Allergic otitis media

Allergic diseases in the last 2-3 decades make up the majority of ENT diseases, which is associated with deteriorating environmental conditions, the appearance in foods of a large number of various artificial food additives, a general decrease in immunity due to a variety of unfavorable causes.

At the beginning of the second half of the XX century. The allergic otitis media was isolated into an independent form, but the description of this disease "in its pure form" is almost impossible, since it proceeds on a general allergic background and in most cases refers to the systemic inflammatory-allergic process localized in the nasopharynx, auditory tube and tympanum , i.e. In those anatomical formations where an allergotropic substrate is present, i.e., the mucosa.

[1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9]

Causes of allergic middle otitis media

In the study of the pathogenesis of allergic otitis media, two parallel processes are considered: allergic changes in the mucous membrane of the tympanic cavity, lowering its immune properties, and introducing an infectious substance into it. Infection can enter the middle ear directly from the auditory tube, lymphogenous and hematogenous from both nearby and distant foci of infection. Interaction and mutual reinforcement of the two processes - inflammatory and allergic - gives some important clinical features to allergic middle otitis media. The development of acute allergic otitis media is preceded by an allergic edema of the mucous membrane of the auditory tube and the tympanic cavity and the appearance of serous secretions and transudate.

[10], [11], [12], [13], [14], [15]

Symptoms of allergic middle otitis media

With an allergic otitis media, a typical clinical picture of acute inflammation of the middle ear is not observed. The tympanic membrane is pale, thickened, somewhat bulging, the identification contours are smoothed, the body temperature is normal or slightly subfebrile. Pain syndrome, typical of a banal acute inflammation of the middle ear, is absent. The patient is concerned about the stuffiness of the ear, noise in it and hearing loss. Pain in the ear appears only when a secondary inflammatory reaction occurs.

Diagnosis of allergic middle otitis media

With the paracentesis of the tympanic membrane from the tympanic cavity, viscous mucus is released, which contains a large number of eosinophils. A similar liquid is found in the cells of the mastoid process. With secondary infection in the tympanic cavity, the mucopurulent content is formed with the presence of polymicrobiota in it, however, the inflammatory process proceeds sluggishly, is long and difficult to treat, and is resistant to antibiotics. Allergic otitis media occurs in patients with bronchial asthma, allergic diseases of the upper respiratory tract, in children with diathesis, weakened by childhood infections.

[16], [17], [18]

Treatment of allergic middle otitis media

Treatment of allergic middle otitis media is determined by the clinical picture of this form of acute otitis and most often comes down to local procedures against the background of general desensitization of the body. To surgical treatment resorted to the risk of complications and with a long-term inflammatory process.