How the ear hurts with otitis - step-by-step recipe with photos

What is otitis media

To understand the principle of the occurrence of otitis, you need to remember what it is - the ear, what it is needed for and how it works. In fact, the ear is far from just the pinna, as some might think. The ear has a complex system hidden inside for converting sound waves into a form suitable for perception by the human brain. However, picking up sounds is not the only function of the ears. They also perform a vestibular function and serve as an organ that allows a person to maintain balance.

The three main sections of the ear are the middle, outer and inner. The outer ear is the pinna itself, as well as the auditory canal leading to the eardrum. Behind the eardrum is an air-filled tympanic cavity containing three auditory ossicles, the purpose of which is to transmit and amplify sound vibrations. This area makes up the middle ear. From the middle ear, vibrations enter a special area located in the temporal bone and called the labyrinth. It contains the organ of Corti - a cluster of nerve receptors that convert vibrations into nerve impulses. This area is called the inner ear. Also worth noting is the Eustachian tube, the entrance of which is located behind the palatine tonsils and which leads into the tympanic cavity. Its purpose is to ventilate the tympanic cavity, as well as to bring the pressure in the tympanic cavity into line with atmospheric pressure. The Eustachian tube is usually referred to as the middle ear.

It should be noted that otitis media can affect all three ear sections. Accordingly, if the disease affects the outer ear, then we talk about external otitis, if it is middle, then about otitis media, if the inner ear, then about internal. As a rule, we are talking only about one-sided lesions, however, with otitis media caused by infections of the upper respiratory tract, the disease can develop on both sides of the head.

Ear otitis is also divided into three types depending on the cause - viral, bacterial or traumatic. External otitis can also be fungal. The most common bacterial form of the disease occurs.

How does ear congestion manifest with otitis media?

Many people who have had otitis media have to deal with ear congestion. The most common reason for this phenomenon is an incompletely treated disease. Associated symptoms depend on the form in which the pathology occurs.

If otitis externa is diagnosed, the patient may complain of the presence of:

painful manifestations of a pulsating nature that radiate to the neck, teeth and temples;
redness of the skin in the ear canal;
purulent discharge in the ear canal;
short-term deterioration of hearing function.

With otitis media, a person may be bothered, in addition to congestion, by the following accompanying symptoms:

“lumbago” in the auditory organ;
nausea and vomiting;
noise effect in the ears;
rapid decline in hearing function.

If the inner ear is inflamed, there is a possibility of dizziness and nausea.

Otitis externa - symptoms, treatment

Otitis externa occurs as a result of infection of the surface of the skin of the ear with bacteria or fungi. According to statistics, approximately 10% of the world's population has suffered from external otitis at least once in their lives.

Factors contributing to otitis in adults are:

hypothermia of the auricle, for example, during walks in the cold;
mechanical damage to the auricle;
removal of wax from the ear canal;
entry of water, especially dirty water, into the ear canal.

Bacteria and fungi “love” the ear canal because it is damp, dark and quite humid. It provides an ideal place for their breeding. And, probably, everyone would have otitis externa, if not for such a protective feature of the body as the formation of earwax. Yes, earwax is not at all a useless substance that clogs the ear canal, as many people think. It performs important bactericidal functions, and therefore its removal from the ear canal can lead to otitis media. The only exception is when too much sulfur is released and it affects the perception of sounds.

Inflammation of the external auditory canal usually refers to a type of skin disease - dermatitis, candidiasis, furunculosis. Accordingly, the disease is caused by bacteria, streptococci and staphylococci, fungi of the genus Candida. In the case of furunculosis, inflammation of the sebaceous glands occurs. The main symptom of external otitis is, as a rule, pain, especially aggravated by pressure. There is usually no elevated temperature with external otitis media. Hearing loss rarely occurs with external otitis, except in cases where the process affects the eardrum or the ear canal is completely closed with pus. However, after recovery from otitis media, hearing is completely restored.

Diagnosis of external otitis in adults is quite simple. As a rule, a visual examination by a doctor is sufficient. A more detailed method of diagnosing otitis involves the use of an otoscope, a device that allows you to see the far end of the ear canal and the eardrum. Treatment of otitis media consists of eliminating the cause of ear inflammation. When treating otitis externa in adults, antibiotics or antifungal drugs are used. The type of antibacterial therapy should be determined by the doctor. Typically, ear drops are used for otitis externa rather than tablets. When external tissues of the auricle not located in the area of the auditory canal are affected, ointments are used. A frequent complication of external otitis is the transition of the inflammatory process to the middle ear through the eardrum.

