Inflammation of the Eustachian tube in children. Symptoms of inflammation of the Eustachian tube

The auditory (Eustachian) tube is a structural element of the ear 3.5 cm long, connecting tympanic cavity with the nasopharynx. Its function is to maintain between the surrounding air and the middle ear normal pressure, ventilation and protection against bacteria.
During inflammatory processes of the tube, this function is disrupted, and the person develops tubootitis (eustachitis, salpingotitis).

Causes of the disease

Factors that stimulate inflammation auditory tube include staphylococcal and streptococcal bacteria. IN childhood The causative agents are often pneumococci, as well as viral diseases.

Infectious processes from the nose and throat spread to the Eustachian tube and the middle ear. As a result, the patency of the pipe decreases due to hyperemia of the mucous membrane, a favorable environment is created for the activation of pathogenic microorganisms.

If a person has a predisposition to allergic edema in the middle ear, increased secretory secretions, then his likelihood of developing the disease increases.

Other reasons contributing to the development of inflammation of the auditory tube include:

• persistent nasopharyngeal infections;
• adenoids in children;
• defects anatomical structure nasal septum;
• nasopharyngeal tumors;
• sharp jumps atmospheric pressure.

Symptoms and clinic of the inflammatory process

Manifestations of inflammation of the auditory tube and the clinical picture depend on the form of the disease, which can be acute, chronic, or allergic.

The occurrence of the acute form is more often observed against the background of viral colds that affect the upper respiratory tract.

At acute inflammation the patient’s general health is stable, the temperature usually does not rise above 38 degrees, intense pain No.

A person may complain about:

• hearing impairment (about tinnitus symptoms);
• congestion in the ear;
• increased perception of your voice (the feeling that it echoes);
• apparent sensation of water pouring inside;
• intrusive noise;
• nasal congestion.

Externally, the auditory tube has swelling, its lumen is noticeably narrowed. The mucous membrane is hyperemic. The closure of the tympanic cavity leads to a decrease in pressure and dilation of blood vessels, the walls of which become more permeable.

This leads to transudation - blood leaking through the capillaries.

Chronic inflammation of the auditory tube is characterized by atrophic transformations in the mucous membrane of the tympanic cavity and membrane. The membrane becomes cloudy, and dead tissue (necrosis) may appear.

The symptoms of chronic tubo-otitis are as follows:

• deformation and retraction of the eardrum;
• stenosis (narrowing) of the tube lumen;
• hearing impairment;
• redness in some local areas;

Diagnosis of manifestations of the disease, such as structural changes in the tympanic cavity and membrane, can only be carried out during examination by a specialist.

If in acute eustachitis, symptoms are temporary, and go away after some time, then in the chronic form they are permanent.

Structure ear canal in children has some differences from an adult: it is straighter and slightly shorter. Therefore, children are more prone to ear diseases.

Signs of inflammation of the auditory tube in children are the same as in adults: noise and congestion in the ears, hearing impairment.

Hearing may temporarily return to normal when you cough or yawn. Due to the lack pain It is difficult to diagnose the disease on your own; you need to contact an otolaryngologist.

The allergic form of tubootitis occurs against the background of the body's reactions, and is accompanied by a runny nose and nasal congestion.

Treatment methods

Any therapy can be started only after a thorough diagnosis and clarification of the cause of the inflammation.

Having determined the etiology of the disease, it is necessary to remove the pathogen so that the dynamics of recovery are positive.

Drug therapy

The treatment regimen is prescribed exclusively by a doctor. The main emphasis is on purpose medications which constrict blood vessels eustachian tube and nasopharynx.

This group of drugs includes:

• Xylometazoline,
• Naphthyzin,
• Oxymetazoline,
• Sanorin et al.

They can be purchased at any pharmacy without a prescription. Drops are administered intranasally 2-3 times a day. You can take vasoconstrictors for no more than 5 days.

As additional funds used for treatment antihistamines to relieve swelling: Suprastin, Erius, Claritin etc.

An acute inflammatory process in the auditory tube requires the use of anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agents. This ear drops and medications in the form of tablets for oral administration.

