Myringitis is an inflammatory disease of the eardrum, characterized by swelling and deformation. The disease often occurs with hearing impairment. The pathology is common among children; adults get sick much less often.
Myringitis, as an isolated disease, is not common; its combination with inflammation of the inner and (or) external ear (otitis) is common. This is due to the fact that the mucous membrane of the eardrum is a natural continuation of the auditory tube and the internal cavities of the middle ear, so it is very susceptible to any pathological changes in the hearing system.
Causes of myringitis
The ear has a very complex structure and the role of the eardrum in it is extremely important. It is a thin membrane and serves to separate the outer ear from the inner ear. The membrane also serves the function of protecting the tympanic cavity from infection or foreign objects entering it. With the help of the eardrum, all kinds of sounds are captured and transmitted. It can easily be damaged by sharp objects, rough handling of tools, or improper care and cleaning of the ears. During barotrauma, the membrane is damaged due to exposure to a sound wave.
The main causes of inflammation of the eardrum are as follows:
- ENT diseases;
- viral diseases, such as influenza and sore throat;
- mechanical closure of the auditory tube;
- the effect on the membrane of constant loud sounds;
- long-term use of certain medications that are harmful to hearing, including antibiotics;
- air travel and diving;
- inflammatory processes of the brain and its injuries;
- lack of vitamins in the body.
Inflammation of the eardrum rarely develops on its own. It usually forms simultaneously with other pathological processes of the ears. Infections in the outer and middle ear often lead to myringitis. The disease itself occurs due to mechanical damage. Flu and measles can also cause inflammation.
Main types of disease
Myringitis can be acute or chronic, fungal, bullous and hemorrhagic. Each type has different causes and symptoms of its occurrence. The acute form, as a rule, appears due to an infection in the ear and mainly in childhood. The chronic form almost always results from acute myringitis. Severe influenza causes a hemorrhagic type of illness. Its difference from other forms is that bubbles with liquid inside form on the eardrum.
FAQ
People who have encountered an acute type of pharyngitis at least once in their lives ask well-founded questions that bother them in the first place. We will try to give the most comprehensive answers to them and share useful information.
Is pharyngitis contagious to others?
It all depends on what etiology of the disease is diagnosed in a particular patient. If the patient has a bacterial or viral origin of the inflammatory process in the larynx, then, of course, such a disease is contagious to all people around the patient. At the same time, most pathogenic microorganisms enter the environment through airborne droplets when a person coughs or simply has an active conversation with his still healthy interlocutor. During the development of the active phase of the disease, one infected person can infect from 25 to 40 people. Pharyngitis, which occurs as a result of hypothermia, is not contagious and poses absolutely no threat to others.
How many days does acute pharyngitis last?
The acute phase of the development of this disease lasts from 7 to 10 days. After this, the disease gradually declines and goes into remission (provided that the patient receives adequate drug therapy), or gradually acquires signs of chronic pathology. Also, the active relief of acute symptoms is facilitated by the protective activity of cells of the immune system, which fight foci of inflammatory nature localized in the patient’s larynx.
If the disease does not go away within a month, then it is urgent to undergo diagnostics of the respiratory system and check the state of the immune system for the presence of autoimmune diseases. In any case, the first step for a patient with such a protracted illness is to seek help from an otolaryngologist or primary care physician.
What can and cannot be done for pharyngitis?
During an acute period of development of pharyngitis, it is strictly forbidden to perform heavy types of physical work, expose your body to nervous strain, smoke, drink strong alcoholic drinks, take hot, sour, cold, highly salty drinks, and also eat rough food. Hypothermia and prolonged exposure to the street where there is sub-zero air temperature are contraindicated. The patient is shown rest and bed rest with plenty of herbal teas, warm milk with honey and mineral water without carbon dioxide.
Also, many patients wonder whether it is possible to have sex with an acute form of pharyngitis? There are indeed restrictions, but only regarding oral sexual contacts, since pathogenic microflora is present in abundance in the patient’s mouth and throat, which has the ability to provoke inflammation in the genitourinary system of the sexual partner.
Manifestations of the disease
Symptoms of the disease have certain stages of development of their severity. At the first stage, the vessels on the membrane dilate slightly, and at the second stage, swelling and redness appear. In the third stage, pus and pustules are present, and in the last stage, serous discharge comes out.
