Ear Care Flashcards
External Ear Consists of…
- Pinna
- External auditry meatus (ear canal)
- Hair follicles
- Ceruminous and sebaceous glands
Meatus
Opening
Function of External Ear
Collect and transmit sound to the tympanic membrane (eardrum)
The Eustachian Tube
- Auditory tube
- Links nasopharynx to the middle ear
- Pressure equalisation
- Mucus drainage from middle ear
Eustachian Tube in Children
- Horizontal and shorter making bacteria entry easier
- Smaller in diameter making movement of fluid more difficult
- Therefore more prone to ear infections
Otitis Media (Middle Ear Infection)
Inflamation of the middle ear
- Most common in children
Otitis Media Cause
Viral or bacterial infection
- accumulation og pus within the ear or inflammation of tympanic membrane results
Otitis Media Symptoms
- Ear pain (earache)
- Children may rub or tug at the ear and be irritable and crying
- Fever
- Bulging tympanic Membrane
- Loss of normal landmarks
- Change of colour (red or yellow)
Otitis Media Tx
- Paracetamol
- Refer to GP
Otitis Externa (Swimmers Ear)
Generalised inflammation throughout ear canal often associated with infection
- Common in QLD summers due to humidity
Otitis Externa Symptoms
- Itching and irritation
- Ear discharge (Otorrhoea)
- Ear canal is red, swollen and eczematous
Otitis Externa Causes
- Water trapped in ear canal
- Dermatitis
- Foreign objects
- Scratch
- Pathogens
Otitis Externa Tx
- Clean ear canal
- Insertion of er wick with medication
- Refer to GP
Otitis Externa Prevention
- Acetic acid or ethanol ear drops
- Keep ears dry
- Avoid trauma to ears
Dermatitis of Ear
Allergic, contact, seborrhoeic and atopic dermatitis can occur on external ear. should be treated as dermatitis