Diagnosis of otitis

A competent doctor diagnoses acute otitis without special devices and innovative technologies. A simple examination of the auricle and ear canal using a head reflector (a mirror with a hole in the center) or an otoscope is sufficient to diagnose otitis media.

How is otitis externa diagnosed?

With external otitis, the doctor pays attention to the skin in the area of the auricle, the size of the ear canal and the discharge from it. If the ear lumen is severely narrowed, especially if the eardrum is not even visible, the skin is red, and liquid discharge is noticeable inside the ear, this allows the doctor to diagnose “otitis externa.”

How is otitis media diagnosed?

Acute otitis media is also diagnosed largely by external examination. The doctor is guided by some characteristic signs of this disease: a reddened eardrum, limited mobility and the presence of perforation.

All these symptoms are easy to check - the patient just needs to puff out his cheeks without opening his mouth. Ear blowing, a technique called the Valsalva maneuver, is routinely used by divers and divers to equalize pressure in the ear during deep-sea descent. As air enters the tympanic cavity, the membrane bends noticeably, and if the cavity is filled with liquid, then there will be no bending.

Perforation in the eardrum during otitis media is noticeable to the naked eye after the ear cavity overflows with pus and flows out during a breakthrough.

Clarification of the diagnosis of “internal otitis”: audiometry

A hearing test using a special device - audiometry, as well as measuring pressure inside the ear - tympanometry - is used to clarify the diagnosis if chronic otitis is suspected.

X-ray and computed tomography

Radiography for acute otitis is used to confirm its complications - severe intracranial infections or mastoiditis. These are quite rare cases, but if these dangerous complications are suspected, a CT scan of the brain and temporal bones of the skull is necessary.

Determination of bacterial flora in otitis media

Bacterial culture for otitis media, at first glance, seems like a pointless study. After all, it takes time to cultivate bacteria, and the result of the analysis will be visible only on the 6-7th day, and if timely treatment of otitis is carried out, the disease should already have passed by this time. But the usual antibiotics do not help in all cases of otitis, and if the doctor knows from the results of the smear which microorganisms caused the otitis, he will prescribe a known appropriate drug.

Otitis media

Otitis media is an inflammation of the middle part of the hearing organ. This kind of ear inflammation is one of the most common diseases on Earth. Hundreds of millions of people suffer from ear infections every year. According to various data, from 25% to 60% of people have suffered from otitis media at least once in their lives.

Causes

In most cases, inflammation of the middle ear is not a primary disease. As a rule, it is a complication of external otitis or infectious diseases of the upper respiratory tract - tonsillitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, rhinitis, sinusitis, as well as acute viral diseases - influenza, measles, scarlet fever.

How does an infection from the respiratory tract get into the ear? The fact is that she has a direct path there - this is the Eustachian tube. When you have respiratory symptoms such as sneezing or coughing, particles of mucus or phlegm may be pushed up the tube into your ear. In this case, both inflammation of the Eustachian tube itself (eustachitis) and inflammation of the middle ear can occur. When the Eustachian tube is blocked in the tympanic cavity, which is deprived of ventilation, stagnation processes can occur and fluid can accumulate, which leads to the proliferation of bacteria and the occurrence of disease.

Why is the ear stuffy after otitis media?

1. Otitis media may not be completely cured.

It is necessary to exclude otitis media as the cause of ear congestion. If the swelling inside the ear does not subside or the inflammatory process continues, then such a characteristic symptom as loss or decreased hearing will be present until the final cure.

2. Wax plug

It should never be ruled out that wax secretion, for example, due to the inability to maintain hygienic cleaning of the ears during ear disease, can accumulate and clump in a certain place in the ear canal, becoming an obstacle to sound waves.

Labyrinthitis

Labyrinthitis is an inflammation of the inner ear. Labyrinthitis is the most dangerous of all types of otitis. With inner ear inflammation, typical symptoms include hearing loss, vestibular disturbances and pain. Treatment of internal otitis is carried out only with the help of antibiotics; no folk remedies will help in this case.

Labyrinthitis is dangerous due to hearing loss as a result of the death of the auditory nerve. Also, with internal otitis, complications such as meningitis, brain abscess, encephalitis are possible, which can lead to death.

