Infectious Myringitis
Infectious myringitis is infection of the eardrum by a virus or bacteria.Eardrum is a three-layered structure. The layer facing the ear canal is lined by a very thin layer of skin. The layer on the other side of the eardrum is mucous membrane identical to that which lines the rest of the middle ear, mastoid, and eustachian tube. In between these two layers is a tough layer that provides the major structural integrity of the eardrum. Any infectious process of the middle ear or external ear can lead to inflammation of the tympanic membrane. There can be direct eardrum infections where it can be affected by inflammation in the middle ear or the external canal. Often the very earliest finding in an acute otitis media is an intense inflammation of the tympanic membrane. A variant of infectious myringitis is bullous myringitis, whereby blisters form on the drum. In the past it was thought that this was secondary to bacteria called mycoplasma, but clearly most forms of bullous or infectious myringitis are caused by the typical bacteria that cause acute otitis media. These would include Strep pneumonia, Hemophilus influenza, and Moraxella catarrhalis.Viruses that attack mucous membrane can certainly cause an infectious myringitis, such as coxsackie virus, and parainfluenza viruses. Rarely tuberculosis can cause an eardrum infection and is characterized by multiple small perforations in the drum. Chronic myringitis can also occur usually from pseudomonas. Myringitis by looking at the eardrum with an otoscope. Because it is difficult to tell if the infection is viral or bacterial, most people are treated with antibiotics and analgesics.
Causes of Infectious Myringitis
Common causes of Infectious Myringitis
- Bacteria.
- Upper respiratory infections.
- Eardrum
Symptoms of Infectious Myringitis
Common symptoms of Infectious Myringitis
- Ear pain.
- Fever.
- Hearing loss.
- Purulent discharge.
- Pain.
- stomach upset.
- Rash.
Treatment of Infectious Myringitis
Common Treatment of Infectious Myringitis
- Use of ear canal anesthetics or oral analgesics will enhance patient comfort.
- In more severe cases, potent analgesics and broad-spectrum oral antibiotics may be useful. Chronic myringitis treatment involves antibiotic ear drops but may respond to acetic acid ear canal irrigations followed by application of steroid cream.
- Avoiding prolonged immersion of the ear in water, such as a pool or hot tub.
- incision of blebs and evacuation of serum and blood to relieve pressure and help drain exudate.
- Antibiotics together with steroid ear drops.
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