Acute form
Acute myringitis has less pronounced symptoms of the disease. Immediately after the infectious process, the vessels on the membrane dilate, and then it bulges a little, that is, hyperemia develops. Bubbles containing purulent fluid or blood may appear on the surface of the membrane. When such formations burst, discharge comes out of the ears. As with all other forms of myringitis, the patient experiences significant hearing loss, but treatment is carried out faster and more effectively compared to a chronic disease.
Chronic myringitis
Sometimes the chronic form of the disease develops against the background of pneumonia in humans, but most often it is a consequence of acute inflammation of the eardrum. This is the most common type of disease, during which the membrane becomes thicker, softer and the patient has an unpleasant odor from the ear canal. There is also constant unbearable itching and heaviness in the ear.
Normally, the surface of the membrane is smooth, but with chronic myringitis, its original color changes, and various irregularities and granules are formed that can completely destroy the tissue of the membrane. A serious complication of the disease is damage to the external meatus. The remaining symptoms are the same as in the acute form, but the chronic process is much more difficult to treat. All patients complain of hearing loss due to illness.
Signs of hemorrhagic myringitis
A clear symptom of hemorrhagic myringitis is bloody discharge from the diseased ear along with severe pain. Like other types of inflammation of the eardrum, hearing decreases, but not in all patients.
Features of symptoms in children
Cases of inflammation of the eardrum are often observed in childhood. Colds and sore throats, as well as other infectious processes lead to ear problems. Since otitis is common in children, myringitis often develops along with it. Newborns and preschool children have the following symptoms:
- weakness, lethargy in the child;
- headache;
- nausea and vomiting;
- babies refuse mother's milk.
For children, the disease poses a serious threat, so you need to immediately call an ambulance.
Pathogenesis
Regardless of the origin of myringitis, its pathogenesis is based on the development of local inflammatory reactions and the penetration of pathogenic microflora into the tissue of the eardrum. When the pathological process spreads from adjacent structures or hematogenous dissemination of microflora from distant foci, at the initial stage, cytokines are released - interleukins (IL 1, 2, 4, 6, 8), interferon γ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), histamine, bradykinin and others. Under their influence, the blood vessels of the eardrum expand, plasma and some formed elements come out of the vascular bed, resulting in swelling. Next, a direct inflammatory reaction develops, which is clinically manifested by an increase in local and general temperature, hyperemia, and soreness. A specific feature of chronic and hemorrhagic myringitis is the formation of vesicles (bulls) filled with pus or blood.
Modern methods of treatment
People with myringitis in most cases come to the doctor only after the appearance of unpleasant purulent discharge from the ears, when treatment of the disease is complicated. The diagnosis is confirmed after examination by a doctor, otoscopy, ultrasound, and laboratory examination. Determining the nature of the pathogen helps to choose the right course of therapy. Difficulties in diagnosis arise because the disease has slightly similar symptoms to otitis media. With myringitis, unlike otitis media, the Eustachian tube is not damaged, so the otolaryngologist checks its integrity by blowing.
Treatment depends on the stage of the disease. For acute inflammation, painkillers, antiseptic solutions, and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed. If there is an abscess, it is opened, like bubbles on the surface of the membrane in the ear, using a needle. For discharge from the diseased ear, a small gauze swab is placed into the ear canal. The acute form goes away in 4 days if treated correctly.
Medicines for myringitis
Local treatment is carried out with ear drops with anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, including otinum and others. If the disease occurs against the background of influenza, treatment is carried out with antiviral drugs. To destroy a viral infection, antiviral drugs are used, for example, anaferon. Vasoconstrictor drops are instilled into the nose. Amoxicillin is often prescribed as an antibiotic. The drug erespal is used as an antihistamine. In addition to medications, physiotherapy and ear compresses are used. Only a doctor can select the dosage and duration of drug therapy.
Treatment of the chronic form
The chronic stage is more difficult to treat. Boric alcohol and resorcinol are poured into the patient's ear. Warm carbolic glycerin and boric acid powder are also used to blow into the damaged ear. The resulting discharge must be removed. Long-term treatment and compliance with all doctor’s recommendations can restore the health of the hearing aid. Sometimes the disease cannot be cured with medications, then part of the damaged eardrum has to be removed surgically.
