Otitis media is infection of the middle ear. It may be in one ear or both ears at the same time.
If otitis media is properly treated, it usually does not cause permanent hearing problems. In most cases, otitis media can be cured at home with medication. However, if the otitis media recurs or is not treated in time, it may cause hearing loss.
According to clinical characteristics, it is divided into acute and chronic otitis media. According to the different stages of inflammation development, it is divided into two types: non-suppurative and suppurative otitis media. And for the treatment, also have treatment of TMC and modern medicine.
Acute suppurative otitis media is more common in young children. It develops rapidly, with severe pain, throbbing pain, severe hearing loss and obvious tympanic membrane lesions, and severe reactions in the purulent phase.
Chronic suppurative otitis media can be transformed from acute otitis media, manifested as ear discharge, tympanic membrane perforation, and deafness. Chronic suppurative otitis media is divided into three types: simple type, bone ulcer type (necrosis type), and cholesteatoma type. Cholesteatoma type otitis media must be treated surgically, otherwise intracranial or extracranial complications may occur, which may be endangered life.
Acute and chronic non-suppurative otitis media, the condition is milder than suppurative otitis media, mainly tinnitus, deafness, and ear obstruction. In mild cases, only tympanic membrane invagination may be seen, and in severe cases, tympanic effusion may occur. If not actively treated, it can also cause hearing impairment.
Treatment of modern medicine:
Antibiotic:
It is mainly to inhibit the growth of bacteria, but it needs to be taken for a period of time to effectively kill the bacteria. If the drug is stopped without authorization, drug-resistant bacteria may develop, making treatment more difficult. Physicians generally use penicillin-like amoxicillin as a front-line antibiotic drug. If a patient is allergic to amoxicillin, the doctor will consider switching to other antibiotics such as cefuroxime and ceftriaxone. However, the selection of antibiotics is a very complicated science. Please respect the profession of the doctor in this part.
Symptoms treatment:
A doctor may prescribe acetaminophen or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain medications (such as ibuprofen) to relieve ear pain.
Drainage surgery:
After a severe otitis media patient has been treated with antibiotics and symptoms treatment, if the doctor finds that the fluid in the middle ear cavity continues to be unable to go away, he may consider surgery to drain the fluid in the middle ear cavity. Generally, a small hole is made in the eardrum on one side of the affected area. For chronic patients, a middle ear vent tube may be inserted to drain the fluid in the middle ear cavity and maintain the internal and external pressure balance.
Treatment of traditional Chinese medicine:
1. medication
(1) 20 grams of Herba Taraxaci, 20 grams of Bunge Corydalis Herb, 6 grams of Radix Scutellariae,6 grams of Rhizoma Coptidis, 6 grams of Cortex Phellodendri, 9 grams of Radix Glycyrrhizae, 9 grams of Radix Bupleuri. Boiled in water, 1 dose a day, divided into 2 times, take for 3 to 5 days. This prescription is suitable for acute suppurative otitis media.
(2) 45 grams of Caulis spatholobi, 45 grams of Fructus Rosae Laevigatae, 45 grams of Chrysanthemum, 45 grams of Narrowleaf Screwtree Root. Boiled in water, 1 dose a day, divided into 2 times. This prescription is suitable for chronic suppurative otitis media.
(3) Pills can be used: Long Dan Xie Gan pills, Tong Qiao Er Long pills, Zhi Bai Di Huang pills, Er Long Zuo Ci pills.
2. Acupuncture treatment
(1) Acupuncture
In the acute phase, take Feng Chi, Yi Feng, Ting Gong, He Gu, Wai Guan, and Zu Lin Qi acupoints. Use 3 to 4 points at a time, alternately in groups, strong stimulation, reducing method, and retain the needle for 15-30 minutes. For chronic otitis media, take Yi Feng, Zu San Li, and Yin Ling Quan acupoints. For weak stimulation, tonic method, retain the needle needles for 15 minutes, add moxibustion after acupuncture, once a day.
(2) Ear Washing Method
Wash the fresh Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii (the amount is not limited), mash it, take the juice and discard the residue. First wash the affected ear with hydrogen peroxide or physiological saline, and dry it, then pour the Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii juice into the ear and wash it for 3 to 5 days, 2 to 3 times a day. This prescription has better curative effect on chronic suppurative otitis media.
What should patients with otitis media pay attention to:
1. Prevention and treatment of colds:
Repeated colds will aggravate the condition of otitis media, so patients should strengthen their exercises, keep warm, and keep the nasal cavity unobstructed. If you accidentally catch a cold, don’t squeeze your nose too hard to discharge nasal mucus, when squeezing the nose, first gently squeeze one side, and then squeeze the other side with the same force.
2. Pay attention to diet:
Patients with otitis media should have a light diet daily. Eggs, seafood, beef, sheep, soybeans, asparagus, etc. are not suitable for eating. It is advisable to eat more fruits and vegetables rich in dietary fiber to excrete toxins from the body in time.
3. Avoid swimming:
Swimming pool water contains a lot of bacteria, swimming will greatly increase the risk of ear infections.
4. Maintain a good mood:
Anger will cause inflammation of the liver fire, and the ears are in the circulation part of the Zu Shao Yang Dan meridian. Eventually, the liver fire will become stagnant in the ears and heat up, aggravating inflammation. Therefore, we must maintain a good mood.