External otitis media is infectious and non-infectious. Depending on the duration, chronic and acute external otitis media are distinguished. Also, according to localization, it is divided into limited and diffuse.
Causes
The causes of external otitis media include a bacterial or fungal infection. For its development, suitable conditions are created due to a reduced or increased amount of earwax. The lack of sulfur makes it impossible to provide the necessary level of protection, while its excess retains dust and moisture in the ear. One of the most favorable factors for the development of infection is the prolonged presence of water in the external auditory canal, wet or hot weather. Most often, otitis externa develops when hygiene rules are not followed - careless use of an ear stick or ear cleaning using sharp objects.
Limited otitis media
The occurrence of limited external otitis is due to the appearance of an inflamed hair follicle or boil, the localization of which can be outside or inside the ear canal. Limited external otitis is manifested by pain in the ear, aggravated by chewing, touching the ear area. After the abscess has matured and breaks through the pain decreases. As a rule, the hearing is preserved. Hearing impairment is recorded only if the boil blocks the ear canal.
Diffuse otitis media
External otitis media of this form often affects the skin around the ear, covers the auricle and the entire ear canal. Such otitis media is divided into:
Bacterial
Such external otitis is manifested by the occurrence of edema of the skin around the ear canal, auricle and ear. The patient has complaints of pain in the ear, which can be replaced by itching. Hearing can be reduced due to swelling of the ear canal, the skin is thickened, red, swollen. If the inflammation extends to the eardrum, there is the appearance of transparent discharge from the ear, hearing loss, the eardrum itself turns red.
Fungal
The manifestations of such otitis media may vary and depend on the type of fungus: the patient has complaints of fluid discharge from the ear (candidiasis), or the appearance of crusts and plugs in the ear canal (aspergillosis). One of the characteristic symptoms is itching in the ear. All other symptoms are no different from bacterial otitis media.
Allergic
Auricle edema, autophony and hearing loss are the main signs of allergic otitis media. The use of medications that cause allergic rhinitis, allergies are the main diagnostic signs in which there is an allergic external ear otitis.
Treatment
If the cause of otitis media is a skin disease, then this disease should be treated first. In the treatment of bacterial otitis media, antibacterial drugs are most often prescribed. Fungal otitis externa is treated with the help of general antifungal therapy, since the use of local agents cannot give the desired effect. In addition, in the treatment of external otitis media caused by fungi, general strengthening drugs are prescribed. Treatment of allergic otitis media is aimed at getting rid of allergies. In this case, the doctor prescribes general antiallergic drugs and local drugs. When treating limited external otitis media, a boil is opened, purulent contents are removed, and tampons with hormonal antibacterial ointment are used to remove the edema.