ENT Flashcards
Why is otitis externa sometimes referred to as “swimmers ear”
Because repeated exposure to water can make the ear canal more vulnerable to infection
What are the symptoms of otitis externa?
Ear pain Swelling of ear canal Itchiness Discharge Temporary hearing loss Swollen pre and post auricular lymph nodes
How can you differentiate between otitis externa and otitis media?
Both will present with ear pain and discharge
With otitis media there is usually systemic illnesss
The ear canal will not look inflamed in otitis media
What are the main bacteria that cause otitis media?
Staph Aureus (main one) Pseudomonas aeriguinosa (not as common but is a common cause of antibiotic drop resistant infection)
What is the known fungal infection to cause otitis media?
How does this present differently?
Asperilligus niger
Tends to cause more itching than otalgia (ear pain)
Discharge is rare
Can occur as a result of prolonged topical antibiotic use
Looks like ball of cotton wool in ear speckled with black fungal spots
What are the risk factors for developing otitis media?
Trauma to skin
Water exposure
Use of cotton buds - these cause trauma to the ear canal
Underlying medical conditions - eczema, asthma, allergic rhinitis
What are the complications of otitis media?
Facial cellulitis - if infection spreads to skin surrounding ear
Perichondriitits - infection spread to cartilage/pinna (if untreated can cause necrosis of pinna and cauliflower ear)
Osteomyelitis of temporal bone - if infection spreads to underlying bone
What is malignant otitis externa?
Another name for osteomyelitis of the temporal bone
Complication of otitis externa - more common in diabetic patients
Can cause inflammation of facial nerve
If untreated can lead to sensorineural deafness
Which patients are more susceptible to the complications of otitis externa including osteomyelitis of the temporal bone?
Diabetic patients
Immunocompromised patients
What bacterial infection that causes otitis externa is most likely to cause osteomyelitis of the temporal bone?
Pseudomas aeruginosa
How is osteomyelitis of the temporal bone managed?
IV antibiotics - given for 6 weeks minimum (can be done in community with indwelling canula)
Continue topical antibiotics also
Monitor bloods - CRP, ESR
Monitor MRI of skull to see progress
How would you examine a patient presenting with otitis externa symptoms?
Audoscope in both ears
Cranial nerve exam - to check for malignant otitis externa
How is otitis externa managed?
Conservative - keep ear dry
Analgesia for symptom management
Topical antibiotics + steroids in form of ear drops
What topical antibiotics are usually used to managed otitis externa?
Sofradex (framyceitn, Dexamethasone, gramicidin)
Gentinsone H/C (gentamicin, hydrocortisone)
Optimise (dexamethasone, neomycin, acetic acid)
What further management is available for complications of otitis externa?
Micro suction of ear - to remove infected debris
Aural wick (otowick) (otoligical tampons) - to sent the ear canal to get topical treatment into the ear
IV antibiotics - if systemic illness is present
Why is otitis media more common in infants?
The Eustachian tube is smaller - they are more easily blocked
The adenoids are larger - large adenoid tonsils can block the Eustachian tube
What are the symptoms of otitis media?
Ear pain (otalgia) Fluid in ear Systemic symptoms Hearing loss Perforated ear drum
What are the signs of otitis media in young children?
Pulling, tugging or rubbing at ear Irritability, poor feeding Coughing or runny nose Unresponsive to noise Loss of balance
What are the risk factors for otitis media?
Previous viral infection e.g, cold - mucus can block Eustachian tube
Younger children - due to enlarged adenoids and thinner Eustachian tube
Certain conditions - Down’s syndrome, cleft palate
What are the different types of otitis media?
Acute otitis media - acute inflammation with systemic upset
Otitis media with effusion (glue ear) - inflammatory condition of middle ear, and development of middle ear effusion. This is not an infection but can follow infection
Chronic otitis media - inflammation in middle ear for >3 months, resulting in tympanic membrane perforation
What kind of hearing loss can otitis media with effusion lead to?
Conductive hearing loss
Can also caused tinnitus
What is recurrent acute otitis media?
Where you get more than 4 episodes of acute otitis media in a 6 month period
How is acute otitis media managed?
If viral in origin (following cold) - should settle by itself within 72 hours
If not settled after 72 hours then antibiotic course is given - amoxicillin
What is the pathophysiology of otitis media with effusion (glue ear)?
Dysfunction of the Eustachian tube
Gas is trapped in middle ear and leads to negative pressure in the middle ear
This causes fluid from the surrounding tissue to be sucked into the middle ear cavity, causing effusion
This fluid is usually sterile, but may become infected by bacteria or viruses
How is otitis media with effusion managed?
Often clears up on its own within 3 months
If fluid becomes infected, then antibiotics can be used
Grommets can be used (small tubes in the tympanic membrane) - these take over Eustachian tube function to drain away excess fluid
In chronic otitis media, which part of the tympanic membrane usually perforates?
Pars tensa
What are the complications of chronic otitis media?
Infection spreading and causing osteomyelitis of the:
- mastoid bone
- tegmental tympani bone
Cholesteatoma - accumulation of keratin cyst in middle ear
Vertigo - if infection spreads to the labyrinth
Hearing loss
Facial weakness - if inflammation affects the facial nerve
What are the two types of chronic otitis media?
Mucosal - occurs in presence of perforated tympanic membrane (pars tensa). Active disease is in presence of infection, inactive is a dry perforation
Squamous - results from cholesteatoma formation (pars flaccida). Active disease is where cholesteatoma is present, inactive is where the membrane is retracted
How is chronic otitis media managed?
Topical antibiotic and steroid drops (7-10 days) - when active infection is present
Referral to ENT
Surgical managed
Myringoplasy - operation to repair the eardrum
What is a cholestaetoma?
Chronic Eustachian tube dysfunction causes negative pressure in the middle ear leading to a retraction pocket in the tympanic membrane (usually within the pars flaccida - this is more prone to retraction)
This deep retraction then accumulates keratin, which develops into a keratin cyst in the middle ear
How is cholesteatoma managed?
Mastoidectomy
- surgery involving opening up mastoid air cells to remove the cholesteatoma from the middle ear
- followed by reconstruction of ossicles and tympanic membrane