Helow dear, first my post on January 2013 about my sickness that I feel on 31th december ago, its makes me afraid whats wrong with my ear, yeah just my right ear. Suddenly my ear is buzzing and its so pain :( so i decided to go to doctor THT. And you know, i gave the doctor more question what happened with my ear, and the doctor said it just inflammation didn't say anymore just it, so when I read my medcine, I shocked when I read the word that mentioned bacteria, viruses and it makes me grow worried about it. So I searched what the disease is, and that information gave me a symptom and information about inflamantion ear similiar like I have. Want you know that? Here they are :)
What is Otitis Media?
Otitis media (Latin for "Infection of the Middle Ear") is inflammation of the middle ear, or middle ear infection. Otitis media occurs in the area between the ear drum (the end of the outer ear) and the inner ear, including a duct known as the eustachian tube. It is one of the two categories of ear inflammation that can underlie what is commonly called an earache, the other being otitis externa.Diseases other than ear infections can also cause ear pain, including cancers of any structure that shares nerve supply with the ear and shingles which can lead to herpes zoster oticus. Otitis media has many degrees of severity,and various names are used to describe each. The terminology is sometimes confusing because of multiple terms being used to describe the same condition.
The rhinoviruses (nose viruses) that cause the common cold infect the Eustachian tube that goes from the back of the nose to the middle ear, causing swelling and compromise of pressure equalization, which is one of the normal functions of the tube. The other main function is the lateral drainage of fluids from tissues on either side of the skull. It has to be remembered that the Eustachian Tube is only the width of three to four hairs in places along its length. It also changes its anatomical and physiological appearance during the early growth period of the child. In the newborn the tube is horizontal making it more difficult to drain naturally, and the surface of the tube is 100% cartilage, with a lining of Lymphatic tissue which is an extension of the Adenoidal tissue from the back of the nose.
As the early years pass by the superior (upper) part of the tube ossifies to bone but the lower remains the same. The angle of the tubes changes and descends to roughly a 45 degree angle increasing the downward flow of fluids. It should be noted that individuals with Downs Syndrome anatomically have more severe curves to their tubes, hence why D.S children tend to have more grommet operations than other children. In general, the more severe and prolonged the compromise of Eustachian tube function, the more severe the consequences are to the middle ear and its delicate structures. If a person is born with poor Eustachian tube function, this greatly increases the likelihood of more frequent and severe episodes of otitis media. Progression to chronic otitis media is much more common in this group of people, who often have a family history of middle ear disease.
The Symptoms
When the middle ear becomes acutely infected, pressure builds up behind the eardrum (tympanic membrane), frequently causing pain. It may result in ''bullous myringitis'', in which the tympanic membrane is inflamed and blistered. In severe or untreated cases, the tympanic membrane may rupture, allowing the pus in the middle ear space to drain into the ear canal. If there is enough of it, this drainage may be obvious. Even though the rupture of the tympanic membrane suggests a traumatic process, it is almost always associated with the dramatic relief of pressure and pain. In a simple case of acute otitis media in an otherwise healthy person, the body's defenses are likely to resolve the infection and the ear drum nearly always heals. Antibiotic administration can prevent perforation of the eardrum and hasten recovery of the ear.
Instead of the infection and eardrum perforation resolving, however, drainage from the middle ear can become a chronic condition. As long as there is active middle ear infection,the eardrum will not heal.The World Health Organization defines chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) as "a stage of ear disease in which there is chronic infection of the middle ear cleft, a non-intact tympanic membrane (i.e. perforated eardrum) and discharge (otorrhoea),for at least the preceding two weeks" (WHO 1998). Notice WHO's use of the term ''serous'' to denote a bacterial process, whereas the same term is generally used by ear physicians in the United States to denote simple fluid collection within the middle ear behind an intact eardrum.''Chronic otitis media'' is the term used by most ear physicians worldwide to describe a chronically infected middle ear with eardrum perforation.
