Beware of otitis media in adults

Not only is it a common disease in children, but adults are also susceptible to otitis media.

Otitis media is an inflammation of the entire tympanic cavity and mastoid bone (located behind the eardrum), often with fluid in the tympanic cavity. This fluid may be infectious or sterile.

Complications of otitis media

If otitis media is not treated promptly, it will lead to acute mastoiditis which is very dangerous. Once the disease relapses severely, it is very easy to have extremely dangerous complications such as tympanic membrane perforation, tympanic membrane fibrosis or hearing loss, facial nerve paralysis, mastoiditis. More dangerous is when complications occur in the skull such as meningitis, epidural abscess, brain abscess, ... which can easily cause death.

Causes of otitis media

The cause of this disease is due to inflammation of the nasopharynx caused by bacteria or viruses. In addition, it is also due to blockage of the Eustachian tube, often due to warts, purulent sinusitis, tumors in the nasopharynx. There are cases of the disease caused by respiratory infections, reflux disease, allergens or polluted air, cold weather are also factors causing otitis media today.

Common signs of otitis media

Common signs of otitis media usually begin with ear pain, followed by ear discharge and hearing loss.

There are also other rare signs such as tinnitus and dizziness (usually found in older children). There are cases of fever, swelling behind the ear, loss of appetite and difficulty sleeping...

To detect the disease, adults and children need the support of a doctor in diagnosis, such as using an otoscope with magnifying glass (Otoscope) or an otoscope and otoscope (Oto-Endoscope).

Treatment of otitis media

There are many ways to treat otitis media, of which medical treatment is the main method. Accordingly, oral antibiotics are the first choice of drugs. The choice of antibiotics is based on knowledge of bacteria commonly found in otitis media. It is best to base it on the results of the antibiotic susceptibility test of ear pus culture.

The minimum treatment time is eight days. If the eardrum is not perforated, you can use ear drops, but do not irrigate. If the eardrum is perforated, you can use ear drops for the first 3-4 days (use non-toxic ear drops) to prevent the formation of pus that blocks the drainage, then wash with saline or hydrogen peroxide. You can also clear the Eustachian tube and irrigate the Eustachian tube.

Some cases of otitis media that are not treated with antibiotics require tympanic membrane puncture – placement of a Diabolo tympanic tube, or tonsillectomy. Tonsillectomy is performed if the otitis media is accompanied by signs of upper respiratory tract infection due to obstruction by enlarged tonsils. If the patient has symptoms of threatening complications and optimal medical treatment does not bring about satisfactory results, tympanic membrane surgery and mastoidectomy may be necessary.

According to Vietnamnet