Management of patients presenting with otorrhoea: diagnostic and treatment factors
| Autor: | Patrick Jassar, Peter Dannatt |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2013 |
| Předmět: |
Male
medicine.medical_specialty Erythema Clinical Intelligence medicine.disease_cause Otology Throat otorhinolaryngologic diseases medicine Humans Otitis Ear Diseases Nose Cholesteatoma Middle Ear Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhea business.industry Middle Ear Ventilation Surgery medicine.anatomical_structure External Canal Female Treatment factors sense organs medicine.symptom Irritation Family Practice business |
| Zdroj: | British Journal of General Practice. 63:e168-e170 |
| ISSN: | 1478-5242 0960-1643 |
| DOI: | 10.3399/bjgp13x663253 |
| Popis: | Otorrhoea is a common ear, nose, and throat (ENT) symptom, that requires accurate assessment. This article describes the most important causes of a discharging ear and the features that distinguish them to achieve better diagnosis and management. Otitis externa is an inflammation of the external auditory canal, characterised by erythema and oedema. It has a 12-month period prevalence of 1.3% in females and 1.2% in males.1 Patients typically present with otalgia and an infected discharge. However, there is generally no change in hearing unless the entire canal is obstructed. Movement of the tragus results in significant discomfort. On otoscopy the canal appears narrowed and inflamed, with infected squamous debris lining the walls. Initial treatment centres around the administration of topical medications and, to minimise further irritation, patients should be advised not to poke anything into the ears or get them wet. They should also avoid swimming and getting their head wet. If there is a chance that the ears may get splashed, cotton wool coated with Vaseline® can be used as an ear plug. Topical preparations containing an antimicrobial with a steroid are an effective treatment, and in general there is no difference between the various types of preparation.2 However, choice is important if a fungal infection is suspected, on the basis of severe pruritus and hyphae within the external canal. … |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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