Ear drops:

• Otinum– anti-inflammatory drops, which are instilled into the ear 3-4 drops 3 times a day;
• Otipax – local anesthetic, antiseptic. Required dosage: 4 drops 2-3 times a day. The duration of treatment is no more than 10 days.

Also used as local anti-inflammatory agents alcohol solution furatsilin and 3% boric acid.

For oral use, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics (Afenoxin, Amoxicillin, Cefuroxime). The dosage is determined based on the patient’s age. Take 250–500–750 mg orally in the morning and evening.

An effective method for tubo-otitis is blowing (catheterization) of the Eustachian tube. A suspension of hydrocortisone or adrenaline is injected into its lumen using a catheter.

To enhance the effect of treatment, additional physiotherapeutic procedures are prescribed, as well as alternative methods (warming compresses at home).

If the treatment was carried out correctly, the inflammation goes away within a few days. If measures to eliminate the disease are taken late, then it can develop into chronic form which is more difficult to treat.

When the inflammatory process is neglected with a predominance in tympanic space viscous liquid may be required surgery. IN eardrum an incision is made and a special ear catheter is installed to drain the fluid. The operation is performed under general anesthesia.

Folk remedies

As additional measures to speed up recovery, you can resort to traditional methods of treating eustachitis. It could be like local remedies, and tinctures for internal use.

• Mix aloe juice with warm boiled water 1:1. Instill this remedy into the nose every 4-5 hours, and also moisten a cotton swab with it and insert it into the ear.
• Before going to bed, bury onion juice in your nose and place a warm onion in the ear cavity. Need to be careful when using this tool because of high activity active ingredients in onion.
• Take in equal parts), lavender, celandine, yarrow. Pour 2 tablespoons of the mixture into 0.5 liters of boiling water. Infuse the product in a thermos for 12 hours. Drink ¼ glass 3 times a day.

Possible complications

In most cases, eustachitis with timely treatment goes away without complications and occurs full recovery. But due to the lack of brightness severe symptoms At the onset of the disease, the patient does not always consult a doctor on time, which can lead to undesirable consequences. development of chronic tubo-otitis;

• persistent hearing loss (about the treatment of hearing loss in children);
• chronic tubo-otitis;
• acute purulent otitis;
• deformation of the membrane, its retraction into the tympanic cavity;
• formation of scars and adhesions in the middle ear cavity.

If left untreated, eustachitis leads to permanent hearing loss or deafness.

In conclusion

In order to prevent the occurrence of inflammatory processes in the auditory tube, it is necessary to promptly detect and eliminate diseases that are factors in the development of tubo-otitis. It is necessary to constantly strengthen the immune system, not abuse antibiotics, and give up bad habits.

To find out about effective prevention hearing diseases, watch a short video.

Inflammation of the Eustachian tube is an infectious process of the mucous membrane of the auditory tube of the ear, as well as the cavity. The infection, which is present in the body during sinusitis, sinusitis and other diseases of the upper respiratory tract, moves to the ear, causing inflammation of the auditory tube or eustachitis. The symptoms of the disease are similar to otitis media, but lack of treatment will lead to severe consequences and surgical intervention.

Eustachitis most often affects children who first develop otitis, and then the mucous membrane of the auditory tube becomes inflamed. Children have their own peculiarities in the structure of the Eustachian tube, so their inflammation is a little more difficult than in adults. Timely treatment necessary at any age, because there is high risk rapid development of the purulent stage of the disease.

The canal connecting the tympanic cavity to the human nasopharynx is called the Eustachian tube. It regulates the pressure inside and outside the ear, so inflammation of the tube can lead to loss of basic ear functions.

In childhood, the irreplaceable pipe has a slightly shorter length compared to adults, so pathogenic microorganisms They make their way to babies’ ears much easier. In them, the symptoms of the disease manifest themselves especially clearly. The causes of infection are acute viral diseases, influenza, whooping cough and scarlet fever, sore throat.

In childhood, the causes of inflammation may be enlarged adenoids, frequent colds. Also, the condition of the Eustachian tube is affected by the curvature of the nasal septum, the formation of polyps and tumors. A sharp change in atmospheric pressure also affects the development of the disease. If treatment is carried out on time, the disease goes away without consequences for hearing.

