Middle Ear disease in adults. Flashcards
What is most common in kids but can happen in adults?
Otitis Media with effusion.
Describe otitis media with effusion.
- Negative middle ear pressure
- Fluid (glue) in the middle ear- thick, goey stuff.
What are the causes of Otitis Media with Effusion.
Eustachian Tube Malfunction from-
- Upper Respiratory Tract Infection
- Cleft Palate
- Rare but could be nasopharyngeal carcinoma (cancer)
With OME, there is ______ pressure in the middle ear, this means the tympanic membrane is more ______ _____.
Negative
Sucked In.
What structure has the role of equalising pressure in the tympanic membrane?
Eustachian Tube.
How is Otitis Media with Effusion managed in adults?
- Nasal decongestant drops (this is the most effective short-term treatment).
- Ventilation Tubes aka. grommets
- Check nasopharynx due to possibility of nasopharyngeal cancer.
What is discharge of the ear called?
Otorrhoea.
Name the 2 types of ottorhoea.
- Active chronic otitis media
- Otitis Externa
Where is active chronic otitis media?
Middle ear. (disease of middle ear mucosa or squamous).
Where is otitis externa?
The outer ear.
What doesn’t work in terms of treating OME?
Antibiotics don’t work because it isn’t viral.
Name this:
Perforation with inflammation of middle ear mucosa.
Active mucosal chronic otitis media (COM).
How is Active mucosal chronic otitis media treated?
- Toilet (clean out with sucker) and antibiotic/steroid drops - this doesn’t cure it though :(
- Surgery eg. myringoplasty/ tympanoplasty in order to close perforation- this solves it :)
What is the other otitis media, apart from active mucosal COM called?
Active squamous otitis media.
Explain what active squamous otitis media is.
-Squamous epithelium in the middle ear or mastoid- Skin in wrong place basically and the dead skin cells accumulate which can cause infection.