Helow dear, first my post on January 2013 about my sickness that I feel on 31th december ago, its makes me afraid whats wrong with my ear, yeah just my right ear. Suddenly my ear is buzzing and its so pain :( so i decided to go to doctor THT. And you know, i gave the doctor more question what happened with my ear, and the doctor said it just inflammation didn't say anymore just it, so when I read my medcine, I shocked when I read the word that mentioned bacteria, viruses and it makes me grow worried about it. So I searched what the disease is, and that information gave me a symptom and information about inflamantion ear similiar like I have. Want you know that? Here they are :)
What is Otitis Media?
Otitis media (Latin for "Infection of the Middle Ear") is inflammation of the middle ear, or middle ear infection. Otitis media occurs in the area between the ear drum (the end of the outer ear) and the inner ear, including a duct known as the eustachian tube. It is one of the two categories of ear inflammation that can underlie what is commonly called an earache, the other being otitis externa.Diseases other than ear infections can also cause ear pain, including cancers of any structure that shares nerve supply with the ear and shingles which can lead to herpes zoster oticus. Otitis media has many degrees of severity,and various names are used to describe each. The terminology is sometimes confusing because of multiple terms being used to describe the same condition.
The rhinoviruses (nose viruses) that cause the common cold infect the Eustachian tube that goes from the back of the nose to the middle ear, causing swelling and compromise of pressure equalization, which is one of the normal functions of the tube. The other main function is the lateral drainage of fluids from tissues on either side of the skull. It has to be remembered that the Eustachian Tube is only the width of three to four hairs in places along its length. It also changes its anatomical and physiological appearance during the early growth period of the child. In the newborn the tube is horizontal making it more difficult to drain naturally, and the surface of the tube is 100% cartilage, with a lining of Lymphatic tissue which is an extension of the Adenoidal tissue from the back of the nose.
As the early years pass by the superior (upper) part of the tube ossifies to bone but the lower remains the same. The angle of the tubes changes and descends to roughly a 45 degree angle increasing the downward flow of fluids. It should be noted that individuals with Downs Syndrome anatomically have more severe curves to their tubes, hence why D.S children tend to have more grommet operations than other children. In general, the more severe and prolonged the compromise of Eustachian tube function, the more severe the consequences are to the middle ear and its delicate structures. If a person is born with poor Eustachian tube function, this greatly increases the likelihood of more frequent and severe episodes of otitis media. Progression to chronic otitis media is much more common in this group of people, who often have a family history of middle ear disease.
The Symptoms
When the middle ear becomes acutely infected, pressure builds up behind the eardrum (tympanic membrane), frequently causing pain. It may result in ''bullous myringitis'', in which the tympanic membrane is inflamed and blistered. In severe or untreated cases, the tympanic membrane may rupture, allowing the pus in the middle ear space to drain into the ear canal. If there is enough of it, this drainage may be obvious. Even though the rupture of the tympanic membrane suggests a traumatic process, it is almost always associated with the dramatic relief of pressure and pain. In a simple case of acute otitis media in an otherwise healthy person, the body's defenses are likely to resolve the infection and the ear drum nearly always heals. Antibiotic administration can prevent perforation of the eardrum and hasten recovery of the ear.
Instead of the infection and eardrum perforation resolving, however, drainage from the middle ear can become a chronic condition. As long as there is active middle ear infection,the eardrum will not heal.The World Health Organization defines chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) as "a stage of ear disease in which there is chronic infection of the middle ear cleft, a non-intact tympanic membrane (i.e. perforated eardrum) and discharge (otorrhoea),for at least the preceding two weeks" (WHO 1998). Notice WHO's use of the term ''serous'' to denote a bacterial process, whereas the same term is generally used by ear physicians in the United States to denote simple fluid collection within the middle ear behind an intact eardrum.''Chronic otitis media'' is the term used by most ear physicians worldwide to describe a chronically infected middle ear with eardrum perforation.