Main signs

Most cases occur in only one ear, but if correct treatment is absent, the infection easily spreads to the second ear. Symptoms of the disease are quite pronounced, especially in children:

• From time to time you feel stuffy ears;
• when a person leans forward or to the sides, a certain liquid is felt in the ears;
• there are extraneous noises in the ears, as well as painful sensations;
• the patient has severe pain and sometimes feels dizzy;
• your voice is heard from the side;
• body temperature indicators are a little;
• weakness and fatigue.

The chronic form of Eustachian tube disease is dangerous due to the occurrence of adhesions in the eardrum; hearing is reduced if not treated urgent treatment sore ear. In a chronic process, the symptoms are not so vivid and the person does not pay attention to them for a long time, causing irreparable damage to the hearing aid.

Complications of the disease

A possible complication is hearing loss or hearing loss. During illness, due to swelling and certain thickenings, the patency of the Eustachian tube is impaired, and therefore air ventilation suffers. Changes in pressure lead to atrophy, deformation and sclerosis of the membrane, which causes hearing loss.

How to properly treat the disease

Treatment primarily involves disinfecting the diseased ear. An important step is correct diagnosis and determining the cause of the disease. For examination, X-rays of the paranasal sinuses, otoscopy and other methods are used. The doctor conducts a thorough examination before making a diagnosis. Acute symptoms relieved with medications, compresses and folk remedies.

Among the antibacterial solutions, the symptoms of tubal inflammation are relieved by Furacilin, Polydexa, and other solutions with antibiotics. Glucocorticosteroids, for example Mometasone, are also injected into the diseased tube. It is recommended to apply it to your ear for a while dry heat, which greatly facilitates the patient’s well-being.

Medicines

Noise and pain in the ears are relieved with special drops, including Otinum, boric acid, Otipax and others. Treatment of the ear is ineffective without vasoconstrictor nasal drops, for example, Nazivin, Otrivin or Farmazolin. The vessels of the nasopharynx and eustachian tube narrow after instillation, but there are limitations in the use of such drops. They need to be instilled no more than three times a day for 5 days.

Antihistamines are used to relieve swelling modern drugs. Often, the doctor prescribes antibiotics at the same time as. How additional method therapy is used various compresses and physical procedures that help to quickly eliminate the symptoms of the disease. Sometimes you have to do a procedure for blowing the tube, during which medicinal anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial solutions are injected into its space through a special catheter.

Surgery will be needed if fluid has accumulated in the ear cavity. Surgeons make an incision and remove excess liquid. This happens if treatment was not carried out, because serious complications in the ears, which cannot be eliminated with medications. The disease usually responds well to treatment and goes away within three or four days.

Folk recipes

Simultaneously with conservative treatment work well folk remedies.

Herbal decoctions

For cooking healing infusion you need to take a mixture of herbs from lavender, eucalyptus, yarrow and celandine. Two spoons medicinal herbs pour 500 ml of boiling water and leave to infuse overnight. The next day, take the infusion three times a day, a quarter of a glass.

Onion juice and aloe

IN nasal cavity instill onion juice, and place a heated warm onion in the ear itself before going to bed. Onion juice can be diluted with water so as not to cause a burn to the nasal mucosa. Juice is also instilled into the ears medicinal plant aloe, diluted half with saline. The instillation procedure is performed three times a day.

Milk for treatment

Add one drop of iodine solution per glass to heated milk and take this remedy once a day, adding one more drop of iodine to the milk each time. This treatment is carried out for ten days, and then the number of drops is gradually reduced from ten to one.

Possible prevention

Simple prevention methods will help prevent the disease:

• surgical elimination of congenital and acquired nasal pathologies;
• timely treatment infectious processes in the nasopharynx;
• taking care of your ears, avoiding hypothermia in the cold season;
• healthy way of living and eating.