Otitis ear in children

Otitis media in adults is much less common than this disease in children. This is due, firstly, to the weaker immunity of the child’s body. Therefore, infectious diseases of the upper respiratory tract are more common in children. In addition, the structural features of the auditory tube in children contribute to stagnant processes in it. It has a straight profile, and the expanded lumen at its entrance facilitates the entry of mucus and even pieces of food or vomit (in infants).

Careful treatment of otitis media in childhood is very important. If improper treatment is carried out, the disease can become chronic and make itself felt already in adulthood with chronic outbreaks. In addition, if otitis media is not treated in infancy, this can lead to partial hearing loss, and this, in turn, leads to a delay in the child’s mental development.

Causes of otitis media

Every ENT disease is accompanied by increased mucus production. As its quantity increases, under unfortunate circumstances, mucus enters the Eustachian tube, disrupting the ventilation of the tympanic cavity. The cells of the tympanic cavity secrete inflammatory fluid. In addition to clogging the lumen of the Eustachian tube, pathogenic microorganisms that are normally part of the local microflora also contribute to the aggravation of inflammation.

The causes of otitis are considered:

Penetration of infection from other ENT organs - as a complication of a concomitant infectious viral disease;

Various diseases of the nose, sinuses and nasopharynx. This includes all types of rhinitis, deviated nasal septum, and in children - adenoids (adenoid vegetations);

Injuries to the ear;

Hypothermia and weakened immunity.

Types of otitis

Depending on the direction of the pain, it is customary to distinguish 3 types of otitis: external, middle and internal otitis.

Otitis externa most often appears as a result of mechanical damage to the auricle or external auditory canal. The following symptoms are characteristic of external otitis of the ear: aching, dull pain, swelling of the ear, and a slight increase in temperature.

Otitis of the middle ear is an inflammatory disease of the air cavities of the middle ear: the tympanic cavity, the auditory tube and the mastoid process.

Internal otitis is untreated otitis media of the middle ear. With internal otitis, inflammation of the inner ear occurs and the entire vestibular apparatus is damaged.

What to do if otitis media has passed, but the ear is stuffy

In order to cure ear congestion, therapy prescribed in a medical institution is necessary. As a rule, a specialist prescribes vasoconstrictor drops for the ears or nose. In addition, complex therapy also includes anti-inflammatory drugs.

Every patient should remember that after treatment of the pathology, almost every patient will feel ear congestion for 10 days. Additional treatment may be prescribed by your doctor if symptoms appear after 10 days of recovery.

If a patient is diagnosed with purulent otitis, the congestion will go away only when the tympanic cavity completely restores its function.

In addition to the treatment prescribed by the doctor, the patient can use traditional methods of treatment. Namely:

aloe juice It is added to water at room temperature in a 1:1 ratio. Drop into the external auditory canal 2 times a day for 3-4 days;
propolis infusion. Made with alcohol or water. Apply to a piece of bandage and place in the external auditory canal for 11 o'clock.

Before using traditional methods of treatment, you should consult a specialist.

Exercises have shown greater effectiveness in eliminating congestion. For example, swallowing movements. This will help normalize the pressure in the ear cavity.

The warming procedure is prescribed only by a doctor, as it has a large number of contraindications. The specialist also prescribes blowing, pneumomassage of the ear, magnetic therapy, laser and ultrasound treatment.

Acute otitis media

According to statistics, acute forms of otitis media account for 30% of the total number of ENT diseases. Most often it occurs in preschool children.

Symptoms of acute otitis media

The disease is characterized by an acute onset with the appearance of the following symptoms:

earache;
ear congestion or hearing loss;
increased body temperature;
anxiety;
disturbance of appetite, sleep;
headache and toothache.

Causes of development of acute otitis media

In most cases, the disease can be caused by various pathogenic microorganisms - viruses, microbes, fungi, etc. In exudate obtained from the middle ear, respiratory viruses are found in 30-50% of cases. The most common causes of otitis are parainfluenza viruses , influenza viruses, rhinoviruses, adenoviruses, enteroviruses, respiratory syncytial viruses, etc.

In 50-70% of patients with acute otitis media, bacteria are detected in the exudate from the middle ear (most often Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis).

Often the cause of otitis is a mixed (viral-bacterial) infection.

When making a diagnosis, a differential diagnosis is made with myringitis (inflammation of the eardrum) and exudative otitis media.

The occurrence of otitis media is directly related to the condition of the nose and nasopharynx: rhinitis and tonsillitis often provoke inflammation of the middle ear.

