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Otitis media
What ear drops are used for otitis media?
Otitis media primarily refers to the acute and chronic inflammation of our middle ear tympanic membrane, tympanic cavity, and mastoid cavity. Clinically, when ear drops are needed for treatment, it mainly refers to acute otitis media, which is primarily caused by bacterial infection, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, etc., caused by bacterial infection. Therefore, the ear drops mainly used are antibiotic eye drops, such as ofloxacin eye drops, lomefloxacin eye drops, compound polymyxin B ear drops, penicillin, hydrocortisone eye drops, etc. It is important to note that some special ear drops, such as phenol ear drops, can be used when the patient is not in pain. However, if the patient has a tympanic membrane perforation, then phenol ear drops should not be used, as they have the effect of burning the mucous membrane of the middle ear, so they cannot be used. (Note: The above medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)
Does otitis media require hospitalization?
Otitis media refers to the acute or chronic inflammatory disease of our middle ear, mainly caused by bacterial infection. For otitis media, whether it is acute or chronic, hospitalization is rarely considered. The vast majority of treatments do not require hospitalization; treatment typically involves outpatient anti-infection therapy. However, if complications arise in otitis media, such as tympanic membrane perforation, disruption of the ossicular chain in the middle ear, granulation in the mastoid cavity, or cholesteatoma, then hospitalization and surgical treatment are considered. The purpose of surgery is mainly to repair structures and clear pathological tissues. In summary, for otitis media, hospitalization for surgical treatment is considered only when necessary; otherwise, inpatient treatment is not required for medical treatment.
What are the symptoms of otitis media?
Otitis media comes in several types, with most cases of acute otitis media involving ear pain, typically throbbing or stabbing pain, followed by decreased hearing, or tinnitus. There may also be ear discharge or pus; using a cotton swab, one might notice an unusual smell from the ear secretions. Systemic symptoms such as fever and chills are less common, with the primary symptoms being localized, mainly consisting of ear pain, reduced hearing, and discharge.
How to check for otitis media
Otitis media is a common and frequently occurring disease in our department of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery. It is an inflammatory disease of the middle ear. There are many clinical examination methods, mainly the following: First, we use our forehead mirror to directly visualize the external auditory canal, tympanic membrane, and tympanic cavity. That's one method. Next, we can examine our middle ear using instruments such as an otoscope or an endoscope, which allow direct observation of the middle ear structure and the tympanic membrane. The third examination focuses on the auditory function in otitis media. We can conduct pure tone audiometry and check acoustic impedance to assess the condition of our hearing function. Additionally, we perform imaging studies, such as a CT scan of the temporal bone or mastoid to observe the condition of our middle ear cavity.
Symptoms of otitis media
Otitis media is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the tympanic cavity of the middle ear. The inflammation can cause pain, tympanic membrane perforation, pus, etc., and can lead to decreased hearing and a feeling of stuffiness in the ears. These are some of the common symptoms of otitis media. If the inflammation is recurrent and chronic, the pus inside may be yellow, viscous, and foul-smelling, and there may also be some gritty substances. This situation should be considered for the possibility of cholesteatoma otitis media, and it is best to check with a CT scan. If it is a frequently inflamed, chronic type of otitis media, it might be bone ulcerative otitis media or cholesteatoma otitis media, which requires surgical treatment. When washing hair, avoid getting water into the ears and refrain from consuming spicy and irritating foods.
How is otitis media caused?
Otitis media primarily refers to the inflammation of the tympanic membrane, tympanic cavity, and mastoid in the middle ear. Clinically, the main causes of otitis media include the following: firstly, infectious factors, which are mainly bacterial infections. Bacteria can infect the middle ear through the external auditory canal, through the Eustachian tube from the nasopharynx to the tympanic cavity of the middle ear, or via the bloodstream to the tympanic cavity, tympanic membrane, and mastoid, leading to symptoms of otitis media. These are our pathways of infection. So, what causes these infections? Or what factors might influence the occurrence of these infections, that is, the occurrence of otitis media? Key factors include decreased immunity in children, increased virulence of bacterial infections, which involves highly infectious bacteria, and our anatomical structure, namely, the imperfection or incompleteness of the middle ear structure and the anatomical connections between the ears.
Is otitis media easy to treat?
Clinically, otitis media is a common and frequently occurring disease, primarily referring to acute and chronic inflammation of the eardrum, tympanic cavity, and mastoid antrum. Its clinical treatment mainly involves two aspects: surgical treatment and medication. Generally, during the acute phase of the disease, medication is the main treatment, primarily using antibiotics to control the infection. Surgical treatment is mainly aimed at chronic otitis media, secretory otitis media, or cholesteatoma otitis media, involving the removal of lesions and repair of structures. Overall, the treatment for otitis media is generally effective and yields good results. The key is to detect and treat it early without delay.
How to treat otitis media with effusion?
Otorrhea in otitis media suggests that it may be acute purulent otitis media. This fluid could be mucopurulent or purulent secretion, primarily considered to be caused by bacterial infection. Clinically, we mainly focus on anti-infection treatment. Locally, antibiotic ear drops like ofloxacin ear drops can be used. Systemically, oral antibiotics such as cephalosporins are utilized among others. Additionally, in cases of otorrhea, we need to rule out cerebrospinal fluid leakage caused by otitis media, which results in drainage through the external auditory canal. This requires a CT scan for verification.
How to drain fluid from otitis media
Otitis media with effusion refers to the fluid in the tympanic cavity of secretory otitis media. Clinically, the methods for draining or reducing the effusion mainly include the following: First is pharmacological treatment, which primarily involves antibiotics, steroids, and medications that promote the secretion of fluids. This is the pharmaceutical approach to treatment. There is also invasive treatment, which includes procedures such as tympanocentesis, tympanostomy tube placement, and eustachian tube balloon dilation, with the aim of draining or extracting these fluids. Clinically, treatment generally begins with pharmacological approaches, followed by invasive procedures.
How is acute otitis media treated?
Acute otitis media is caused by bacterial infection. It is an infectious inflammation of the middle ear chamber, eardrum, or mastoid cavity. Since it is a bacterial infection, the primary treatment choice is anti-infection therapy, specifically the use of antibiotics. Currently, in clinical practice under the guidance of a doctor, cephalosporin antibiotics are mainly used. At the same time, certain antibiotic ear drops should not be used, such as ofloxacin ear drops and lomefloxacin ear drops, especially in cases of acute otitis media with severe symptoms like fever and headache. Based on the condition, we also consider anti-infection treatment through infusion. Infusion refers to the intravenous use of cephalosporin antibiotics, among others. Additionally, some corticosteroids can be used to enhance the anti-infection effects.