How to treat otitis media

What to do if your ear hurts badly, but you are not sure about the diagnosis

These options will temporarily relieve pain in any otitis media, and in general, any damage to the ear.

1. Apply a cold compress to your ear

This can be a towel dipped in cold water, or a napkin-wrapped bag of ice or frozen vegetables. As a rule, for the pain to stop being acute, it is enough to hold the compress for about 20 minutes of Earache.

Never warm up your ear!

Otitis media may be associated with purulent inflammation, which will only intensify with an increase in temperature. Warming up can sometimes help, but I do them only after consulting a doctor.

2. Drink a pain reliever

The pain of otitis media can be unbearable, so a medication method to alleviate the condition is more than justified. Preparations based on ibuprofen or paracetamol are suitable.

3. Actively move your jaws as if you are chewing something

Chewing can relieve pain if it is caused by excessive pressure in the middle ear - a common companion of one of the common types of otitis media.

Feel better? Now, without unnecessary stress, we will figure out how to treat otitis media and why in case of pain in the ear it is necessary to see a doctor as soon as possible.

What is otitis media

Otitis media are any inflammatory processes in the ear. Our hearing organs are a complex structure made up of three parts: the outer, middle and inner ear.

Depending on which part of the inflammation began, there are:

Otitis externa … It affects the ear canal and is most often associated with an infection under the skin. This happens if you are used to picking your ear with your finger or using cotton swabs too actively.
Otitis media … It is an inflammatory lesion of the middle ear, including the eardrum. When talking about otitis media, most often they mean this particular type of it. The most common cause of otitis media is ENT diseases (acute respiratory infections, tonsillitis, flu, sinusitis, rhinitis, and so on). The fact is that the middle ear is connected to the nasopharynx by the so-called Eustachian tube - a cavity that serves to equalize the air pressure in front of and behind the eardrum. Through the same tube, infections migrate quite readily into the middle ear.
Internal otitis media(labyrinthitis LABYRINTHITIS - INFLAMMATION OF THE INNER EAR). The most dangerous, but, fortunately, a rather rare type of otitis media. As a rule, it appears if, for some reason, it was not possible to stop the development of otitis media and the infection got into the inner ear. It can be recognized by the onset of severe dizziness (it appears due to the fact that the infection affects the vestibular apparatus, also located in the inner ear).

Why is otitis media dangerous?

All types of otitis media are quite painful and can flow into each other, worsening the condition. However, there are much more unpleasant consequences:

A ruptured eardrum. In response to an infection in the ear, pus begins to be produced (this situation is called purulent otitis media). When there is too much of it, it can rupture the thin eardrum. This is fraught with temporary hearing loss and the need for long-term treatment.
Damage to the auditory nerve. If the infection gets into the inner ear and touches a nerve, hearing loss could be permanent.
Meningitis. Certain bacteria (such as pneumococci and Haemophilus influenzae) that cause otitis media can also cause inflammation of the meninges.

When to see a doctor

Unfortunately, it is difficult to recognize otitis media without the help of a doctor. This disease has no specific symptoms. Most often it manifests itself as a sharp shooting pain in the ear and fever. But these signs overlap with symptoms of other conditions that cause ear discomfort. For proper treatment, it is necessary to make a diagnosis, and this can only be done by a qualified physician.

And even if it seems to you that you know the reasons for the discomfort and they are not scary (for example, water that has got into the ear), you should still visit at least a therapist. And be sure to Earache consult a doctor if:

Ear pain is accompanied by an increase in temperature - this is a sign of the development of an inflammatory process.
You develop additional symptoms: dizziness, headache, swelling around the ear, weakness of the facial muscles.
Severe pain stops suddenly - this may be due to a ruptured eardrum.
Symptoms (pain, fever) get worse or don't get better within 24 to 48 hours.

After the diagnosis is made, the physician will find out what exactly caused the otitis media - viruses or bacteria. In the second case, you will be prescribed antibiotics. In the first, no, they are useless. Ear Infections: Diagnosis and Treatment.

Here's what you need to do if you have been diagnosed with otitis media and its causes are identified.

1. Complete a course of antibiotics to the end, if prescribed

This is the only effective way to defeat a bacterial infection. In no case do not interrupt the course, even if it seems to you that you are already completely healthy. If you stop taking antibiotics, the infection may come back and become "impenetrable" to the medication. So you have to select a new drug and start the course from the beginning.

2. Use vasoconstrictor nasal drops

These drugs will relieve swelling in the nasopharynx and Eustachian tube. And the fluid accumulated in the ear (including pus) will be able to come out on its own.

3. Do not prescribe ear drops before visiting your doctor

Amateur activities before a visit to the doctor is prohibited. If suddenly your pain is associated with a ruptured eardrum, the medication can enter the middle and inner ear and cause damage to the auditory nerve.

If a doctor prescribes drops for you, strictly follow his recommendations.

4. Do an ear wash

The antiseptic solution used to wash the ear cavity stops inflammation and removes pus and other fluids from the ear. But it is extremely important to remember: such a procedure is prescribed and carried out exclusively by ENT.

5. Apply a warm compress to your ear

For example, a heating pad wrapped in a thin towel. Warming up really reduces the discomfort. But it must be agreed with the doctor! In some cases, a warm compress can accelerate the development of the inflammatory process. Make sure you don't take risks.

6. Gargle with salted water

Dissolve ¹⁄₂ teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. This rinsing soothes an irritated throat and helps relieve swelling in the Eustachian tube. The pressure inside and outside the eardrum will equalize, and this will reduce pain.

7. Take pain relievers

The most effective products are based on paracetamol and ibuprofen.

8. If necessary, drain

If there is too much fluid or pus in the ear, or otitis media recurs, the ENT may offer drainage. A tiny hole will be made in the eardrum to keep fluids (including pus) from collecting in the middle ear and to provide adequate ventilation for the middle ear.

The drainage is performed under general anesthesia and takes 10-15 minutes. And the hole made disappears in 6-18 months after the procedure. Often, a single drainage is enough to forget about otitis media altogether. But if the disease returns after the hole is overgrown, the procedure may have to be repeated.

9. Breathe fresh air

Try to irritate the nasopharynx and associated Eustachian tube as little as possible. No smoking (including passive visits to smokers), smells of paint, burnt leaves and other nasty things.

Keep an eye on the humidity of the air. For the nasopharynx and ears to feel good, it should be 40-60%.

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What to do with otitis media?

We will tell you how to reduce ear pain and why you should not postpone the visit to the doctor