Purulent otitis is quite common in children, and this disease is often recurrent. Provoking factors may be infectious diseases, weakening of the immune system, an increase in adenoids.
In any case, the symptoms of ailment should be the basis for contacting a specialist. Only the doctor will be able to prescribe an effective treatment that will help to defeat this disease.
Purulent otitis in a child
This term refers to the purulent lesion of the middle ear - a component of the auditory system, the main link of which is the drum cavity. It is a small space in the temporal bone, which is responsible for the processing of sound vibrations.
When purulent form of otitis inflamed the mucous membrane of the ear, which is accompanied by the production and accumulation of pus. This type of disease is much more dangerous than catarrhal, as it can cause loss of hearing and intracranial complications.
Reasons for
The main cause of the appearance of a purulent form of otitis is inflammation of the nasopharynx, the appearance of adenoids, chronic forms of rhinitis and acute respiratory viral infections. All these pathologies lead to an excessive amount of mucus in the nose.
With strong blurring, the discharge data penetrates into the Eustachian tube and overlaps it. As a consequence, ventilation is disrupted, which leads to infection and inflammatory damage to the mucosa.
When the inflammatory fluid is released, the child has pain and hearing problems. Bacteria that penetrate into the middle ear begin to develop actively. As a result, after a few days or even hours, the baby has purulent discharge.
Illustration of changes in the ear during purulent otitis
Then his health seriously worsens - the temperature rises, the pain syndrome increases. With strong pressure on the tympanic membrane, it bursts, which leads to the outflow of pus.
This disease is diagnosed more often in children than in adults. This is due to objective reasons:
- The Eustachian tube of the child is much narrower than that of an adult. Because violations of its patency occur much more often.
- Many children have enlarged adenoids. These data lead to squeezing the Eustachian tube, which makes the clearance in it much less.
- Children are more likely than adults to suffer from acute viral infections.
In addition, there are additional factors that significantly increase the risk of development of purulent otitis in the child. They include the following:
- hypothermia;
- lack of vitamins;
- continued use of antibacterial drugs;
- penetration of fluid in the ear;
- decrease in the body's defenses.
Symptoms of
The appearance of purulent otitis in children is accompanied by a marked pain in the ears. This symptom is accompanied by constant tearfulness. The pain can be cutting, aching or pulsating.
At night, discomfort significantly increases, triggering sleep disorders. In addition, children often have such symptoms:
- pale skin;
- general weakness;
- hearing loss;
- purulent discharge with bloody impurities;
- temperature increase.
If the baby has an interest in what exactly hurts, he will point at the ear. Identify the pathology in infants is much more difficult.
When purulent otitis newborn babies cry constantly, they have serious problems with sleep. The following symptoms may also appear:
- refusal to eat;
- occurrence of emetic reflexes;
- attempts the child to lie on his side, where the affected ear is located.
How to recognize
A doctor is diagnosed by an illness based on complaints, anamnesis and otoscopy data. Usually, the following types of studies are prescribed:
- General examination, endoscopic examination of the ear, nose and nasopharynx - usually performed after cleansing the canals.
- Audiological and vestibular examination.
- Valsalva maneuver - in this case the exudate is pushed into the auditory canal.
- Laboratory secretion assay - conducted to assess susceptibility to antimicrobial agents.
- Assessment of the state of immunity.
- Computed tomography and radiography.
Types of
There are a number of varieties of purulent otitis in children, each of which is characterized by some features.
Acute
Acute form of the disease is accompanied by severe pain syndrome and leads to the appearance of purulent discharge in the ear canal. If you do not immediately start adequate treatment, there is a risk of chronicization of the process. It is characterized by a stable lesion of the tympanic membrane. Also, the child may gradually decrease hearing.
Two-sided
This form of purulent otitis is characterized by an inflammatory lesion of both ears. This is a very serious disease, which is especially dangerous for young children.
Almost 90% of all otitis media are bilateral. A few years later the number of such diseases is decreasing. This is due to the development of the hearing aid.
Recurrent
This diagnosis is made if a second disease occurs within a short time after the first. It is the result of incorrect therapy or violations of the doctor's recommendations. Also, to relapse often leads to inflammation of the adenoids.
Treatment of
To cope with the pathology, to prevent the development of dangerous complications and loss of hearing, it is necessary to diagnose the pathology in time. Treatment should be selected by the doctor depending on the stage of the disease and its manifestations and how long it is treated depends on the stage and complexity of the disease.
Medicated
When purulent otitis, especially in children under 3 years of age, usually prescribed antibiotics. Such drugs can be used in the form of tablets, injections or suspensions - it all depends on the age of the patient and the stage of the disease.
For the treatment of this form of the disease, penicillins are most often used, as well as their combinations with clavulanic acid.
The most effective drugs include amoxicillin, augmentin, amoxiclav, etc.
If penicillins can not be used or the treatment does not work with them, cephalosporins, ceftriaxone, cefazolin, are prescribed.
In case of ineffectiveness of listed products or presence of allergic reactions, doctors prescribe macrolides. The most popular drugs from this category include azithromycin and clarithromycin.
If a child has purulent otitis, it is necessary to prescribe vasoconstrictive drops for the nose. With their help, it is possible to cope with swelling of the mucosa and make the lumen of the auditory tube wider. Usually, doctors prescribe halazoline, otrivine, naphthysine.
With intensive pain syndrome, anti-inflammatory drugs - paracetamol or ibuprofen - are prescribed. These drugs also contribute to lowering the temperature. The doctor can prescribe pills, syrup or candles.
In the absence of a perforation of the tympanic membrane, drops are placed in the ear. An excellent anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect has otipax. This harmless drug can be used even for babies.
If the baby has a chronic form of purulent otitis, he shows the use of immunomodulators. These include viferon, biologics, fortified medications.
By popular methods
Before using any folk remedy at home, it is absolutely necessary to get advice from a pediatrician and an otolaryngologist.
When you have purulent otitis in your baby's diet, you need to include a lot of products with vitamin C. It helps to strengthen immunity and ensures a quick recovery. This substance is present in kiwi, sweet pepper, citrus.
An excellent remedy for this form of otitis is a decoction prepared from the roots of raspberry. It has pronounced anti-inflammatory properties.
The rhizome should be crushed, take 3 tablespoons of raw materials and add 1 liter of boiling water. The product must be infused for 12 hours. Take twice a day for 3/4 cup for a month. During this time, the damaged membranes will successfully heal.
Frequent purulent otitis in a child what to do
If a child often has similar problems, you need to establish the reasons for their appearance. Quite often this leads to immune failure. Therefore, the treatment is conducted by the introduction of gamma globulins, ascorbic acid, lysozyme, etc.
During the remission period, purging of the auditory tubes is often prescribed. Also, a tympanic massage can be performed. If necessary, punctures are performed to eliminate sinusitis. The doctor may prescribe a tonzillotomy or adenoidectomy.
How to avoid complications with purulent otitis, an experienced doctor in our video will tell:
Prevention of
To prevent the occurrence of purulent otitis, it is necessary to engage in its prevention. It includes a number of components:
- preventing viral infections;
- strengthening of immunity;
- water procedures;
- proper nutrition;
- timely treatment of nasopharyngeal diseases.
Purulent otitis is considered a very dangerous disorder, which can trigger a decrease in hearing. To prevent this from happening, you need to turn to a specialist in time and adhere to his recommendations.