Between the tympanic membrane and the inner ear is a cavity into which the Eustachian tube emerges. Otitis media is an inflammatory process in this area. Depending on the course of the pathology, the disease is classified into an acute and chronic form. Also, the disease is catarrhal (exudative) and purulent, and quite often the first specified type eventually passes into the second.
Acute otitis media
The described type of pathology can occur in two forms.
Acute medial catarrhal or exudative otitis is characterized by the gradual development of inflammation in the middle ear. A large amount of fluid accumulates in the cavity, which provokes the following symptoms:
- stuffiness of the ears ;
- pain syndrome, irradiating in whiskey, teeth and even in the entire half of the head;
- noise in the affected ear;
- decreased hearing acuity;
- sleep disorders;
- decreased appetite;
- increase in temperature to 38-39 degrees;
- general weakness;
- soreness in palpation of the mastoid process;
- puffiness and reddening of the skin of the auditory canal.
Acute suppurative otitis media is accompanied by accumulation of pus in the middle ear. After a while, the eardrum ruptures, resulting in exudate and purulent mass flowing out. As a rule, after the perforation, the patient's condition improves, all the symptoms of the pathology abate, and the body temperature and hearing are restored.
With the appropriate medication, recovery occurs after 14-20 days. Otherwise, complications are possible, one of which is the transition of an acute illness into a slow form.
Chronic suppurative otitis media
The type of disease considered is periodic inflammation and leakage of pus from the ear canal. Defect in the tympanic membrane is permanent, the rupture does not overgrow. This leads to a progressive decrease in hearing acuity and increased recurrence of chronic otitis media.
There are 3 forms of this disease:
- mesotympanitis;
- epitimpanitis;
- epimezotimpanit.
In the first case, the inflammation affects only the mucous membrane in the middle ear cavity. The two following varieties are more serious, as bone tissue is involved in the pathological process, which increases the risk of severe complications, the development of choleastomia (neoplasm of tumor type).
Chronic otitis media is subject only to surgical treatment. Conservative therapy is used only for temporary relief of symptoms and preparation for surgery.