Otitis often occurs against the background of decreased immunity and immunodeficiency states.

Routes of infection

The most common route of infection into the middle ear is through the auditory tube during rhinitis and sinusitis.

It is possible that infection can penetrate through the blood during influenza, scarlet fever and other infectious diseases.

In rare cases, the infection enters the middle ear through the ear canal due to injury (rupture) of the eardrum.

Stages of acute otitis

There are 5 stages of the disease:

stage of acute eustachitis: feeling of congestion, noise in the ear, normal body temperature (if there is an infection, it may increase);
stage of acute catarrhal inflammation in the middle ear: sharp pain in the ear, low-grade fever, inflammation of the mucous membrane of the middle ear, increasing noise and congestion in the ear;
pre-perforative stage of acute purulent inflammation in the middle ear: sharp unbearable pain in the ear, which radiates to the eye, teeth, neck, pharynx, increased noise in the ear and decreased hearing, increased body temperature to 38-39 degrees, the blood picture becomes inflammatory in nature;
post-perforation stage of acute purulent inflammation in the middle ear: pain in the ear becomes weaker, suppuration appears from the ear, noise in the ear and hearing loss do not go away, body temperature becomes normal;
reparative stage : inflammation is stopped, perforation is closed with a scar.

Can otitis media go away on its own?

Hearing is one of the vital senses for a person. Even with minimal discomfort in the ears, you should consult a doctor. There is no need to wait for these unpleasant sensations to go away on their own.

Otitis media will not go away on its own! And if you neglect the signals that the body gives, you can simply get a chronic form from the initial stage of the disease. Or maybe even worse - various complications that the disease is fraught with.

Ignoring symptoms or self-medicating is a risk with this disease. The best thing in this situation is to provide your body with timely and competent medical care.

Treatment of this disease under the supervision of a specialist, compliance with preventive measures is the key to a successful and faster recovery, as well as eliminating possible recurrence of the disease.

Otitis is a common disease in children. Every fourth child ends up with a “cold”. (It is ARVI that most often provokes the development of this disease.) It is believed that 80% of children by the age of three have experienced severe ear pain at least once.

However, otitis can be different - external (inflammation of the ear canal), acute middle catarrhal (inflammation of the middle ear), purulent (when pathogenic microflora is attached)... Only a doctor can determine which otitis has attacked your heir. Treatment depends on this.

What should you not do if you have otitis media?

Treatment of otitis media

If you have otitis media, treatment can only be prescribed by an otolaryngologist. Treatment of otitis media depends on the stage of the disease and the patient’s condition.

In acute eustachitis, treatment of otitis media is aimed at restoring the functions of the auditory tube. Sanitation of the paranasal sinuses, nose and nasopharynx is carried out in order to eliminate infection - rhinitis, sinuitis, etc.).

Vasoconstrictor nasal drops (otrivin, nazivin, etc.) are prescribed; in case of excessive mucous discharge from the nose, drugs with an astringent effect (collargol, protargol) are prescribed. Catheterization of the auditory tube is carried out using aqueous solutions of corticosteroids, and pneumomassage of the eardrums.

In the stage of acute catarrhal otitis media, catheterization of the auditory tube is carried out with the introduction of aqueous solutions of corticosteroids and antibiotics (penicillins, cephalosporins) into the cavity of the middle ear. Local anesthesia is prescribed (otipax drops, Anauran, Otinum). An intra-ear endaural microcompress according to Tsytovich is carried out: a cotton or gauze turunda soaked in a drug with an analgesic and dehydrating effect is inserted into the external auditory canal. Painkillers with an antipyretic effect (nurofen, solpadeine, etc.) are also prescribed. If there is no effect from symptomatic therapy, antibiotic therapy is prescribed within 48-72 hours.

Purulent otitis in the pre-perforated acute stage requires the same set of procedures as in the second stage, but supplemented with the following measures:

prescription of penicillin antibiotics (amoxicillin, etc.), cephalosporins or macrolides;
paracentesis (incision of the eardrum) when the eardrum appears to bulge.

It is important to prevent complications of the disease at this stage. After spontaneous opening of the eardrum or paracentesis, the disease progresses to the next stage.