For the health of your ears, it is important to protect them from the cold in the autumn-winter period, and also to seek help from specialists in a timely manner. Self-medication folk remedies or antibiotics can only aggravate the process and lead to a chronic form of the disease. Frequent colds in children they cause inflammation of the eustachian tube and its complications. Simple prevention methods will help preserve a person’s hearing and health.

The auditory or Eustachian tube is a structural component of the ear that connects the tympanic cavity and the nasopharynx, ensuring uniform distribution of pressure inside the auditory canal.

The pipe also performs a kind of protective function, preventing the penetration of bacteria and infections inside. With the development of inflammation, these functions are disrupted and a person is exposed to a number of diseases, including,.

Inflammation of the auditory tube

Inflammation of the Eustachian tube spreads to several areas of the auditory canal.

The middle ear often comes under attack, which results in a number of anomalies characterized by unpleasant symptoms and general malaise. At first, the patient may not feel the presence of inflammation, since when infectious disease it progresses quite slowly.

However, this type the disease is not as harmless as it seems. Timely diagnosis and treatment are incredibly important. Advanced inflammation the auditory tube can lead to tissue destruction, that is, necrosis.

Structure of the inner ear

Reasons

Most often, inflammation of the auditory tube occurs due to infection with streptococci and staphylococci. But in more early age The cause of inflammation is often pneumococcal bacteria, as well as various viral infections.

They tend to pass into the middle ear through the Eustachian tube. In this case, the patency of the pipe deteriorates significantly, which creates a favorable environment for the development and activation of pathogenic microorganisms.

The likelihood of a symptom occurring increases significantly if a person has a predisposition to allergic edema, as well as an increased volume of secretory secretions. There are a number of other reasons for the development of inflammation:

• Adenoids (especially in children) and nasopharyngeal tumors;
• Frequent and prolonged nasopharyngeal infections;
• Defects of the nasal septum;
• Atmospheric pressure surges.

Symptoms and signs

Symptoms directly depend on the form of the disease. Inflammation of the auditory tube is divided into:

• Chronic;
• Spicy;
• Allergic.

The acute form most often occurs due to viral diseases, colds, which primarily affect the upper respiratory tract. At acute form the patient feels stable. The temperature rarely rises above 38 degrees, and the pain is of mild intensity. Most often, a person complains of signs of inflammation such as:

• A clearer perception of your own voice during speech;
• Nasal congestion, similar to a runny nose.

During examination, the lumen of the auditory tube is significantly narrowed, swelling is noticeable.

The chronic form has the following symptoms:

• Deformation of the eardrum, its stretching;
• Narrowing and blockage of the lumen of the auditory tube;
• Partial redness in some places.

Chronic inflammation is characterized by atrophy of the mucous membrane and tympanic cavity. The membrane itself becomes cloudy over time. Additionally, parts of dead tissue may appear, that is, necrosis.

Children have a different shape of the auditory tube: it is shorter than that of any adult. This explains the greater predisposition to the occurrence of ear diseases and corresponding symptoms. However, all the signs of inflammation of the auditory tube in a child are similar to the signs that occur in older people.

A distinctive feature is the normalization of hearing when yawning or coughing. Because pain syndrome very weak, and the symptoms are general, it is impossible to diagnose inflammation of the auditory tube on your own. The only solution- a trip to a specialist. Only a qualified otolaryngologist can give an opinion.

As for, it arises as a result of the body’s reaction to an irritant. Accompanied by symptoms such as nasal congestion and runny nose, lacrimation. Pain is almost never annoying, but a slight rise in temperature is possible.

Differences in the structure of the Eustachian tube in adults and children

What diseases does it occur in?

The symptom occurs when inflammation spreads to the mucous membrane of the tube. The inflammation itself moves from the nasopharynx area, as a result of acute and chronic forms of pharyngitis, sore throat or rhinitis.

Both spicy and chronic inflammation may lead to otitis media. But the following reasons can accompany the occurrence of inflammation:

• Adenoids;
• Choanal;
• Hypertrophy of the inferior (nasal) concha;
• Deviation of the nasal septum;
• Sinusitis;
• Sinusitis.

