This disease, which is defined as serous otitis or otitis with effusion, is called fluid accumulation behind the intact eardrum without signs of general and local infection in the middle ear. The consistency of the liquid thickens over time. It often occurs after an acute middle ear infection. After infection, the fluid behind the eardrum disappears over 90% within 1-3 months. However, in the presence of some risk factors, there may be fluid accumulation that lasts longer than 3 months, this situation is called chronic otitis media with effusion. Some bacteria have been produced from the liquid in clinical studies.
Risk factors
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Recurrent upper respiratory tract infections
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Eustachian tube dysfunction
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Adenoid hypertrophy
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Pressure trauma
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Nasopharyngeal cancer
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History of head and neck radiotherapy
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Allergy
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Immune system disorders
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Head and neck congenital developmental disorders
The most common disease after acute middle ear infection in childhood It is a second ear disease. Generally, the first complaint is hearing loss. This is why it is difficult to diagnose in patients, especially when it is unilateral and in young children. A detailed ENT examination and some hearing tests are required for diagnosis.
The importance of this disease, especially in the childhood school age group, chronic fluid accumulation results in hearing loss and negatively affects the social, school and academic life of the child. In addition, long-term fluid accumulation changes the pressure in the middle ear and causes collapse and melting of the eardrum. As a result, chronic ear infections with discharge and even cholesteatoma occur. Therefore, it is a disease that needs to be treated and followed closely. In the treatment, primarily drug (medical) treatments are tried. These; antibiotics, steroids, antihistamines and decongestants. It is used as an alternative to sending air to the middle ear by giving pressure as if the balloon is inflated, called autoinflation. Surgical treatments are used in the presence of drug-resistant and risk factors. The type of surgery should be patient-specific.
Types of surgery
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Eardrum Making a scratch on the nasal cavity (Myringotomy)
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Installing a tube in the eardrum (Ventilation tube application)
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Removal of adenoid (Adenoidectomy)
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Opening the Eustachian tube with a balloon (Eustachian balloon tuboplasty)
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