any discomfort in the middle ear and persistent dizziness, you should immediately consult a doctor. This will help prevent hearing problems in the future.