How to treat

Treatment of the problem begins only after visiting a doctor. So, after collecting anamnesis and receiving the results of the prescribed tests, the degree of inflammation and its neglect is determined. Based on such data, the doctor prescribes necessary plan treatment and makes a prognosis.

It has been repeatedly verified that after timely and high-quality treatment, recovery occurs in 100 percent.

How to treat inflammation of the auditory tube:

Medication

Drugs are always prescribed on an individual basis. Despite the fact that doctors focus on medications, they do not refuse physical therapy, which involves compresses made with liquid antibiotics. They perfectly relieve inflammation and speed up recovery.

Most often, for inflammation of the auditory tube, drugs from a number of vasoconstrictors are prescribed. They help normalize the mucous membranes of the Eustachian tube, nasopharynx and, of course, the nose. Among these drugs are:

• Oxymetazoline;
• Naphazoline;
• Xylometazoline.

The products can be purchased at the pharmacy even without a doctor's prescription. However, you should not make prescriptions yourself, even if you have previously read many sources and are convinced that you have this particular problem.

Folk remedies

As for folk remedies, everything is relative. Without informing the doctor, additional medications cannot be administered, even if they are made on the basis of purely natural ingredients.

The best option is to use compresses and some types of tinctures. Purely traditional methods Eustachitis and others cannot be treated; they can only alleviate the symptoms.

Compresses and infusions made on the basis of:

• Chamomile;
• Blueberry;
• Celandine;
• Lavender;
• Mint;
• St. John's wort;
• Nettle;
• Immortelle;
• Sweet clover;
• Burdock;
• Anise;
• Kalina.

It should be noted that taking infusions perfectly strengthens the immune system, which has a beneficial effect on preventing the disease in the future.

What is possible and what is not

In case of inflammation of the auditory tube, you should never resort to self-medication by using “proven” grandmother’s techniques. If you feel pain in the ear canal, do not rush to resort to traditional way, which consists of methodically warming up the painful area. This may lead to the progression of the inflammatory process and an increase in the number of bacteria.

Can be used to treat illness combination treatment, namely the use of medications, physiotherapy and folk remedies. It is also useful to diversify your diet during treatment in order to quickly strengthen the immune system.

Popular video about diseases of the auditory tube:

Prevention

Preventative measures can significantly reduce the risk repeated illness. To do this, you must follow these recommendations:

• Pay due attention to health;
• Treat colds and infectious diseases in a timely manner;
• Do not overcool;
• Dress according to the season;
• Lead an active lifestyle;
• Contact a doctor promptly if you feel unwell.

It is much easier to prevent a disease than to fully treat it in the future. Therefore, by following simple rules, it is enough to simply avoid such an unpleasant illness as inflammation of the auditory tube.

IN medical literature The eustachian tube is described as a canal that connects the nasopharyngeal cavity to the tympanic region. It received its name in honor of the Italian who first described it in 1564. Its length is about 35 mm, and its diameter does not exceed 2 mm. Despite its small size, the functions and significance of the auditory tube are truly great.

During each visit to an ENT doctor, you can hear about the need for surgical treatment of any pathological changes in the ears. If this is not done, then the viral agent, using the oblong organ, will spread its negative impact further.

Characteristic functions of the organ

The throat and the body as a whole come under attack. That is why, in case of any viral or infectious pathologies, the doctor always tries to avoid further spread of the disease. This can be done taking into account the main functions that the auditory tube performs:

1. Ventilation - the formation of balanced pressure on both sides of the eardrum. Even a slight change can have a negative impact on hearing acuity. U healthy person the process is regulated automatically by moving air flow from the tympanic cavity to the nasopharynx.
2. Drainage - in a person without pathologies, the auditory tube removes excess accumulated edematous fluid.
3. Protective - the most important of all functional responsibilities body that guards human health. Throughout life, the Eustachian tube secretes mucus that has bactericidal characteristics. The immunoglobulin it contains acts as a natural barrier to infections or viruses. In case of weakening of the body under the influence of external or internal factors the production of protective mucus is reduced.

All of the above indicates the importance of the organ for full life person. In this regard, even during preventive visit She is examined by a doctor. For this purpose, a special procedure is used - salpingoscopy. A painless examination allows the doctor to make sure that there are no pathological changes in the structure of the auditory tube.

