Treatment of otitis externa with drugs, drops, ointments

To cope with external inflammation of the auditory canal, it is necessary to carry out complex treatment aimed at sanitizing infectious foci.

It includes:

• Toilet of the ear canal:

It is necessary to clean the ear canal from sulfur, purulent discharge and exfoliated skin particles before using various medications, to increase the effectiveness of their action. To do this, the doctor, using a turunda soaked in a solution of hydrogen peroxide, boric alcohol or furacilin, carries out toilet of the acoustic passage, cleaning it from unnecessary particles.

• Use of local medications: The doctor will suggest using ear drops for otitis, which contain antibacterial agents - to fight infection and hormonal agents - to reduce inflammation, swelling and itching. If the acoustic meatus is very swollen, a tampon soaked in drops is inserted into it. Local antibacterial agents can only be used after removing the central rod, if there is an abscessing furuncle. Also use ointments locally, which are also inserted with a tampon.
• Antibacterial therapy: For patients with weakened immune systems or if the infection has spread, the doctor may prescribe oral or injectable antibacterial agents.
• Anti-inflammatory therapy: prescribed to reduce pain and inflammation. They should be consumed during meals.

How long does it take to treat otitis externa?

The duration of treatment depends on the type of inflammation of the external auditory canal. For example:

1. Limited form - due to the presence of boils that require opening, treatment will last at least one week;
2. Diffuse form - since in this form the inflammatory process can reach the eardrum, the therapy will last from two to three weeks. After this, the severity of symptoms decreases and the patient begins to recover.

Drug therapy

In the acute period of damage to the outer ear, locally acting drugs are mainly used. To relieve itching, swelling and inflammation - hormonal, analgesic and antiallergic drugs. To affect the cause of the disease (microbes and fungi), antimycotic and antimicrobial drugs are used.

The treatment regimen may include the following medications:

1. Normax, Polydexa – antibacterial drops that inhibit the development of bacteria due to a decrease in the synthesis of the membrane of pathogenic cells;
2. Burow's solution, furotalgin - alkaline drops to increase the level of acidity in the ear and the effect of local immunity;
3. Miconazole, clotrimazole - antimicrobial ointments that are aimed at destroying fungal microorganisms, the products of whose activity contribute to the development of inflammation;
4. Chlorhexidine, miramistin are antiseptic agents needed for disinfecting inflammation sites, thereby increasing the rate of epithelial coverage of tissues that have been affected;
5. Ketanov, ibuprofen are analgesics that reduce pulsation and aching pain, preventing it from spreading into the labyrinth;
6. Ibuclin, Nise - belong to the group of NSAIDs, relieve inflammation and pain, thereby alleviating the symptoms of ENT pathology;
7. Akriderm, Triderm - hormonal ointments for relieving signs of inflammation, swelling, normalization of such functions of the acoustic passage as drainage and ventilation.
8. Cetirizine, Telfast - anti-allergy drops that eliminate swelling and redness in the ear canal by reducing the synthesis of inflammation mediators.

Only a doctor can choose medications for treatment, carefully analyzing the cause of the disease and its course.

Otipax for otitis externa

This medication contains two active ingredients:

1. Lidocaine is an anesthetic that reduces pain, itching and other negative sensations;
2. Phenazone is an analgesic that relieves symptoms of inflammation, reduces pain, swelling and reduces fever.

The drops can be used for no more than ten days, four drops two or three times a day.

Levomekol for external otitis

Levomekol has been used in the treatment of this pathology for many years. And during this period it has proven its effectiveness more than once. It is characterized by many actions. For example:

1. Antibacterial;
2. Anti-inflammatory;
3. Regenerating.

Levomekol is a virtually ideal remedy that has a minimum of side effects and virtually no contraindications. But, like any medical remedy, it can only be used after consulting a doctor. Moreover, in combination with other prescribed medications, its effect will increase many times over.

So, if the list of medications that your doctor prescribed for you includes Levomekol ointment, you can use it according to the following scheme:

1. Form a turunda from gauze or cotton wool;
2. The turunda must be thoroughly soaked in ointment;
3. Place the turunda in the affected ear for twelve to fourteen hours.

Unless otherwise prescribed by the doctor, this sequence of actions should be carried out for eight to eleven days. In advanced cases, the duration of therapy may increase. Basically, after the specified period of time, the patient begins to experience relief of symptoms. If this does not happen, you should immediately contact your doctor for advice and treatment adjustments.

Dioxidine for external otitis

Dioxidine is a very strong antimicrobial agent, highly effective against anaerobic microorganisms. This drug has been studied for fifteen years, but to this day, due to its undesirable effects, it causes significant disagreement among specialists. The indication for prescribing this medication is purulent pathologies, the causative agents of which are various bacteria.

