Can you drink alcohol with otitis media?

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on April 04, 2025
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Otitis media should not be accompanied by alcohol consumption. There are various types of otitis media, the more common ones being secretory otitis media, acute otitis media, purulent otitis media, and cholesteatoma-type otitis media, generally categorized as inflammatory reactions of the middle ear diseases. Drinking alcohol can potentially exacerbate the inflammatory response. Furthermore, if alcohol is consumed during treatment, it may lead to poor therapeutic effects and potentially harmful interactions with the medications being used, severely endangering health. For example, drinking alcohol while using cephalosporins may trigger a disulfiram-like reaction, which can be severe and potentially life-threatening. Therefore, during otitis media, it is advised not to drink alcohol and to keep the external auditory canal dry and free from water.

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Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
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Can otitis media heal itself?

Otitis media is difficult to heal on its own because it is caused by an acute bacterial infection that leads to reduced eustachian tube function, resulting in fluid accumulation in the middle ear cavity. Patients will experience sudden high fever, with body temperatures above 38.5°C, severe pain in the ear, and symptoms of hearing loss, tinnitus, and a feeling of ear fullness. Upon examination, the eardrum appears significantly congested and swollen, and a large amount of fluid can be found in the middle ear cavity. In terms of treatment, otitis media initially requires symptomatic anti-inflammatory treatment. Patients can take oral medications such as cefaclor, amoxicillin, and potassium penicillin V tablets. At the same time, the ear should be treated locally with ofloxacin ear drops twice a day, which can reduce local congestion and swelling. During treatment, patients also need to maintain a light diet, avoid vigorously blowing their nose, and prevent water from entering the outer ear canal. Generally, recovery can gradually occur within a week. (The use of medication should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
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What should I do if I have otitis media?

Otitis media is a common otolaryngological condition that often occurs in patients who frequently swim or clean their ears excessively, as well as those who accumulate cholesteatomas in the external ear canal, leading to otitis media and tympanic membrane perforation. The main pathogens associated with otitis media are typically Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus. The treatment involves selecting sensitive antibiotics based on throat swab culture and drug sensitivity tests to provide anti-inflammatory symptomatic treatment. If the inflammation is severe and there is formation of cholesteatoma or granulation tissue along with perforation of the tympanic membrane in the external auditory canal, it may be necessary to perform mastoidectomy and tympanoplasty to thoroughly remove the middle ear lesions and achieve healing. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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How to treat otitis media with effusion?

Otorrhea in otitis media suggests that it may be acute purulent otitis media. This fluid could be mucopurulent or purulent secretion, primarily considered to be caused by bacterial infection. Clinically, we mainly focus on anti-infection treatment. Locally, antibiotic ear drops like ofloxacin ear drops can be used. Systemically, oral antibiotics such as cephalosporins are utilized among others. Additionally, in cases of otorrhea, we need to rule out cerebrospinal fluid leakage caused by otitis media, which results in drainage through the external auditory canal. This requires a CT scan for verification.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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What ear drops are used for otitis media?

Otitis media primarily refers to the acute and chronic inflammation of our middle ear tympanic membrane, tympanic cavity, and mastoid cavity. Clinically, when ear drops are needed for treatment, it mainly refers to acute otitis media, which is primarily caused by bacterial infection, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, etc., caused by bacterial infection. Therefore, the ear drops mainly used are antibiotic eye drops, such as ofloxacin eye drops, lomefloxacin eye drops, compound polymyxin B ear drops, penicillin, hydrocortisone eye drops, etc. It is important to note that some special ear drops, such as phenol ear drops, can be used when the patient is not in pain. However, if the patient has a tympanic membrane perforation, then phenol ear drops should not be used, as they have the effect of burning the mucous membrane of the middle ear, so they cannot be used. (Note: The above medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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Is otitis media easy to treat?

Clinically, otitis media is a common and frequently occurring disease, primarily referring to acute and chronic inflammation of the eardrum, tympanic cavity, and mastoid antrum. Its clinical treatment mainly involves two aspects: surgical treatment and medication. Generally, during the acute phase of the disease, medication is the main treatment, primarily using antibiotics to control the infection. Surgical treatment is mainly aimed at chronic otitis media, secretory otitis media, or cholesteatoma otitis media, involving the removal of lesions and repair of structures. Overall, the treatment for otitis media is generally effective and yields good results. The key is to detect and treat it early without delay.