The post-perforation stage of acute purulent otitis media involves the following treatment regimen:

started antibacterial therapy continues;
catheterization of the auditory tube is performed with the introduction of corticosteroids and antibiotics;
a thorough toilet of the external auditory canal is carried out daily - cleaning it from purulent contents;
transtympanic infusion of drops with an antibacterial and anti-edematous effect is prescribed (alcohol-based drops (otipax, 3% boric acid solution) are not used in this case).

In the scarring stage of AOM, spontaneous restoration of the integrity of the membrane occurs, and all functions of the ear are completely restored. However, this period requires mandatory observation by an otolaryngologist: there is a danger of chronic inflammation in the middle ear, its transition to a purulent form, or the development of an adhesive scar process in the tympanic cavity. It is also possible to develop mastoiditis.

In case of acute otitis media, timely contact with an otorhinolaryngologist is very important. The only measure to prevent complications is correct and timely diagnostic and treatment measures for otitis media. Sometimes the consequences of acute otitis media are adhesions in the tympanic cavity (adhesive otitis media), dry perforation in the eardrum (dry perforated otitis media), purulent perforation (chronic suppurative otitis media), etc. In addition, AOM can lead to such complications as such as mastoiditis, labyrinthitis, petrositis, meningitis, sepsis, venous sinus thrombosis, brain abscess and other life-threatening diseases of the patient.

How to relieve ear congestion due to otitis media?

If ear congestion appears after a person has had otitis media, complex therapy is required. Only an otolaryngologist can prescribe treatment. You can cope with such a disease with the help of vasoconstrictors in the form of drops. They need to be inserted into the nasal cavity and ear canal.

If necessary, the use of decongestants may be prescribed to reduce inflammatory manifestations in the mucous membranes. If there is a deterioration in hearing function, the Eustachian tube must be cleared of fluid leaking from the middle ear.

For this purpose, anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed. Before you start using them, you must consult with an otolaryngologist and carefully read the instructions for the medicine.

Drug treatment

It should be noted that deafness, which manifests itself against the background of otitis media, goes away some time after the disease is cured. A feeling of heaviness accompanied by blockage can be felt for about 10 days.

In cases where swelling and congestion do not go away for a long time, auxiliary therapy will be required. Hearing function after ear inflammation can be restored quickly, but how long it will take depends on the technique used.

As a radical method to relieve ear congestion, antibiotic therapy may be prescribed. Taking medications with antibacterial action is prescribed for incompletely cured purulent or acute otitis media.

Such drugs help to cope with the inflammatory focus within a short period of time. An improvement in the condition can be noticed after 3 days. Many patients claim that with the help of such medications they can finally get rid of hearing loss in just 5-7 days.

Exercises for congestion

The factors that provoked the appearance of hearing loss and therapeutic actions are interconnected, so first you need to determine the cause of such symptoms.

Occasionally, experts recommend performing specific procedures. There are exercises that activate blood circulation in the auditory organs that can be performed at home:

Initially, you need to increase the load on your ears. For example, you can use chewing gum for this purpose. It must be chewed for an hour - this helps develop the ear.
When drinking liquids, you need to close your nostrils.
You can resort to manipulations such as blowing soap bubbles or balloons.
Singing is beneficial for cleansing the ear canal.
You need to periodically bathe in a hot bath.

If there is no effect from such exercises, you should consult an otolaryngologist. The doctor will advise you on what to do next.

ethnoscience

When hearing loss appears due to the accumulation of earwax in the ear canal, you can resort to alternative medicine to eliminate the problem. In this case, use the following folk recipes:

Table salt in the amount of half a dessert spoon is diluted in a glass of warm water. This product is used as a gargle, which helps clear the nasal passages and eliminate hearing loss.
Drinking warm herbal teas, broths, and heated milk will help make thick mucus more liquid and remove it from the ear canal. You need to drink plenty of fluids to relieve ear congestion.
You can resort to using tea tree oil. This ester has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. The remedy is especially useful for purulent otitis media. Before use, the oil should be slightly warmed and 3 drops should be injected into the ear canal. 10 minutes after instillation, you need to get rid of excess product using a clean cotton swab.
To relieve the inflammatory process, you can use onion juice to instill the ear. To enhance the effect, you can add vodka to onion nectar. The resulting mixture should be injected into the ear canal, 3 drops at a time.

Treatment of otitis media during pregnancy

If you experience ear pain during pregnancy, you should urgently see an ENT doctor. Remember that in this case you cannot apply heating pads or warm compresses to the sore spot! This can be very dangerous if purulent inflammation begins in the ear.