If a patient is diagnosed with an ENT pathology of an infectious nature, then mandatory Tympanomanometry is performed - measuring the pressure in the eardrum. A simple procedure will show whether the auditory tube has undergone pathological changes. Based on the material collected during diagnosis, a decision is made on the need for a therapeutic course.

The Eustachian tube, being an organ sensitive to various infectious viral agents, requires immediate treatment in case of presence of a focus of inflammation. Any delay will give the disease the opportunity to spread further, causing pathologies of the throat, ears, nose and lungs. The activity of disease spread depends on the ability immune system resist.

Close attention from the doctor

Depending on the pathology of the auditory tube, there are various types violations. The list opens with tubo-otitis, characterized by inflammation of the tube itself and the tympanic cavity. The cause should be sought in a failure in the drainage function, which leads to the accumulation of pus in the middle ear. The catalyst for the process is the nasopharynx, from where the pathogen penetrates into the auditory tube.

In second place in terms of frequency of occurrence are pathologies caused by damage to this organ. In most cases this occurs as a result of exposure foreign bodies when picking ears or breaking off a tiny part of a bougie - a research tool. It can be removed with simple intervention within the doctor's office. Great danger represent chronic diseases, causing atrophy. In this case, the Eustachian tube loses the necessary muscle tone.

Gradual atrophy of nearby tissues provokes permanent tinnitus, but hearing acuity does not decrease.

For the most part similar pathology does not bring to the patient discomfort, which explains the refusal to visit the doctor. It is possible to detect a gap by chance when the auditory tube undergoes a preventive examination.

If you have a weakened immune system or prolonged absence medical care The hemicanal of the auditory tube comes under attack. By its structure it is bottom myotubal canal. Its main function is to stretch the eardrum. As the infectious or viral disease In the ears, the semi-channel copes with its main function more and more poorly. In some cases, mandatory hospitalization is indicated.

In conditions medical institution are carried out necessary tests, allowing you to determine the true culprit of the problems. If such changes are diagnosed on early stage, then the entire recovery process takes from 3 to 6 months. The emphasis is on medications. More time and, possibly, local surgical intervention will be required in the chronic form of the changes that have occurred.

The importance of the auditory tube, which is one of the elements of the body’s defense against pathogenic influences, cannot be overestimated. That is why it is necessary to monitor your health.

Eustachitis (tubo-otitis, salpingotitis, tubotympanitis) is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the middle ear, caused by dysfunction of the auditory (Eustachian) tube.
The middle ear has three components: the tympanic cavity, the cavity mastoid process and the auditory (Eustachian) tube. The Eustachian tube is 3.5 cm long and connects the tympanic cavity with the nasopharynx. This pipe performs important functions: ventilation (when swallowing, the walls of the auditory tube move apart and air enters from the nasopharynx into the tympanic cavity), drainage (removal of transudate and exudate from the tympanic cavity) and protective (the secretion of the mucous glands kills bacteria).

Causes and symptoms

The occurrence of the disease is associated with dysfunction of the auditory tube, resulting in impaired ventilation of the tympanic cavity. The reason for this type of violation may be infectious factors– acute respiratory diseases, influenza, sore throat, sinusitis (sinusitis, frontal sinusitis), rhinitis; adenoid vegetations, hypertrophy of the posterior ends of the inferior turbinates, tumors of the nasal pharynx, anterior and posterior tamponade (as a result of nosebleeds or after surgery), changes in atmospheric pressure during the ascent and descent of an aircraft - aerootitis, immersion and ascent of divers and submariners - mareotitis.
All of the above conditions lead to the fact that the flow of air into the tympanic cavity is difficult. And the air in the cavity is absorbed by the mucous membrane, and, as a result, the pressure in the tympanic cavity decreases. This in turn leads to the appearance of fluid (transudate) in the tympanic cavity. Subsequently, inflammatory cells appear there.
Patients are bothered by a feeling of ear fullness, tinnitus, the resonance of their own voice in the diseased ear - autophony, sometimes pain in the ear, the noise of fluid transfusion, a feeling of heaviness in the head. These symptoms often occur during acute respiratory disease or after it during the recovery period.