It can be used for otitis in the form of drops, which can be instilled into both the nose and the ear.

Dioxidine in the nose:

• The sinuses are thoroughly cleaned of pus and mucus using isothermal or saline solutions;
• Dioxidine is needed in ampoules. You need a 0.5% solution diluted with a hypertonic solution to 0.1-0.2%. You need to instill one or two drops for children, or three drops for adults twice a day;
• To enhance the effect, you need to tilt your head back.
• The prepared solution can be stored for 24 hours. The duration of treatment is a maximum of one week, on average – three to four days.

Dioxidine in the ear:

• The ear canal is completely cleared of wax and pus (in case of purulent otitis) using special cotton swabs;
• You can also clean the ear canal with hydrogen peroxide and a soaked cotton pad or tampon, which is wound around a match and inserted into the ear. This turunda is held for at least five minutes. After that, the auricle should be thoroughly wiped. If you take care of your ear canal regularly, this will be enough.
• Dioxidine is instilled into the ear.

For children, you can choose both the first and second methods.

Boric acid

Boric acid is an antiseptic with a disinfectant effect. For the treatment of external otitis, it is used in the form of a turunda moistened with its solution.

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Antibiotics for otitis externa

The following antibacterial medications may be used during treatment of inflammation of the outer ear:

• Ampicillin - 0.5 mg per day, divided into two to six doses. Children - at the rate of 100 mg/kg of weight;
• Oxacillin - 0.6 mg four times a day. Up to six years of age - the dose depends on the child's weight and age;
• Amoxicillin - half a gram per day, divided into three doses. For children, the daily dose will be 0.125-0.25 grams.
• Cefazolin – from a quarter to one gram every six to eight hours. Children – 20-50 mg.
• Cephalexin - 0.25 - 0.5 grams, divided into four doses;
• Augmentin – 0.75-2 grams per day, dividing the dose into two to four doses.

In addition to pills, ear drops or injections with antibacterial medication may also be prescribed.

The medicine and the required dosage are determined by the doctor.

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Drops for external otitis

Most often, to cope with otitis externa, drops such as:

• Sofradex is a medicine with a fried action aimed at suppressing infection and inflammation. It can also relieve the symptoms of edema. Due to the presence of hormonal substances in the composition, it requires precision in following the doctor's recommendations. It is worth keeping in mind that when using these drops, there is a possibility of side effects that manifest themselves in the form of allergies (itching). These drops cannot be used in treatment during the gestational period, in infants, as well as in people with kidney and liver function pathology.
• Otipax is one of the most popular medications used to treat this pathology. It is characterized by high efficiency and speed of action in relieving pain, swelling and inflammation. It can be used by women in the gestational period and infants. To increase efficiency, it is advisable to use it at the onset of the disease. The only contraindication will be a ruptured eardrum and before the otoscopy procedure.
• Normax - drops used in the treatment of external otitis as an antimicrobial agent. May cause negative effects, such as itching, burning and rashes in the ear. It is worth contacting your doctor again if at least one of the negative effects appears.
• Candibiotic - is characterized by a broad spectrum of antibacterial action, which is effective against many pathogens of this pathology. In addition, it also exhibits antimicrobial activity. It is prohibited to use it during the gestation period and up to six years of age. The drug can cause allergic reactions.

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Ointments for lesions of the outer ear

The use of ointments in the treatment of this pathology is quite common, as they are quite practical.

Most often, doctors prescribe the following medications:

1. Levomekol is an ointment with an antibacterial or anti-inflammatory effect. The composition of the medicine includes levomycetin, an antibacterial agent, and methyluracil, which promotes rapid tissue restoration and interferon production. Ethylene glycol, also included in the ointment as an additional substance, is responsible for the adsorbent agents of the medicine.
2. Tetracycline ointment is a medicine that belongs to antibacterial agents with a wide spectrum of action. Due to the active substance, the integrity of the pathogen protein is suppressed and the affected skin segments are quickly regenerated.

Corticosteroids in the treatment of otitis externa

Hormonal agents for the treatment of lesions of the outer ear are used as ear drops, mainly in combination with antibiotics.

For example:

1. Dexamethasone with Ciprofloxacin - used in the form of a solution, which includes 0.1% dexamethasone and 0.3% ciprofloxacin. Sometimes, hydrocortisone, which has the same effect, can be used as a hormonal drug.
2. Neomycin with polymyxin and gyrocortisone - in such a combination, it most often appears in the form of a suspension or solution. Due to the interaction of all components with each other, the effectiveness of this medication is significantly increased. Antibacterial drugs expand their effect, and the corticosteroid reduces the manifestations of inflammation.

