Otitis: signs, symptoms, causes, treatment, prevention

Perhaps, otitis can be called a childhood disease.Babies under the age of three years in 80% of cases at least once, but suffered this pathology. By the age of 5-7, otitis appears less often. Adults can also suffer this pathology. However, they often have a complication of a disease. From this article you will learn what otitis symptoms are. Also you will be able to find out the ways of treating this pathology. It is necessary to say, what are the signs of otitis in infants, because a small child can not explain what it hurts.

What is otitis media?

This disease is an inflammationear in its different parts. In this case, there may be copious discharge from the auditory canal (purulent otitis). However, the pathology is more often acute. Less common is chronic otitis. In this case, the disease has practically no signs, but can greatly harm the health of a person.

Classification

Currently, there are three main types of pathology. Signs of otitis in an adult with different types of illness can be different. So, the pathology occurs in the following form:

• Otitis external. In this case, the skin near the ear canal and the space to the tympanic membrane become inflamed.
• Otitis media is average. Inflammation affects the eardrum, eustachian tube and additional elements. Symptoms of otitis media are most often found in children.
• Labyrinth. This form can still bear the name of internal otitis. The inflammatory process develops behind the tympanic membrane and affects the cochlea.

Symptoms of pathology

Otitis symptoms may have different.It all depends on what kind of pathology develops. In most cases, pain occurs. The patient complains of shooting sensations in the ear, which suddenly appear and also spontaneously pass. Signs of otitis in adults can be identified as follows:

• The appearance of inflammation and redness around the entrance to theauditory canal. In this case we are talking about external otitis. Here there is an abscess with a stem, which gradually increases in size and turns blue.
• Reddening of the auditory canal and tympanic membrane. Such early signs of otitis often indicate inflammation of the middle ear.
• Появление гнойника в области барабанной перепонки.In this case, we are talking about purulent otitis. The inflamed area grows and after a while it is opened. It is worth noting that this does not always happen spontaneously.

What are the symptoms of the disease in children?

Signs of otitis in an infant may not alwaysbe defined correctly. Often parents are not able to recognize the cause of anxiety of the baby and trigger the disease. That is why it is so important to know what signs of otitis have in young children. The most common manifestations are as follows:

• restless behavior during the day and sleep disturbance at night;
• sudden causeless crying;
• the child grabs his ears with his hands and turns his head;
• there is severe pain when swallowing, so the baby can take her mother's chest and then immediately pull away with crying;
• when pressed on the trestle of the auricle, the child pulls away and begins to cry.

Causes of pathology

So, you know what signs of otitis has in different cases. What causes the development of the disease?

In most cases, the pathology iscomplication of prolonged rhinitis. Especially often this cause is found in children. With improper blowing or head position in a dream, the snot flows into the Eustachian tube and causes inflammatory processes.

Also, the disease can develop when microbes get into the ear. It often happens when bathing in public waters.

Otitis can be caused by damage to the eardrum and the ear canal area. This happens when improperly cleaning the ears and due to sticking foreign objects in the ear.

Often patients may hear the expression “ear has inflated”. Indeed, draft and hypothermia can also cause the development of the disease. However, this happens with a general decrease in immunity.

How to cure a disease?

Depending on what otitis symptoms it has,the corresponding correction is assigned. It is necessary to take into account the age of the patient and the form of pathology. You should not engage in self-designation, since it can lead to neglect of the process.

Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs

For the treatment of otitis often prescribedantimicrobial drugs. They can be used for local exposure or taken orally. These include the Summamed and Flemoxin tablets, Izofra and Protargol nasal drops, Otofa and Otipaks ear aids for treatment.

It is worth noting that the ear drops can not be used with a purulent form of otitis. Otherwise, the drug may fall on the opened eardrum and cause temporary hearing loss and severe pain.

Antipyretic and analgesic drugs

If during the pathology the temperature rises orthere was severe pain, then you need to use these medications. When it comes to child otitis, it is better to give drugs before bedtime. Otherwise, the baby can sleep badly and worry all the time from pain. This group includes such means as Paracetamol, Nurofen, Nimulid, Nise. All of them are prescribed in a specific dosage according to age.

Surgery

For purulent otitis media when the affected areait does not open by itself, surgery may be necessary. Most often it is carried out in the hospital. The doctor opens the abscess and cleans its internal cavity. After that, antibiotic therapy and the observance of precautionary measures are recommended.

Additional resources

Always when otitis is appointed funds for the nose. Most often it is vasoconstrictor drugs. They help relieve swelling and improve the permeability of the walls for the action of drugs.

Warming up can also be assigned bycamphor oil. In this case, a cotton swab soaked in the product is inserted into the ear canal for a while. If necessary, the doctor prescribes the treatment of the throat, as these organs are closely interconnected.

Prevention

To avoid illness, you should carefully monitor your health. Observe the following rules, and you can protect yourself as much as possible:

• Clean your ears with special products with a limiter.
• Do not put foreign objects in your ears.
• After bathing, shake out water from your ear.
• Avoid getting fluid from open water in the ear canal.
• In time, treat a cold and sore throat.
• Do not engage in self-assignment; visit an ortorhinolaryngologist if necessary
• Avoid drafts and hypothermia.
• Increase immunity and harden.

Use preventive measures and do not get sick!