pathology of the ear Flashcards
(36 cards)
What is Glue ear?
- Glue ear is otitis media with effusion. often the infection subsides leaving an effusion behind the drum.
- -ve pressure and Eustachian tube dysfunction create an effusion in the middle ear. Follows on from Otitis media.
- Treat with a grommet not ABX
What is Otitis Media?
• Otitis media is an infection of the middle ear that causes inflammation (redness and swelling) and a build-up of fluid behind the eardrum.
What is acute otitis media?
Acute otitis media implies rapid onset of disease associated with one or more of the following symptoms:
- Otalgia
- Fever
- Otorrhea
- Recent onset of anorexia
- Irritability
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
What are the symptoms of glue ear/otitis media with effusion?
- Hearing loss
- Tinnitus
- Vertigo
- Otalgia
What conditions make otitis media more likely to occur?
Downs syndrome and cleft palet.
How do you treat otitis media?
supportive.
What is the treatment for acute otitis media?
Amoxicillin
What are the complications of acute otitis Media?
- Meningitis
- Brain abscess
- Sub periosteal mastoid abscess
- Facial paralysis
- Layrinthitis
What is otitis externa?
• Otitis externa is an inflammation or infection of the external auditory canal, the auricle, or both.
What bacteria usually cause Otitis Media?
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Moraxella catarrhalis
- Non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae.
What are the normal causes of otitis externa?
- Obstruction (eg, cerumen buildup, surfer’s exostosis, or a narrow or tortuous canal), resulting in water retention .
- Absence of cerumen, which may occur as a result of repeated water exposure or overcleaning the ear canal
- Trauma
- Alteration of the pH of the ear canal
How do you treat otitis externa?
- Removal of debris
- Topical antibiotics + Corticosteroids is the first line
- If it does not respond oral flucloxacilin is second line
Who tends to get skull base osteitis as a complication of otitis externa?
Elderly diabetics
What is Exostosis?
Formation of new bone in the ear canal due to exposure to cold water. → also called surfers ear.
What is a cholesteatoma?
• A cholesteatoma consists of squamous epithelium that is trapped within the skull base and that can erode and destroy important structures within the temporal bone.
What are the symptyoms of a cholesteatoma?
The hallmark symptom of a cholesteatoma is a painless foul smelling discharge (otorrhea), either unremitting or frequently recurrent.
Other symptoms include the following:
- Conductive hearing loss
- Dizziness: Relatively uncommon
- Drainage and granulation tissue in the ear canal and middle ear: Unresponsive to antimicrobial therapy
What are the complications of a cholesteatoma?
- Meningitis
- Brain abcess
- Sub periosteal mastoid abscess
- Facial paralysis
- Layrinthitis
What is presbyacusis?
- Age related loss of hearing.
* High frequencies go first
Name 3 ototoxic drugs?
- Aminoglycasides
- Loop diuretics
- Cisplatin (chemo)
What is an Acoustic neuroma?
It is a schwannoma deriving from the vestibular nerve.
What are the symptoms of Acoustic neuroma?
- Unilateral hearing loss with vertigo appearing later
* With progression → ipsilateral 5th, 6th, 9th and 10th nerves may be affecte (with ipsilateral cerebella signs)
What is benign paroxysmal vertigo?
• Recurrent short lasting episodes of Vertigo caused by calcium debris in the semicircular canals that are disturbed by head movements → turning in bed, sitting up.
How do you diagnos Benign paroxysmal vertigo?
Nystagmus on performing the hallpike manouver.
What is the dix-hallpike manouver used to diagnose?
Benign paroxysmal vertigo.