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Treatment of external otitis without antibiotics

There is an opinion in the world community that if the ear is only red, without the appearance of pus or other discharge, there is no reason to use antibacterial drugs. In this case, only analgesic medications will be required to reduce the manifestations of the disease.

Indications for antibiotic therapy are a rise in body temperature above 39C, the appearance of purulent discharge, rupture of the eardrum, bilateral otitis. In other cases, it is necessary to monitor the patient and use drugs that have analgesic effectiveness.

Compresses for external otitis

If your doctor allows it, you can use warming compresses for otitis, which are based on heating alcohol or vodka to 40C.

Stages of compress formation:

1. A gauze soaked in vodka should be applied to the affected ear;
2. A cut must be made in the gauze through which the ear is inserted;
3. You need to put polyethylene and cotton wool on top of the gauze;
4. Secure the formed compress with a bandage.

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Physiotherapy treatment

Medical professionals recommend combining standard treatment regimens for inflammation of the outer ear with physiotherapy procedures. After all, thanks to this, positive treatment results will be achieved much faster, and the likelihood of complications will decrease significantly. Physiotherapy methods that can be used in combination treatment to increase trophism and reduce the number of catarrhal processes can be as follows:

1. UHF therapy is a treatment based on the use of high-frequency currents to improve blood circulation in tissues for their rapid regeneration;
2. UV therapy is a treatment that has an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect by affecting the affected areas with ultraviolet radiation;
3. Autohemotherapy is a treatment aimed at reducing the symptoms of diffuse otitis and furunculosis. The treatment is based on the patient's blood injected subcutaneously.

In addition, procedures aimed at warming can be used to reduce the manifestations of symptoms of damage to the outer ear. However, if the pathology is accompanied by purulent discharge, it is prohibited to use thermal procedures! Since this will stimulate the "growth" of bacteria and increase the likelihood of complications.

Treatment of external otitis at home

The main goal of treating the lesion of the outer part of the ear is to get rid of the disease. In addition to the treatment prescribed by the attending physician, you can, after informing him, use the following procedures at home:

• Warming compress. It is made like this: wet a piece of gauze with a heated alcohol solution (50 ml of alcohol (or vodka) + 50 ml of water), press it and put it on the auricle so that the auricle itself, lubricated with cream (baby) or Vaseline, remains open. The compress should be kept for two hours.
• You can also apply a plantain leaf or baked onion to the affected ear until the boil breaks through;
• Also, from folk methods, bay leaf is widely used for this pathology: pour five pieces of bay leaf with a glass of water and bring to a boil and insist. Use 3 tablespoons twice a day, and put ten drops into the ear cavity.

After the boil breaks through, you can make a steam bath: boil a kettle and, throwing a terry towel over its spout, set it in a direction so that there is at least fifty centimeters from the escaping steam to the ear. Perform the heat procedure for about three minutes, then wipe your face with a cold towel. Repeat up to ten times. Negative sensations in the ENT organs will pass within five minutes.

Folk remedies

Sometimes, as an additional therapy for a speedy recovery, you can use folk recipes. But it is advisable to consult with your doctor before using these methods to reduce the likelihood of worsening the condition. This advice is especially relevant for children.

For example, the following recipes can be used as folk therapy:

1. The aloe juice needs to be squeezed out and a cotton swab should be soaked in its juice and inserted into the ear overnight until recovery;
2. A spoon of St. John's wort should be poured with a glass of water and infused for an hour. Then strain the infusion and rinse the ear twice a day.
3. Wash the geranium leaf (fresh) thoroughly, form a small lump out of it and put it in the ear. Leave the leaf in the ear for two to three hours.
4. Dilute propolis tincture with water in a ratio of 1:2, soak a cotton swab in the resulting solution and insert it into the affected ear. Leave it for one hour, repeat twice a day.
5. Garlic should be crushed to a pulp and mixed with vegetable oil in a 1:1 ratio. Lubricate the ear canal with this mixture twice a day.

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Homeopathy

Homeopathic remedies are sometimes used to treat inflammatory ear diseases. Although this method of treatment is still being debated among medical personnel, this does not allow us to draw precise conclusions about the benefits or harm of this method. However, sometimes homeopathic treatment brings the necessary result.

For example, you can use Aconite for such pathologies as: ear pain, tingling sensation, or “drops of water in the ear”.

Surgical treatment

Surgical treatment can be used for such pathology as necrotizing inflammation of the outer ear, furuncle of the outer ear. In this case, resection of tissues that have undergone necrosis is performed.

In addition, emergency surgery may be required if an abscess develops in the external auditory canal (limited type). In this case, an incision and installation of abscess drainage will be required, which will be performed by an otolaryngologist.

To remove purulent discharge or plaque in severe or fungal types of pathology, there may also be a need for surgical treatment.