Otitis: Symptoms and physical therapy!

What is otitis?

The ear is divided into three parts: the outer, middle and inner ear. Otitis is an infection in some part of the ear. It is preferred by children, especially preschoolers, but can also occur in adults. The main symptom is pain. It can also cause fever, nausea, vomiting, loss of balance, and even discharge of fluid from the ear. Up to 80% of ear infections go away without a prescription.

Otitis externa

Otitis externa is inflammation of the outer ear and usually affects the external auditory canal. It is often caused by pseudomonas, staph, fungi or viruses. It is more likely to happen if you spend a lot of time in swimming pools and at sea in the summer (hence the name swimmer’s ear) or if you injure the ear canal by inserting objects (eg a cotton swab).

What are the symptoms?

Otitis externa can cause itching at first and make you feel sick with dizziness, vomiting and nausea.

Treatment and prevention

What you need to do is keep your ears dry. This prevents the growth of the germs that cause the problem. Avoid swimming and prevent water from entering your ears when you shower. Wipe the outside of the ear gently with a towel after a shower. Turn your head to the side to facilitate the exit of water. Avoid placing foreign objects in your ears.

Otitis media

A tube called the eustachian tube (acoustic) trumpet exists after the eardrum and connects the middle ear to the nasopharyngeal area, allowing air to be refreshed in the middle of the ear and fluid to be removed to the oral cavity. When a child has a nasal or other infection, the Eustachian tube may collect fluid and become blocked (due to a stuffy nose). Due to the fluid, the eardrum cannot vibrate properly and there is reduced hearing. If the fluid is contaminated with germs, the eardrum may become swollen. The cause can be various common cold viruses or bacteria.

How it is treated?

Warm compresses are also recommended to reduce pain e.g. with a damp, warm cloth or salt sock. Sometimes it can be helpful to put oil (spatula, garlic oil, olive oil or propolis oil) in your child’s ear, but be careful, you should never do this if fluid is dripping from the ear – this can happen when the eardrum has punctured. Among the herbs given as a drink for otitis are thyme, dittany, mountain tea and oregano (in small quantities).

Otitis Interna

It is an infection of the inner parts of the ear that control balance and hearing. It is not very common. It can be caused by a virus or a bacterium. Symptoms include hearing problems, balance, dizziness, vertigo and tinnitus. The two vestibular nerves in the inner ear send information to the brain about movement in space and balance control. When one of these nerves becomes inflamed, a condition known as labyrinthitis develops.

Treatment of otitis interna

In rare cases, your hearing may be permanently damaged. If you experience acute pain, hearing loss or fever that does not go away after two days or exceeds 39 degrees Celsius, seek medical attention immediately. Use warm compresses to reduce pain. Rinsing with salt water can help clear the Eustachian tube. Do not smoke and limit alcohol consumption.

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