What are the symptoms of acute otitis media?

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on January 15, 2025
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The symptoms of acute otitis media are quite varied, with common clinical symptoms including ear pain, itching, foreign body sensation, and a feeling of ear fullness. There may also be purulent discharge. If the inflammatory reaction is severe and not promptly treated, it can lead to tinnitus and hearing loss. In terms of diagnosis, an otoscopic examination can be conducted for a more direct and effective assessment. Treatment generally involves the use of antibiotics to combat infection, while also keeping the external ear canal dry and preventing water entry. The typical treatment period is about one week. Overall, effective control and relief can usually be achieved through standardized medication treatment.

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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 Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
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Symptoms of Otitis Media Recovery

Otitis media is a common and frequently occurring disease in otolaryngology, which is divided into various types such as acute otitis media, chronic otitis media, and cholesteatoma otitis media. Acute otitis media is often seen in cases of colds or coughs. Patients primarily present with pain and pus discharge from the middle ear. Treatment under the guidance of a physician may include the use of antibiotics and corticosteroids. Additionally, during a cold, it is advisable to avoid forceful nose blowing to prevent retrograde infection to the middle ear. For patients with chronic cholesteatoma otitis media, treatment usually requires radical mastoidectomy to remove the lesion and granulation tissue in the middle ear, thereby restoring the normal physiological environment of the middle ear. Repairing the perforated eardrum can also achieve a cure.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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How is acute otitis media treated?

Acute otitis media is caused by bacterial infection. It is an infectious inflammation of the middle ear chamber, eardrum, or mastoid cavity. Since it is a bacterial infection, the primary treatment choice is anti-infection therapy, specifically the use of antibiotics. Currently, in clinical practice under the guidance of a doctor, cephalosporin antibiotics are mainly used. At the same time, certain antibiotic ear drops should not be used, such as ofloxacin ear drops and lomefloxacin ear drops, especially in cases of acute otitis media with severe symptoms like fever and headache. Based on the condition, we also consider anti-infection treatment through infusion. Infusion refers to the intravenous use of cephalosporin antibiotics, among others. Additionally, some corticosteroids can be used to enhance the anti-infection effects.

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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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How is otitis media caused?

Otitis media primarily refers to the inflammation of the tympanic membrane, tympanic cavity, and mastoid in the middle ear. Clinically, the main causes of otitis media include the following: firstly, infectious factors, which are mainly bacterial infections. Bacteria can infect the middle ear through the external auditory canal, through the Eustachian tube from the nasopharynx to the tympanic cavity of the middle ear, or via the bloodstream to the tympanic cavity, tympanic membrane, and mastoid, leading to symptoms of otitis media. These are our pathways of infection. So, what causes these infections? Or what factors might influence the occurrence of these infections, that is, the occurrence of otitis media? Key factors include decreased immunity in children, increased virulence of bacterial infections, which involves highly infectious bacteria, and our anatomical structure, namely, the imperfection or incompleteness of the middle ear structure and the anatomical connections between the ears.