Otitis media: the “killer” of hearing

Otitis media is an inflammation of the middle ear, which is caused by viruses or bacteria and is an inflammation of the area behind the eardrum. The main symptoms are ear pain, tinnitus, fever, bitter taste in the mouth, and hearing loss. If the eardrum is perforated, pus will flow out of the ear, and in severe cases, hearing loss will occur.

1. What are the types of otitis media?

Depending on the onset and severity of otitis media, the disease can be roughly divided into the following three types.

(1) Secretory otitis media.

(2) Purulent otitis media is divided into chronic purulent otitis media and acute purulent otitis media according to the duration of the disease.

(3) Middle ear cholesteatoma, also known as "cholesteatoma middle ear mastoiditis". It is not a true tumor, but a cystic structure. In addition to being filled with desquamated epithelium and keratinized substances, there are also cholesterol crystals, so it is called cholesteatoma.

2. How to treat otitis media?

Treatment of otitis media includes topical or systemic medications or surgery.

(1) Drug treatment is mainly local medication, which can be used with antibiotic aqueous solution or a mixture of antibiotics and steroid hormones. Before using the medication, it is necessary to clean the pus in the external auditory canal and middle ear cavity. The specific cleaning method can be guided by professionals, and it is best to be done by professionals.

(2) Systemic medication: Erythromycin, cefuroxime, ceftizoxime, etc. can be taken orally or intravenously according to the doctor's advice.

(3) Surgical treatment: For patients with secretory otitis media, tympanocentesis, myringotomy, and myringotomy plus tube placement can be used for treatment; for patients with suppurative otitis media, radical mastoidectomy and tympanoplasty can be used for treatment.

3. Which groups of people are prone to otitis media?

(1) People with weak constitutions: Infants, young children and the elderly have a relatively higher incidence rate.

(2) People with low immunity: Factors such as colds, drinking, fatigue, and emotional stress can easily reduce the body's immunity and increase the probability of otitis media.

(3) People with chronic nasopharyngeal diseases: For people with chronic nasopharyngeal diseases, the limited drainage function of the Eustachian tube will increase the probability of otitis media.

(4) People with chronic wasting diseases: Since chronic diseases can cause the body's immunity to be at a low level for a long time, the incidence of otitis media will be relatively high.

4. How can we prevent otitis media in daily life?

First of all, the ears should be kept clean and dry, and sharp objects such as ear picks should be avoided to avoid digging into the external auditory canal, which may damage the external auditory canal and eardrum and cause inflammation.

Secondly, try to avoid water entering the ears when washing your hair and taking a bath. If dirty water enters the ears accidentally, you should wipe it clean in time. Thirdly, you should pay attention to keeping warm and try to avoid upper respiratory tract infections to prevent bacteria and viruses from infecting the middle ear through the Eustachian tube, thereby causing middle ear inflammation.

Finally, you should pay attention to a light diet, eat more fresh vegetables, supplement vitamins, get enough rest, avoid staying up late and overwork, so as to avoid a decrease in resistance and causing otitis media.