Disorders of the Ear Flashcards
What are the disorders of the ear?
- ET Dysfunction
2 Otitis Media
- Otitis Externa
- TM Perforation
- Barotrauma
- Foreign Body of the Ear
- Cerumen Impaction
- Mastoiditis
- Acoustic neuroma
- Vertigo Syndromes
- BPPV
- Labryinthitis
- Meniere’s disease
- Presbycusis
What are the types of otitis media? 4
- Acute Otitis Media (AOM)
- OM with effusion
- Chronic Suppurative Otitis
- Cholesteoma
What are the landmarks that should be visible for the TM?
- UMBO
- Handle of MALLEUS:
- LIGHT reflex
The pneumatic attachment of the otoscope is used to evaluate what in the TM?
mobility
What is the valsalva manuever used to observe?
Observe for motion and pain.
Describe the following for the Weber and Rinne test:
- Purpose
- Fork placement
- Normal hearing
- Conductive Loss
- Sensorineural loss
See picture
What is the problem with Eustachian tube dysfunction?
Classically described as a blockage of the eustachian tube.
The eustachian tube does not open or close properly in response to pressure changes within the middle ear or outside the ear.
Describe the setting for acute ETD?
2
- Acute ETD may occur in the setting of pressure changes (e.g., plane travel) or
- acute upper airway inflammation (e.g., URI, sinusitis).
Chronic ETD may lead to what?
6
- negative middle ear pressure,
- retracted tympanic membrane,
- serous effusions,
- otitis media,
- adhesive otitis media
- cholesteatoma.
- What is Patulous eustachian tube?
- How does it manifest?
is failure of the eustachian tube to close. It is often manifested as autophony,
when an individual’s own breathing and voice sounds excessively loud.
Eustachian tube functions?
4
- Ventilation/regulation of middle ear pressure
- Protection from nasopharyngeal secretions
- Drainage of middle ear fluid
- ET is closed at rest and opens with yawning, swallowing, and sneezing.
- Normally the Eustachian tube is closed, but it can open to let a small amount of air through to prevent damage by what?
- Pressure differences cause conductive hearing loss by what process?
- Various methods of ear clearing such as yawning, swallowing, chewing gum, or performing the valsalva maneuver may be used for what?
- When this happens, a small ___________is heard, an event familiar to aircraft passengers, scuba divers or drivers in mountainous regions.
- damage by equalizing pressure between the middle ear and the atmosphere.
- decreased motion of the tympanic membrane and ossicles of the ear.
- intentionally to open the tube and equalize pressures.
- popping sound
Cycle of dysfunction: Structural or functional obstruction of the ET compromises 3 functions of this system?
- Negative pressure develops in middle ear.
- Serous exudate is drawn from the middle ear mucosa by negative pressure or refluxed into the middle ear if the ET opens momentarily.
- Infection of static fluid causes edema and release of inflammatory mediators, which exacerbates cycle of inflammation and obstruction.
- ETD is most common in what age group?
- In children, a horizontally oriented ET predisposes to difficulties with what?
- Shorter ET predisposes what?
- ETD can be associated with what?4
- When should we refer to an ENT?2
- children under 5
- ventilation and drainage
- Shorter ET predisposes to reflux
- Can be associated with
- URI,
- adenoid hypertrophy,
- allergic rhinnitis, or
- GERD - Refer to an otolaryngologist if
- hearing loss or recurrent or
- chronic middle ear infections.
ETD Risk Factors
Pediatric:
9
- 2nd-hand smoke
- Prematurity and low birth weight
- Young age
- Craniofacial abnormalities (e.g., cleft palate, Down syndrome)
- Day care, exposure to many other children
- Crowded living conditions
- Low socioeconomic status
- Prone sleeping position
- Prolonged bottle use
ETD Commonly Associated Conditions
12
- Hearing loss
- Middle ear effusion
- Cholesteatoma
- Allergic rhinitis
- Chronic sinusitis
- URI
- Adenoid hypertrophy
- GERD
- Cleft palate
- Down syndrome
- Obesity
- Nasopharyngeal carcinoma or other tumor
Decongestants: There are common ingredients in many OTC brands; encourage patients to read labels. In general, avoid what with these meds?
3
- prolonged use >3 days;
- avoid in patients with hypertension or
- cardiac risk factors):
What are examples of the decongestants being used with ETD?
3
- Phenylephrine (Neosynephrine topical, Sudafed PE oral)
- Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)
- Oxymetazoline (Afrin)
- What would be beneficial with ETD patients with allergic rhinitis?
- What are the options? 5
- Another drug that might be useful?
- 4 options
- Nasal steroids: (May be beneficial for those with allergic rhinitis):
2.
- Beclomethasone (Beconase, Vancenase)
- Budesonide (Rhinocort)
- Flunisolide (Nasarel, Nasalide)
- Fluticasone (Flonase)
- Ciclesonide (Omnaris) (prodrug)
3. 2nd-generation H1 antihistamines (May be beneficial for those with allergic rhinitis):
4.
- Loratadine (Claritin)
- Desloratadine (Clarinex)
- Fexofenadine (Allegra)
- Cetirizine (Zyrtec)
ETD antihistamine nasal sparys? 4
Antibiotics? 1
Antihistamine nasal sprays:
- Olotpatadine (Patanase) (antihistamine)
- Astelin (Azelastine) (antihistamine)
Antibiotics (Not routinely used unless ETD is associated with acute OM):
- Amoxicillin, 1st-line
Treatment for 10 days is most effective
- How should we treat ETD if Tympanic membrane perforation or ventilation tube present? 2
- For pain control and inflammation how should we treat?