Complications of myringitis
Lack of correct and timely treatment leads to the following consequences:
- hearing loss, and in some cases its complete loss;
- damage to the facial nerve and its paralysis;
- blood poisoning;
- penetration of purulent infection into the membranes of the brain when the membrane ruptures.
Complications
The most common complications of myringitis include the formation of irreversible conductive or sensorineural hearing loss. Violation of the sound-conducting system is caused by late or insufficiently effective treatment and, as a result, pronounced structural changes in the eardrum. Typically, these changes are caused by perforation followed by healing by forming a rough scar. Sensorineural hearing loss is associated with increased permeability of the fenestra membrane to bacterial toxins. Less commonly, damage to the sound-receiving apparatus is provoked by hemorrhages in the inner ear caused by exposure to neurotropic viruses. They can also lead to paresis of the facial nerve.
High-quality prevention
To never experience unbearable ear pain due to myringitis, you should follow basic preventive measures. If unexpected pain occurs in the ears while coughing or sneezing, you can suspect the onset of inflammation.
A person should protect his ears from cold and wind, and wear hats in the cold season. In childhood, you need to carefully monitor hygiene, teach children to eat properly and explain why their ears should be kept warm. It is necessary to clean the ear canal from accumulations of wax, but carefully so as not to injure the ear. Respiratory diseases directly affect the health of the ears, so even a common runny nose needs to be treated correctly.
Taking vitamins and a healthy lifestyle will protect your ears from attack by pathogenic microorganisms. Hearing is the most valuable gift for a person, so the health of the ears depends on its control. Since the disease often becomes chronic, when treatment becomes much more complicated and delayed, it is better to consult a specialist at the first symptoms.
Symptoms of pharyngitis
The symptoms of pharyngitis (acute and chronic) are similar to each other, but there are still slight differences:
Acute pharyngitis
- dryness and sore throat;
- pain when swallowing;
- less often – general malaise, increased body temperature;
- possible irradiation of pain to the ears.
Chronic pharyngitis
- dryness, sore throat;
- sensation of a lump in the throat, which makes you want to cough;
- dry cough.
Therapy in adults
Viral pharyngitis in adults requires the mandatory use of medications - antiviral and anti-inflammatory.
If necessary, local anesthetics and antipyretics may be prescribed.
Treatment can also be carried out using antiseptic lozenges:
- Faringosept,
- Septefril,
- Trachisan.
Or throat sprays:
- Forteza,
- Orasept,
- Inhalipt,
- Kameton,
- Angileks et al.
But do not forget about regular gargling with a solution of furatsilin or salt and soda.
treat viral pharyngitis with rinses using decoctions of medicinal herbs:
- daisies,
- calendula,
- peppermint,
- Salvia officinalis.
If you combine such treatment methods with medications, the disease will recede much faster.
Treatment of infectious pharyngitis caused by different groups of pathogenic microorganisms requires the use of antibiotics.
Often, for throat diseases, antimicrobial drugs of the penicillin series are used (Bicillin, Amoxicillin, Ampicillin, etc.). But if the disease smoothly develops into a sore throat, the patient may need more potent antibacterial medications.
Diagnostics
If signs of the disease are detected, you must consult your local doctor or otolaryngologist.
The diagnosis is made based on the patient’s characteristic complaints and local symptoms of pharyngitis.
The doctor performs a pharyngoscopy (examination of the pharynx), during which you can see:
- hyperemia of the posterior wall of the pharynx, palatine arches;
- granularity of the posterior pharyngeal wall;
- swelling of the mucous membranes of the pharynx.
To clarify the causative agent of pharyngitis, a smear from the pharyngeal mucosa is examined. This study also determines the drugs to which the pathogen is sensitive.
Other tests are carried out:
General blood analysis
- it may show signs of an inflammatory reaction (increased number of leukocytes, accelerated erythrocyte sedimentation rate);
Immunological studies are carried out to detect antibodies to various infections (if it is impossible to determine the pathogen using a smear from the mucous membranes of the pharynx).
