ENT SDL Flashcards
qs to ask px with earache after swimming?
- Duration and nature of pain and getting worse?
- Associated symptoms: hearing loss/ discharge or cold
- Had similar issues before? Esp after swimming / any other trigger/ event
- Taken any meds?
what red flags would trigger referral for a child that is experiencing earache after swimming in the sea
dizziness
tinnitus
pain in middle ear
fever
malaise
foreign body
deafness
inflammation of pinna
what are the benefits of topical over systemic abx for the management of otitis externa
systemic abx have little penetration into external auditory canal, topical treatment with steroids most effective
name 2 common causative agents of otitis externa
staph aureus and pseudomonas
so topical tx better
what treatment advice can you give someone with otitis externa
avoid water
good pain control
microsuction of debris
avoid cotton buds
keep ears clean and dry
use ear plugs and tight cap when swimming
keep shampoo soap and water out of ear when bathing
it is important to ensure that topical treatments are being used correctly to treat otitis externa, if patients are not responding to drops what formulation can you switch to and vice versa
sprays
true or false, if you suspect contact sensitivity to neomycin or another aminoglycoside you should switch patients to non aminoglycosides
true
avoid anything with gentamicin/ neomycin
what abx should not be given to patients with perforated tympanic membranes and why
aminoglycosides due to ototoxicity
under what circumstances would it be okay to give gentamicin or neomycin to treat otitis externa
active discharge
what drug may be used with caution if tympanic membrane is perforated but pseudomonas is suspected
ciprofloxacin
otitis media is usually self limiting and can be resolved itself within what time period
3 days to 1 week
what analgesia can be used regularly for pain management in otitis media
paracetamol or ibuprofen
true or false, there is no evidence to suggest the use of decongestants or antihistamines for the management of otitis media symptoms
true
there is no restrictions to daily activities in otitis media, but what might you tell patients to avoid doing if there is evidence of tympanic membrane perforation
swim
if otitis media progresses to systemic infection, broad spectrum abx are used, name some different options
amoxicillin, co amoxiclav, clarithromycin
broad spectrum abx are useful to target what causative organism in otitis media complications
strep pneumoniae
what is meant by conservative treatment
pain management
if yellow discharge starts dripping from ear in the case of otitis media, is this serious
perforated tympanic membrane common in otitis media as pressure in ears eased
discharge from ears in otitis media should ease within x weeks but beyond that requires referral to ent
6
why should gentamicin drops be avoided in the case of perforated tympanic membranes
ototoxic
what drug may be given for otitis externa and otitis media with tympanic membrane perforation
ciprofloxacin
in addition to the usual symptoms of otitis media what would suggest a new diagnosis of acute mastoiditis
ear pushed forward
redness and swelling behind pinna
bulging red tympanic membrane