Otic Conditions Flashcards
What is the common cause of earwax impactions?
Using q-tips. They can compress and punch earwax farther into the ear canal
What is the main consequence of impacted earwax?
Can be the main cause of hearing loss in older adults
How is impacted earwax removed?
Soften wax with warm oil and then use ear syringe with warm water can help flush out impacted earwax
The ear syringe can provide a gentle stream and aim up
Can seniors syringe their own impacted earwax?
Even though this should be in the abilities of a single person, we should recommend patients to get some help with injecting water into their ear canal
What are symptoms associated with other otic conditions?
Painful ear (could be an infection)
Constant ringing noise in the ear (tinnitus)
Hearing loss (sounds bad, likely impacted earwax, but should be checked out by MD)
Dizziness (could be literally anything)
What can cause tinnitus?
Excessive or cumulative noise exposure
Head and neck injuries
Earwax (if causative factor, tinnitus can go away)
Ear infections
There is no cure for tinnitus. For some people with tinnitus, they can develop insomnia, difficulty with concentrating, poor work or school performance, irritability, anxiety, and depression
What is vertigo?
The feeling or a sense that your environment is spinning. Vertigo is a form of dizziness.
Ménière’s disease can also occur in patients with tinnitus. Ménière’s disease is a combination of vertigo, tinnitus, and feeling of otic congestion
What are some treatment options for vertigo?
Meclizine (H3 receptor antagonists)
Betahistine (H1 receptor agonists)
Neither options are very effective in treating vertigo
What is otitis media?
This is an infection of middle ear
Can be painful and disproportionately affects kids
What is done to help kids with recurrent ear infections?
Ear tubes are inserted through the eardrums. These tubes help drain fluid from the middle ear.
The tubes usually stay in for 8-18 months and will fall out on their own
MDs give earplugs to kids with ear tubes, as a way to prevent water from entering the middle ear via the ear tubes
What is Otitis Externa?
Inflammation external to the ear drum (external auditory canal/outer ear)
Can be caused by reactive lesions such as eczema and placed objects inside their ear (using dirty q-tips)
How to differentiate between otitis media and otitis external?
If you move the cartilage that is infront of the opening of the external auditory channel. In Otitis Externa, it will cause pain. While in Otitis Media, moving this piece of cartilage will not increase pain
What are some treatment options for Otitis Externa?
Antibiotic, steroid, and anti-fungal combinations are available
Are polysporin agents used commonly for otitis externa?
They are effective, but they are not first line or popular for this indication
What is swimmer’s ear?
It is a special type of Otitis Externa that can be contracted by swimmers
The chlorine in pool water can make your ear alkaline, making it more susceptible to being infected
Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans are common pathogens found in swimmer’s ear
What is a homemade therapy option for swimmer’s ear?
50% rubbing alcohol
50% vinegar
This solution pulls out moisture and makes the external auditory canal more acidic (kills pathogens)
Treatments like these are just as good as OTC and Rx agents
What agents are used in seborrhoea of the ear canal?
Antifungal shampoos are the way to go (apply twice a day)
Any formulation is fine
What should a patient do if they have a boil in there external auditory canal?
It can be very painful. If the patient can see it, go ahead and squeeze it out if it has come to a head
Will go away on its own in 7-10 days
What can be done to effectively equalize ear pressure?
Smaller reflex/gum-chewing (can be done by younger children)
Hold nose, then equalize with pressure (this is not possible for young kids)
Can a perforated eardrum be a permanent injury?
A torn eardrum will usually heal by itself within 6-8 weeks. Body is good at regenerating ear drums
What are some causes of ear pain?
Ear infection
Changes in air pressure
Earwax buildup
Foreign object
Strep throat
Sinus infection
Shampoo or water trapped in the ear
Cotton swabs in the ear
