Causes
Otitis media is a common complication of colds, pharyngitis, flu and allergies. Other predisposing factors include: St. Anthony's fire, enlarged adenoids, scarlet fever.
Symptoms
Otitis media is accompanied by inflammation and pain in the ears (otalgia), accompanied by the characteristic symptoms of the triggering disease: sore throat, fever / low-grade fever, nasal congestion (stuffy nose), cough.
Therapy
The therapy for the treatment of otitis media depends on the triggering cause: antibiotics (for bacterial otitis), antivirals (for virus infections), therapeutic aids (for pain control).
, the cavity comprising the eardrum and three small ossicles (stapes, anvil and hammer).
Otitis media is usually caused by bacterial or viral infections; less frequently, inflammation of the middle ear is the result of allergic reactions or ear cancer.
Despite being a rather annoying disease, uncomplicated otitis media tends to heal spontaneously within 10-15 days.
in fact, they favor the accumulation of secretions in the middle ear, thus constituting an ideal fertile ground for the proliferation of pathogens coming from the throat.To understand...
The space behind the eardrum is connected to the back of the throat (nasopharynx) by a small duct called the eustachian tube. Under physiological conditions, this cavity is filled with air; in case of cold or flu, the Eustachian tube fills with mucus, often rich in pathogens.
- Flu diseases → accumulation of infected mucus in the eustachian tube → local swelling and inflammation → otitis media
The Eustachian tube can also be occluded by the "enlargement of the adenoids, lymphatic stations that play an" important immune function. Inflammation of the adenoids makes the patient more vulnerable to infections, including otitis.
Although unlikely, bacteria and viruses can reach the ear via the blood: in similar situations, scarlet fever (caused by group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus) is the most important risk factor.
Otitis media can also be triggered by bacterial / viral proliferation after eardrum perforation.
St. Anthony's fire can also cause otitis media: in such situations, the inflammation of the middle ear takes on the more precise connotation of Herpes zoster oticus.
Sometimes, it is not possible to trace any precise cause: in this case, we speak of idiopathic otitis media.
.Approximately 16 million children are affected by otitis media every year: in one third of these, the disease tends to recur 6 times or more until the age of 7.
In industrialized countries, the mortality rate from otitis media is extremely low (<1 child per 100,000 affected by otitis media). In developing countries, on the other hand, "otitis media is still an extremely recurrent phenomenon" today, and remains one of the main causes of infant mortality.
In general, otitis media is a progressively increasing pathological condition: probably, this is due to environmental pollution.
Deepening: Why does otitis media occur more often in young children?
Otitis media is an almost exclusive phenomenon of preschool children because:
- The immune defenses of young children are not yet fully efficient.
- The Eustachian tube of small children has particular characteristics, such as to expose them more easily to the risk of infections: the canaliculus is in fact narrower and shorter than that of older children and adults.
In addition to these symptoms, the clinical picture of otitis media is complemented by the characteristic prodrome of the triggering disease, such as headache, nasal congestion, diarrhea, fever / fever, sore throat, cough and vomiting.
In the child affected by otitis media, other secondary symptoms are often observed: altered mood, loss of appetite, irritability, ear pain, otorrhea, continuous crying.
In some cases, otitis media can cause the child more serious problems, such as loss of balance, ringing in the ears (tinnitus) and sleep disturbances.
Complications of Otitis Media
In complicated otitis media, the clinical picture of the affected patient can degenerate:
- Severe hearing impairment, often due to permanent damage to the eardrum.
- Developmental delay: Although rare, this complication can result from temporary or permanent hearing impairment in the neonatal age.
- Spread of infection to neighboring sites: Otitis media can spread to involve surrounding cells and tissues. Mastoiditis is in fact a possible complication of otitis media.
When the diagnosis is in doubt, the doctor may subject the patient to other diagnostic tests:
- Tympanogram: is an investigative test useful for evaluating the presence of fluid / mucus in the middle ear and the functionality of the Eustachian tube.
- Tympanometry: the test evaluates the movement of the eardrum and the pressure inside the middle ear.
- Audiometric examination: evaluates the possible loss / reduction of hearing.
- CT: Sometimes this imaging test is needed to evaluate possible involvement of structures near the middle ear.
Considering that in most cases otitis media depends on bacterial infections, antibiotics are the most suitable drugs for this purpose. In the case of viral otitis, however, the doctor can prescribe the intake of antiviral drugs.
Antibiotic / antiviral therapy can be associated with a treatment with pain-relieving drugs, useful for relieving ear pain and accelerating complete recovery times. Furthermore, applying warm compresses to the ear can temporarily relieve the pain caused by otitis media.
Different speech must be placed for the suppurative variant: in similar situations, antibiotic / antiviral therapy for the treatment of otitis is associated with an operation aimed at draining the fluid accumulated inside the middle ear.
