Common ear infections

Question 1

Otitis Externa

Answer 1

inflammation of the ear ‘swimmers ears’

Symptoms: pain, lots of free nerve endings in the auditory canal, redness, discharge, puss. itchy.

treat with flucloxacillin

Question 2

Cholesteatoma

Answer 2

growth of the keratinising squamous epithelium in the middle ear.

can cause hearing loss, smelling discharge.

Combo of sweat and dead skin cells.

surgery to remove under GA

Question 3

Earwax

Answer 3

Skin, sloughed off epithelial cells, sebum, mucus. Keeps ears sterile and things moving along

Question 4

Grommet

Answer 4

Small tubes that make a hole in the tempanic membrane so if someone is prone to otitis media it can allow the fluid to leak out- no uncontrolled rupture.

Question 5

Two types of hearing loss

Answer 5

• Conductive: anything that happens up to the cochlear (e.g ear wax)

Sensorineural: vestibular cochlear nerve- cochlear

Question 6

Presbycusis

Answer 6

a most common cause of hearing loss in over 65. sensorineural hearing loss, higher sounds go first.
Working in a loud environment, ototoxic drugs, family history, psychosocial factors- social isolation and depression.

Question 7

acoustic neuroma

Answer 7

vestibular schwannoma. The slow-growing benign tumour on the vestibular nerve. Neurofibrotomas-2 tumour suppressor is not working.

Question 8

Meniere’s disease

Answer 8

fullness in the ear (ear feels full) vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, fullness (pressure in the ear before an attack) leads them bedridden until vertigo subsides.

unilateral but can become bilateral

attacks can occur at any time and last between 30 mins or 24 hours.

Question 9

surfer’s ear

Answer 9

bone growth within ear canal due to repeated cold water exposure. surgical removal of bone growth needed.

Question 10

otitis media

Answer 10

common in children
buldging tympanic membrane
treat with amoxicillin

Question 11

throat infection
sinsuitis
peridontal abscess
necrotising gingivitis

Answer 11

Throat infection- Phenoxymethylpenicillin (or azithromycin if allergic)
Sinusitis- Amoxicillin
Periodontal Abscess- Amoxicillin
Necrotising Gingivitis- Metronidazole Mouthwash

Question 12

BPPV

Answer 12

benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

vertigo and nystagmus
can be reproduced on examination

symptoms are rarely as prostrating as Meniers. does not include tinnitus nor hearing loss

investigate with Hallpike test
resolve with epley manoeuvre

Question 13

labyrinthitis

Answer 13

sudden onset, severe constant vertigo that may last several weeks.
sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus.
infection is usually viral