If the pain increases and greatly bothers a pregnant woman, and there is no way to see a doctor in the near future, you can take several independent steps. For example, you should put vasoconstrictor drops into your nose.

Otitis therapy

Treatment of this disease should begin and continue under the supervision of a doctor, who will determine the cause of the disease and its stage. Regardless of the form of otitis, bed rest and rest are recommended, otherwise the risk of complications increases. The main methods of its treatment , which may vary in each individual case, include the following:

use of antibiotics;
painkillers and antipyretics;
ear drops;
vasoconstrictor nasal drops;
physiotherapy;
ointments;
drugs that strengthen the immune system.

There is a direct relationship between how long it will take to treat otitis media and the stage of its disease. But this is only if you follow all the specialist’s instructions and do not self-medicate.

What is prohibited for otitis media

Under no circumstances should foreign bodies be introduced into the ear (geranium leaves, ear phyto-candles). This will make diagnosis difficult and may lead to a worsening of the condition (for example, leaves that have not been removed begin to rot and become a source of infection).
If the pain is severe, do not apply a heating pad to your ear or apply warm compresses. This is dangerous if purulent inflammation has begun in the ear. Compresses can only help at stages 1-2 of the disease.
You should not put melted oil in your ear: if there is a perforation, the oil will end up in the tympanic cavity.
You should not put camphor oil or camphor alcohol into your ear - it can burn the walls of the ear canal and irritate the eardrum, which will increase ear pain.

What to do if your ear hurts badly, but you are not sure of the diagnosis

These options will temporarily relieve pain from any of the otitis media and, in general, any damage to the ear.

1. Apply a cold compress to your ear

This can be a towel soaked in cold water, or a bag of ice or frozen vegetables wrapped in a napkin. As a rule, for the pain to stop being acute, it is enough to hold the compress for about 20 minutes Earache.

Do not warm your ear under any circumstances!

Otitis media may be associated with purulent inflammation, which will only intensify as the temperature rises. Warming up can sometimes help, but I do them only after consulting a doctor.

Take a painkiller

The pain of otitis media can be unbearable, so a medicinal way to alleviate the condition is more than justified. Ibuprofen or paracetamol based medications are suitable.

3. Actively move your jaws as if you were chewing something.

Chewing can reduce pain if it is caused by excessive pressure in the middle ear - a frequent companion to one of the common types of otitis media.

Feel better? Now, without unnecessary stress, we’ll figure out how to treat otitis media and why, if you have ear pain, you need to see a doctor as quickly as possible.

What is otitis media

Otitis is any inflammatory process in the ear. Our hearing organs are a complex structure consisting of three parts: the outer, middle and inner ear.

Depending on which part the inflammation began in, there are:

Otitis externa . It affects the external auditory canal and is most often associated with infection under the skin. This happens if you are used to picking your ear with your finger or using cotton swabs too actively.
Otitis media . This is an inflammatory lesion of the middle ear, including the eardrum. When people talk about otitis, they most often mean this particular type. The most common cause of otitis media is ENT diseases (acute respiratory infections, sore throat, flu, sinusitis, rhinitis, and so on). The fact is that the middle ear is connected to the nasopharynx by the so-called Eustachian tube - a cavity that serves to equalize the air pressure in front and behind the eardrum. Infections readily migrate through this same tube into the middle ear.
Internal otitis (labyrinthitis LABYRINTHITIS - INFLAMMATION OF THE INNER EAR). The most dangerous, but, fortunately, quite rare type of otitis. As a rule, it appears if for some reason it was not possible to stop the development of otitis media and the infection entered the inner ear. It can be recognized by the severe dizziness that occurs (it appears due to the fact that the infection affects the vestibular apparatus, also located in the inner ear).

Diagnostics

An ENT doctor, or otolaryngologist, deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the ear, nose and throat. It is also popularly called “ear-nose-throat”. Only he will be able to prescribe the necessary medications after first examining the patient. And after the cause of ear congestion has been established, all efforts are directed towards eliminating it.

If this is somehow connected with an anomaly in the structure of the nose, congenital or acquired, surgical intervention may be prescribed to eliminate the defect. In cases where the disease is caused by a cold, ear congestion after otitis is removed by taking antiviral drugs.

While recovering from an ear infection, it is important to be vigilant to notice ear discharge. The fact is that they usually occur if the disease has been advanced. Then the formation of purulent masses is added to the ongoing inflammatory process, which can lead to a worsening of the patient’s condition.

