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Catarrhal otitis is a common complication after a cold. The ear pain that occurs in its course is very bothersome, it is also accompanied by noise and hearing impairment. Catarrhal ear should be treated, because catarrhal otitis can have serious consequences.
Catarrhal otitis , otherwisecatarrhal otitisorcatarrhal earhas an etiology primarily viral. These are the same pathogens that cause common infections of the upper respiratory tract, such as parainfluenza viruses or rhinoviruses. Catarrhal otitis is a complication of a cold disease. This has its anatomical justification. The oral cavity, or more precisely the pharynx, is closely connected with the tympanic cavity through the Eustachian tube. During a cold or other infection, this structure is superinfected, which is manifested by swelling, congestion of the mucosa and the production of mucous secretions. All this leads to a dysfunction of the Eustachian tube, which under natural conditions ensures proper aeration of the middle ear. The reduced amount of air causes irritation of the mucosa. Chronic inflammation can cause not only secondary inflammation of the eardrum, but also stiffening of the ossicles, which play a key role in sound transmission.
Symptoms of catarrhal otitis
The most frequently reported symptoms of inflammation include:
- severe pain described as piercing
- feeling of increased pressure in the ear
- hearing impaired
- crackles when swallowing food
- general symptoms indicative of upper respiratory tract infection: low-grade fever, runny nose, cough, general weakness, fatigue, bone and joint pain
Treatment of catarrhal otitis media
Treatment mainly comes down to managing the underlying disease. In order to reduce the local inflammation within the Eustachian tube, decongestants should be used. General antihistamines can also be used. The antibiotic is reserved only for cases where a bacterial superinfection is suspected.
They can be helpful in combating painpreparations for oral use, containing i.a. paracetamol. These are over-the-counter preparations. Lack of improvement is an indication for an otolaryngological consultation.
A specialist in laryngology will thoroughly assess the condition of the tympanic membrane in an otoscopic examination and possibly intensify the treatment used so far. During such a visit, the doctor does not focus only on the detection of abnormalities located within the eardrum, but also analyzes in detail the condition of the neighboring organs, i.e. the throat or the nose.
The prognosis of catarrhal otitis is good in most cases, usually resolving within 7-10 days, so in sync with an upper respiratory tract infection. Untreated inflammation can lead to the development of dangerous otitis media with possible consequences in the form of: chronic otitis media with leakage of mucous serous secretions. In very rare situations, the formation of mucoco-cholesterol changes known as cholesterol granulomas has been observed.