- Consider topical antibiotic drops with topical steroid in setting of discharge alone
- Neomycin–polymyxin–hydrocortisone suspension (Cortisporin)
- Ciprofloxacin–hydrocortisone suspension (Cipro HC ), others - Pain control, anti-inflammatory:
- Acetaminophen, NSAIDs
How is recurrent AOM defined?
2
3 or more AOM in 6 months or 4 or more AOM in 1 year.
Definition of otitis media?
An infection of the middle ear with acute onset, presence of middle ear effusion (MEE), and signs of middle ear inflammation
AAP/AAFP
What is the peak incidence for otitis media?
Peak incidence 6-18 months, declines after age 7.
Male > female
Risk factors for otitis media?
6
- Bottle feeds while supine
- Day care
- Formula feeding
- Smoking in house
- Male gender
- Family HX of middle ear disease
Signs and symptoms of otitis media?
6
- Earache (discomfort, pressure), Otalgia (ear pain). As the infection worsens, so does the discomfort
- Tugging on ears
- Fever, although more often afebrile (not required for dx). As the infection worsens, likelihood of fever goes up
- Accompanying URI symptoms*****
- Irritability
- Difficulty sleeping
Otoscope Exam in otitis media would show what?
4
- Decreased visibility of landmarks
- TM mobility decreases
- Bulging TM, opaque, red
- Pus in middle ear (bacteria in the middle ear effusion)
Diagnosis of acute otitis media (AOM)
Note symptoms in taking a history of the illness. What are the symptoms that lead to diagnosis?
5
- Discomfort, ache, pain
- Fever
- Tugging at ears
- Hearing loss
- Bulging TM/red
What are the bacterial culprits for otitis media?
3
- Streptococcus pneumoniae (30-35%)
- Haemophilus influenzae (20-25%)
Up to 50% produce beta-lactamases
- Moraxella catarrhallis (10-15%)
90% of these produce beta-lactamases
Expected course/prognosis for OM?
2
- Symptoms usually spontaneously resolve in 2/3 of children by 24 hrs and 80% at 2-10 days.
- Children treated immediately with antibiotics had one less day of symptoms.
Antibiotic treatment for OM?
4
Treatment for pain and fever?
3
Antibiotic Treatment
- Amoxicillin
- Augmentin
- Cephalosporins
- Erthyromycin, Azithromycin
Treatment of pain and fever
- Ibuprofen
- Tylenol
- Auralgan
- When should we have a patient follow up with OM?
- What should we do at the followup?
3
- If the symtpoms resolve when should we see them and what are we looking for?
- Failure to improve after 48-72 hrs of abx
2.
- Confirm DX
- Evaluate other causes
- Determine if new abx is warranted
3. Reexamined 14-21 days after initial presentation
According to the guidelines, management of AOM should include what?
an assessment of pain. Analgesics, particularly acetaminophen and ibuprofen, should be used to treat pain whether antibiotic therapy is or is not prescribed.
Antibiotics should be prescribed for bilateral or unilateral AOM in children aged at least 1._______with severe signs or symptoms (moderate or severe otalgia, otalgia for 48 hours or longer, or temperature 39°C or higher) and for nonsevere, bilateral AOM in children aged 2.________.
- 6 months
- 6 to 23 months
- On the basis of joint decision-making with the parents, unilateral, nonsevere AOM in children aged 6-23 months or nonsevere AOM in older children may be managed either with what? 2
- Amoxicillin is the antibiotic of choice unless what? 3
- antibiotics or with close follow-up and withholding antibiotics unless the child worsens or does not improve within 48-72 hours of symptom onset
2.
- the child received it within 30 days,
- has concurrent purulent conjunctivitis, or
- is allergic to penicillin;
in these cases, clinicians should prescribe an antibiotic with additional beta-lactamase coverage
What is OM with effusion or serous OM defined as?
What are the symptoms of this? 6
Defined as:
The presence of middle ear effusion (MEE) in the absence of acute signs of infection.
Symptoms of otitis media with effusion
1. Hearing loss
2. Fullness in ear
3. Tugging at ear or repeatedly inserting finger in ear
4. Delayed speech and language development or unclear speech
5. In young children, an unsteady gait may occur
6. Pain rarely occurs
What will you see on the otoscope exam with OM with effusion?
4
- TM is dull and retracted (usually not bulging).
- No mobility of TM
- Straw or tan color of ear drum or translucent gray
- Sterile fluid in middle ear
What is the is the single most recommended diagnostic method to establish the diagnosis of otitis media with effusion?
Pneumatic otoscopy (or even better is typanography)
Treatment of otitis media with effusion (OME) by current guidelines:
Watchful waiting includes what:
- Treatment?
- Testing?
- 75%-90% resolve when?
- If the middle ear effusion lasts longer than 3 months, 30% resolve within what time?
- No treatment for three months after onset
- No hearing testing in first three months
- 75 - 90% resolve spontaneously in 3 months
- If the middle ear effusion lasts longer than 3 months, 30% resolve within 12 months
Treatment of otitis media with effusion (OME)
During the “watchful waiting” period, do the following:
4
- Speak in close proximity to the child
- Face the child when speaking, and speak clearly
- Repeat phrases when misunderstood
4 Preferential seating in the classroom
Medication for EOM:
Which medications do not work? 4
- Antihistamines and
- decongestants are of no value and are not recommended
- Antibiotics and
- steroids do not have long-term efficacy
After ______months of “watchful waiting”, hearing should be tested
Language testing should be conducted for children with what?
three
hearing loss