The general condition, as a rule, suffers little. It is possible to improve hearing after yawning or swallowing saliva due to the opening of the lumen of the auditory tube at this moment.

Diagnostics

Inflammatory process in the area of ​​the auditory tube is clearly visible during otoscopy.

Install accurate diagnosis maybe an ENT doctor. Diagnosis is based on clinical picture and otoscopy - examination of the external auditory canal and eardrum. Otoscopy reveals retraction of the tympanic membrane, shortening of the handle of the malleus, a sharp protrusion towards the ear canal of the short process, anterior and posterior folds.

To detect hearing loss, audiometry is performed. As a rule, hearing is reduced to 20–30 dB.
The disease requires adequate and immediate treatment. Otherwise there is high probability transition to a chronic form, which leads to.

Symptoms of the disease become permanent and significantly reduce the patient’s quality of life.

Chronic eustachitis is characterized by stenosis (narrowing) of the lumen of the auditory tube, atrophic and sclerotic changes in the eardrum and mucous membrane of the tympanic cavity. In turn, chronic eustachitis can become complicated adhesive otitis media accompanied by the formation of adhesions and connective tissue cords, causing disruption patency of the Eustachian tube and mobility of the auditory ossicles.

Treatment of eustachitis

Treatment of eustachitis primarily depends on the cause of the disease. In case of pathology of the nose or nasopharynx, treatment is aimed at eliminating it. If there are changes in barometric pressure during takeoff and landing of an airplane, or during underwater descents, it is necessary to blow out the ears using normal swallowing, swallowing with pinched nostrils and a sharp exhalation with pinched nostrils, closing the mouth.
For antibacterial purposes, ear drops Polydex, Sofradex, Normax, Dancil are prescribed. In order to reduce swelling of the mucous membrane in the area of ​​the Eustachian tube, vasoconstrictors are used, for example:

• Xylene;
• Sanorin;
• Tizin;
• Nazivin;
• Rhinostop;
• Galazolin;

They need to be instilled into the nose, 5 drops on the side of the sore ear, 4-5 times a day, throwing back the head and then turning it to the sore side.

Also for this purpose, antihistamines are prescribed - Zyrtec, Claritin, Erius, Cetrin, Tavegil, Telfast, Suprastin, as well as the anti-inflammatory drug Erespal. In some cases, local hormonal drugs– glucocorticoids, for example, Nasonex, Avamys, Flixonase. They are characterized by a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect.
Physiotherapy includes ultraviolet irradiation, UHF for the nasal area, and laser therapy for the area of ​​the mouth of the auditory tube.
After fading acute process if hearing loss persists, blowing out the auditory tubes and pneumatic massage are indicated. To bleed the ear, use the Politzer method or the catheterization method.

Ear blowing according to Politzer

For tubo-otitis, the patient is recommended to instill antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and vasoconstrictor drops into the ear.

Ear blowing according to Politzer is carried out using a rubber balloon connected by a rubber tube to an olive. The olive is inserted into one nostril of the patient and the wings of the nose are clamped. In order for air to enter the tympanic cavity, the patient swallows water or pronounces the word “steamboat” or “cuckoo” loudly in syllables. While sipping or speaking stressed syllable the velum palatine is raised and pressed tightly against back wall throats. At this time, the doctor slightly squeezes the balloon. Air entry is controlled using an otoscope.

If the ear is successfully ventilated, as a rule, the patient’s condition improves after 1–3 ventilations. Your hearing may improve for a few hours or a few days. Then you need to repeat the blowing every 1-2 days for 2-3 weeks.
In case of low effectiveness of the Politzer method, catheterization of the auditory tube is carried out - air is blown into the tympanic cavity using an ear catheter and a rubber balloon.

After catheterization, pneumatic massage of the eardrum is performed. Its essence lies in the fact that alternating pressure is applied to the eardrum using a special apparatus, which increases the elasticity of the eardrum and makes it more mobile, preventing the formation of scars on the eardrum, leading to hearing loss.