ENT: Otalgia Flashcards
What proportion of otalgia is due to referred pain?
Approx. 50%
What makes up the outer ear?
Pinna
Ear canal
Ear drum
What makes up the middle ear?
Oscicles
Unlikely to have an abnormal middle ear with normal drum
What makes up the inner ear?
Vestibulocochlear apparatus
Insensive
What are the otological (non referred) causes of ear pain?
Acute otitis media
Otitis externa
Furuncule
Necrotising otitis externa
What are the refered causes of otological pain?
Dental pathology TMJ (temperomandibular joint) dysfunction Osteoarthritis of the cervical spine Malignancy of pharynx and larynx Acute infection of pharynx
When would you consider refered pain?
In presence of normal ear exam.
What are red flags for oropharyngeal malignancy with otalgia?
Dysphagia
Hoarseness
Dysphonia
What is otitis externa?
Infection of the outer ear (aka Swimmer’s ear)
What are the symptoms of otitis externa?
Painful discharging ear
What are the risk factors of otitis externa?
Eczema/dermatitis
What are the common causative organisms of otitis externa?
Pseudomonas
Fungal infection
How is otitis externa diagnosed?
Ear examination
Debris in ear
Oedema or stenosis of ear canal
What differs in fungal otitis externa?
Visible fungus or black debris in ear.
What is the treatment of bacterial otitis externa?
Topical antibiotics (1st line)
Gentamycin/Ciprofloxacin
Oral is less recommended, won’t reach the debris.
Microsuction
Insertion of pope wick
Water precautions