For this reason, it is worth contacting an otolaryngologist, and not a therapist. The latter can write out a referral to visit an ENT doctor.

Why is otitis dangerous?

All types of otitis are quite painful and can flow into each other, worsening the condition. However, there are much more unpleasant consequences:

Rupture of the eardrum. In response to an infection, the ear begins to produce pus (this situation is called suppurative otitis media). When there is too much of it, it can rupture the thin eardrum. This can lead to temporary hearing loss and the need for long-term treatment.
Damage to the auditory nerve. If the infection penetrates the inner ear and affects the nerve, you can lose your hearing forever.
Meningitis. Some bacteria (for example, pneumococci and Haemophilus influenzae) that cause otitis media can also cause inflammation of the meninges.

When to go to the doctor

Unfortunately, it is difficult to recognize otitis media without the help of a doctor. This disease has no specific symptoms. Most often it manifests itself as a sharp shooting pain in the ear and fever. But these signs coincide with the symptoms of other diseases that cause discomfort in the ear. For proper treatment, it is necessary to make a diagnosis, and this can only be done by a qualified physician.

And even if you think you know the reasons for the discomfort and they are not terrible (for example, water getting into the ear), you should still at least visit a therapist. And be sure to consult a doctor if:

Ear pain is accompanied by an increase in temperature - this is a sign of the development of an inflammatory process.
You experience additional symptoms: dizziness, headache, swelling around the ear, weakness of the facial muscles.
Severe pain suddenly stops - this may be due to a ruptured eardrum.
Symptoms (pain, fever) get worse or do not improve within 24 to 48 hours.

How to treat otitis

After making a diagnosis, the doctor will find out what exactly caused the otitis media - viruses or bacteria. In the second case, you will be prescribed antibiotics. In the first - no, they are useless Ear Infections: Diagnosis and Treatment.

Here's what you'll need to do if you've been diagnosed with otitis media and its causes have been determined.

Complete the course of antibiotics if prescribed to you

This is the only effective way to defeat a bacterial infection. Do not interrupt the course under any circumstances, even if it seems to you that you are already completely healthy. If you stop taking antibiotics, the infection may return and become drug-resistant. So you will have to select a new drug and start the course all over again.

Use vasoconstrictor nasal drops

These drugs will relieve swelling in the nasopharynx and eustachian tube. And the fluid accumulated in the ear (including pus) will be able to come out on its own.

Do not prescribe ear drops before visiting your doctor

Self-activity before visiting a doctor is prohibited. If your pain is due to a ruptured eardrum, the medicine can enter the middle and inner ear and cause damage to the auditory nerve.

If a doctor prescribes drops for you, strictly follow his recommendations.

Do an ear rinse

An antiseptic solution used to wash the ear cavity stops inflammation and rids the ear of pus and other fluids. But it is extremely important to remember: this procedure is prescribed and carried out exclusively by an ENT specialist.

5. Apply a warm compress to your ear

For example, a heating pad wrapped in a thin towel. Warming up actually reduces discomfort. But it must be agreed with a doctor! In some cases, a warm compress can accelerate the development of the inflammatory process. Make sure you don't take any risks.

6. Gargle with salted water

Dissolve ¹⁄₂ teaspoon salt in a glass of warm water. This gargle soothes an irritated throat and helps relieve swelling in the Eustachian tube. The pressure outside and inside the eardrum will be equalized, and this will reduce pain.

Take painkillers

The most effective products are those based on paracetamol and ibuprofen.

Drain if necessary

If there is too much fluid or pus in the ear or ear infections recur, your ENT may suggest drainage. A tiny hole will be made in the eardrum, which will prevent fluids (including pus) from accumulating in the middle ear and provide the middle ear with the necessary ventilation.

Drainage is performed under general anesthesia and takes 10–15 minutes. And the hole made disappears 6–18 months after the procedure. Often a one-time drainage is enough to forget about otitis media altogether. But if the disease returns after the hole has closed, the procedure may have to be repeated.

When should ear congestion go away?

As experts note, congestion that remains after treatment for otitis media is considered quite normal. This complication usually goes away on its own, without any help. On average, it usually takes about 3-4 weeks for complete relief from ear congestion and the return of hearing.

This is due to the fact that the hole in the eardrum needs to be closed, which does not happen quickly, contrary to desire. This happens in most cases, however, as noted above, sometimes congestion persists.