How to treat otitis media?

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on December 27, 2024
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Otitis media is a relatively common ENT disease, with various clinical classifications including chronic otitis media, acute otitis media, secretory otitis media, and cholesteatoma-type otitis media. Different types of otitis media require different treatment plans. Some patients may consider oral medication, some may need ear drops for ear bath treatment, some may require tympanocentesis, and others might need surgical treatment. Therefore, after the onset of the condition, it is necessary to visit an ENT department for diagnostic tests such as audiological testing and endoscopic examination of the ear. Some patients may also need a CT scan to determine the specific severity of the condition and tailor the treatment accordingly.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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Can otitis media be cured?

Otitis media is a common and frequently occurring disease in clinical practice. It is divided into acute otitis media and chronic otitis media, as well as another type known as cholesteatoma otitis media, or middle ear cholesteatoma. Currently, the main treatment for acute otitis media involves anti-infection therapies. For chronic otitis media or middle ear cholesteatoma, the treatment primarily involves surgical methods to remove pathological tissue within the ear and to repair structural damage. Generally speaking, otitis media is treatable. However, some cases of otitis media, due to frequent acute flare-ups, prolonged infiltration, and accompanying structural pathologies, can be relatively tricky to treat. But this does not mean that otitis media cannot be treated or cured.

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Written by Cheng Fu Wei
Otolaryngology
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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.

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Written by Li Mao Cai
Otolaryngology
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Can you swim with otitis media?

Patients with otitis media should not swim, whether it is acute or chronic otitis media. This is because water can enter the ear during swimming. Once dirty water enters the ear, especially in cases of chronic otitis media, it can lead to an acute episode of chronic otitis media. Many patients with chronic otitis media have a perforated eardrum. Without the protection of the eardrum, dirty water can directly enter the middle ear, causing an acute episode of otitis media. This can result in suppuration, ear discharge, and further deep infections, such as infections reaching the deep bone tissue of the mastoid, which requires a long time to treat and might even necessitate surgical intervention. If it is the acute phase of otitis media, the entry of water can irritate the eardrum or cause the pus in the middle ear to worsen, further hindering recovery and exacerbating the condition.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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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.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
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Does otitis media require intravenous therapy?

Otitis media refers to acute or chronic inflammation of the tympanic membrane, tympanic cavity, or mastoid cavity. Whether otitis media requires intravenous (IV) therapy mainly concerns acute suppurative otitis media. Generally, if the symptoms of otitis media are mild, such as ear pain without ear discharge, fever, headache, etc., IV therapy is usually not necessary. If the patient's symptoms are severe, such as intense ear pain, discharge from the ear, or even fever and other systemic symptoms, then IV anti-infection treatment should be considered. It is also common to perform a complete blood count to check the number of white blood cells; a high white blood cell count further supports the need for IV anti-infection treatment.