How to do ear irrigation

The human ear is the main auditory system. There is periosteum inside the ear. The human eardrum is very fragile and can be easily damaged. If a person's eardrum becomes inflamed, it can cause perforated otitis media. People with otitis media often have pus discharge from their ears. Therefore, otitis media must be treated in a timely manner and go to the hospital for medical treatment as soon as possible. Let’s take a look at what you should do if you have ear irrigation?

The so-called "irrigating the heart of the ear" is a rather unsophisticated term. I know that this term exists in Sichuan. The professional term is "acute suppurative otitis media". Usually there is a perforation of the eardrum, and pus flows out of the external auditory canal from the ruptured eardrum. Purulent otitis media needs to be diagnosed and treated in the otolaryngology department of a regular hospital. Do not buy medicine based on your own experience. Otherwise, once the condition turns from acute to chronic, it will be more difficult to treat.

The treatment principles of this disease are to control infection and ensure smooth drainage.

1. General treatment

(1) Use adequate antibiotics as soon as possible and then other antimicrobial drugs to control the infection, in order to achieve a complete cure and prevent complications or chronic disease. Generally, penicillin G can be used together with ampicillin. Among the cephalosporin antibiotics, the first-generation cephalosporins cefuroxime and cefazolin and the second-generation cefuroxime sodium can be used. After the tympanic membrane is perforated, bacterial culture and drug sensitivity test of pus can be performed, and medication can be adjusted based on the results.

(2) Use decongestant nasal spray, such as 1% ephedrine, to reduce swelling of the nasopharyngeal mucosa and restore Eustachian tube function.

(3) Get enough rest, eat a light diet, and provide supportive treatment for those with severe systemic symptoms. When children vomit or have diarrhea, they should pay attention to fluid replacement and correcting electrolyte imbalance.

2. Local treatment

(1) Before tympanic membrane perforation

1) Phenol glycerin ear drops can be used to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. It is forbidden to use when the tympanic membrane is perforated to avoid corrosion of the tympanic membrane and tympanic mucosa.

2) Myringotomy should be performed in the following situations: when systemic and local symptoms are severe, the tympanic membrane bulges significantly, and conservative treatment is ineffective; when the tympanic membrane is perforated but the hole is too small to drain secretions smoothly; when complications are suspected but there is no need for immediate mastoidectomy.

(2) After tympanic membrane perforation

1) First, use 3% hydrogen peroxide or boric acid water to thoroughly clean the pus in the external auditory canal and wipe it dry.

2) Instill ear drops, such as 0.3% ofloxacin ear drops combined with rifampicin solution, etc. Note that ear drops should be non-ototoxic drugs. You can insert a clean cotton ball into the external ear canal to prevent pus from contaminating the skin on the face and neck.

3) When the pus has decreased and the inflammation has gradually subsided, glycerin or alcohol preparations can be used for ear drops, such as 3% boric acid glycerin, 3% boric acid ethanol, etc.

4) After the inflammation completely subsides, most perforations can heal on their own. If the pus discharge has stopped but the tympanic membrane perforation does not heal for a long time, tympanoplasty can be performed.

3. Treatment of the cause

Actively treat chronic diseases of the nose and pharynx.