Otitis

Explain the causes of otitis and make any significant, workable and understandable advice is absolutely impossible without at least brief information about how the human ear is arranged. You can, of course, assume that the readers of this information is not needed, since the close of his time studying school textbook of anatomy, physiology and hygiene. But even knowing the principles of operation of any device at all, you can not always understand why this device breaks down in particular. This is a very philosophical conclusion, we set the basis for exploring the physiology of the human ear, in order to understand why it hurts and that it should take.
Otitis called inflammation of one of the departments ear. The above definition leads to a logical conclusion that the human ear and the anatomical and physiological point of view consists of several divisions, each of which has its own specific functions and their specific disease.
Outer ear - this is the only department ear, which can be seen. That auricle associated in our perception of the organ of hearing, although its significance for the most able to hear - the smallest (of all departments ear). The problem of the ear - to capture sound vibrations and send them into the ear canal, which ends on the eardrum. For the eardrum starts the middle ear.
The middle ear acts as a sound conduction. Immediately behind the eardrum is the so-called drum - a kind of very limited space in a certain way strengthens and interprets sound. In the tympanic cavity are very small sound seeds. These bones have a very original name - the hammer, anvil and stirrup. Handle of malleus is firmly connected to the eardrum. Last fluctuates under the influence of sound waves, these vibrations are transmitted along a chain of bones, and the base of stapes is in a special opening of the temporal bone, after which begins the inner ear.
The inner ear - a complex system of channels, it is located in the temporal bone and forms the actual hearing organ called the cochlea. The unusual name is explained by a specific form of channels, very reminiscent of a snail. Channels are filled with special fluid and so-called hair cells. Certain frequency of sound vibrations cause quite some hair cells, which in turn converts the mechanical vibrations into nerve impulses. Impulses are perceived by the auditory nerve and transferred to the special nucleus of the brain.
Given the fact that anatomically and physiologically there are three, now familiar brand name viagra to us, of the ear (outer, middle and inner) doctors, in turn, is diagnosed with three types of otitis media - again, otitis externa, otitis media and an inner ear infection.
Otitis externa does not have a special "ear" specificity - it is obvious that on the skin of the ear may occur such as inflammation, as well as on any other skin area - a variety of pimples, boils, acne, etc. tribution of complexity in terms of treatment cause ulcers (most often boils) located in the ear canal - the complexity that is easily understandable, is not associated with some sort of special treatments, namely the localization.
Internal otitis (also called labyrinthitis - channel system - a complex maze) - fortunately, the phenomenon is not very frequent, but always very serious. Inner ear infection is almost always - not the primary disease and complications of otitis media, or severe general infectious disease.
In most cases, any discharge from the ear canal, pain in one or both ears, and (or) a decrease in hearing loss caused by otitis media. Namely otitis media is one of the most frequent diseases, especially in children. In 99% of the cases, saying "Your child has otitis media", the doctors mean otitis media. We probably will not swim against the stream and, using in the future, the term "otitis media", we mean it is an inflammation of the middle ear.
Middle ear, as we know, represented the tympanic cavity, inside which there are sound bones. Normal operation of the middle ear is possible only when the pressure in the tympanic cavity equal to atmospheric pressure - only under this condition, there are adequate vibration of bones and the eardrum. Maintain the proper level of pressure is achieved thanks to a special channel - the Eustachian tube connecting the pharynx and tympanic cavity. During swallowing tube is opened, the middle ear is ventilated and the internal pressure is equalized.
Inflammation of the middle ear does not arise for no apparent reason. Its root cause - the change in pressure in the tympanic cavity. Why did this happen? Firstly, the sudden change in pressure on the eardrum - such as when diving or when lifting (descent) during air travel. Secondly, and this is the most common reason - at various inflammatory diseases of the nose and throat when disturbed eustachian tube patency.
In short, if you set aside all sorts of rare causes of otitis, it becomes clear that: otitis media is almost always not an independent disease, and, again, almost always a complication of inflammatory diseases of the nasopharynx, especially - of acute respiratory viral infections (ARI).
Each adult knows full well that for any cold-related diseases have increased nasal mucus. Multiple sniff, especially active shmyganya (whether in this case, in itself, or from yourself) is facilitated by the ingress of mucus in the lumen of the Eustachian tube, but you viruses and bacteria that cause acute respiratory disease, can directly cause inflammation of her (eustachian tube) mucosa. Both of these factors separately or together cause quite a long violation of the tympanic cavity ventilation and pressure it becomes negative. Under these conditions, cells lining the tympanic cavity, begin to provide an inflammatory liquid. Already at this stage there are very specific symptoms of otitis media - a pain in the ear (tinnitus), hearing loss. In the future (sometimes several hours, but usually 2-3 days) bacteria into the tympanic cavity (all through the same eustachian tube) and begin to multiply - becomes purulent otitis media. The pain increases, body temperature rises, the pressure in the tympanic cavity often becomes so that there is a rupture of the eardrum and emerged through a hole in the ear canal starts to separate purulent fluid.
The above theoretical information makes it easy to answer the question why children suffer from otitis more frequently than adults. Major contributing factors include:

1.Eustachian tube baby is much narrower than an adult's, thus breaking the terrain is easier to occur.
2.Children often suffer from colds.
3.Children are crying and actively with the dart noses.
4.The children very often have the adenoids, which can compress the eustachian tube.

The main symptoms of otitis media, we have already named - hearing loss, earache, and (rarely) discharge from the ear. And if this is still and there was a cold, then the diagnosis is obvious at all. At the same time, infants diagnosed otitis much more difficult, since neither the pain nor the lowering of hearing child can not complain. But forget about the possibility of otitis media in no case be so unmotivated at first glance, anxiety, irritability, sleep disturbance, crying just have to push parents to the idea of otitis.
On the auricle, anterior to the hole meatus, there is a ledge, called a tragus. Exerting pressure on the tragus is, in the presence of otitis media, a significant increase in pain, causing the child's shrill cry. Check for this symptom may each parent, and the positive response is a cause for immediate treatment to the doctor.
Prevention of otitis boils down to not to give a thick mucus plug the Eustachian tube - this is not so easy as it might seem at first glance. It is important to remember that liquid discharges from the nose are not dangerous, but it does not give the mucus to thicken? Reply to this question is not difficult, it should only know the factors that contribute to drying out of mucus: 1) Lack of fluid in the body (hence the need to drink more), 2) High body temperature (timely use of antipyretics, of course, in accordance with the recommendations of a physician); 3) The dry and warm air in the room (warm clothes, but the air temperature no higher than 18-20 ° C, ventilation, frequent wet cleaning, removal from the storage room dust). Another important way of prevention - moderate blowing the nose (who are not familiar pattern - Mama, in her hand a handkerchief, a handkerchief child's nose and all this is accompanied by prodding like: "Come on, stronger").
Accurate diagnosis of otitis can install only the doctor when viewed from the eardrum (a survey on the medical language is called otoscopy). Otoscopy allows you to determine the type of otitis media, to answer the question what it - catarrhal (there is an inflammatory liquid, but still no pus), or putrid, to clarify how many of the fluid accumulated in the tympanic cavity. All of this Biochemical hooliganism information significantly affects both the choice of drugs and the duration of treatment.
How to treat otitis media? Very commonly used vasoconstrictor nose drops (yes, yes, the nose) can reduce swelling of the mucous membrane eustachian tube - these drugs (Naphazoline, galazolin, nazol, etc.) are contraindicated during normal viral fever, are simply mandatory for suspected the occurrence of otitis media. Locally (in the ear canal) injected with an antiseptic solution. Previously, often used for this purpose, boric acid, and we are now using, although the rest of the world take a more modern and more active drugs. Sometimes, severe pain in the ear, apply a drop of causing anesthesia is often used anti-inflammatory hormones. Drugs for instillation into the ear is now big set - otinum, sofradeks, otipaks, garazon and dozens of drugs.
Special role in the treatment of otitis media are antimicrobial drugs (antibiotics, sulfonamides, etc.). Their use has several features - a drug must not only act on bacteria that cause otitis media, but also well into the tympanic cavity. Often best suited for this amoxicillin Biseptol very active, but you can call another 3-4 dozen drugs.
The above therapies may in no case be considered as a guide to action. Keep in mind that with proper and timely treatment of acute otitis media is rapidly and almost never ends hearing loss. Delay in starting treatment, "the people's initiative" (from the latch warmers and ending instillation into the ear of urine) are fraught with grave consequences - at best otitis becomes chronic, and at worst - the possibility of severe complications from total hearing loss to purulent meningitis.
Should not be very much upset by suppuration from the ear - on-site break the eardrum, with proper treatment, quickly formed a small scar, which is then almost never leads to hearing loss.
The sequence of actions at the first signs of otitis or suspected otitis media - immediately consult a doctor, an otolaryngologist. If it is not possible (to the doctor far away), we can independently use a vasoconstrictor nasal drops, for example, Naphazoline, optimally in the ear drip otinum, which, besides anti-inflammatory action, is also capable of dissolving earwax. Highly desirable that the ear was in heat (dry heat - wool, plastic film, scarf or cap), but do not put hot pads. These events will not allow to lose the time it takes to get to the doctor.