Pus in the ear in a child and an adult: possible causes, symptoms and characteristics of treatment

Sometimes in an adult or a child there is pus in the ear. Such discharge from the auditory canal is characterized by a yellowish-brown hue and is characterized by an extremely unpleasant odor. Often, this phenomenon is accompanied by severe pain. What diseases can pus indicate in the ears? And how to deal with an unpleasant state?

The main causes of

Why does pus appear in the ear? The main cause leading to suppuration is the effect of bacteria and viruses. Such microorganisms are initially in the larynx. Through the Eustachian tube they freely move into the cavity located behind the eardrum.

If a person suffers from an allergy, has a cold, then such a pipe is clogged. As a result, a normal outflow of mucus is simply impossible. A similar pattern is observed in children suffering from proliferation of adenoids. Since mucus is not eliminated naturally, pathogens begin to accumulate. And this inevitably leads to the fact that the patient has pus in his ears.

Most often with a similar problem people face, the immunity of which is very weak. Purulent discharge from the ear canal is often observed in children. This is due to age characteristics. The children have a wider and short auditory tube. That is why pathogenic microorganisms are much easier to penetrate into it.

So, if pus flows from the ear, what diseases can there be?

Purulent otitis media

This is the most common cause. Purulent otitis is an unpleasant pathology, in which the mucosa of the middle ear becomes inflamed.

The most common cause of the disease is the following sources:

1. A variety of viruses, infections. Often pus in the ear is a complication of angina, influenza.
2. Certain pathologies of the nasopharynx, nose. The formation of pus can be based on rhinitis, curvature of the septum, proliferation of adenoids.
3. Milk from the baby in the ear canal. This situation can lead to infection.
4. Subcooling. The development of purulent otitis often occurs in the summer, after swimming in water. Provoked by hypothermia, the inflammatory process leads to the development of the disease.
5. Injury. This reason is mainly characteristic of children. Unsuccessful cleaning of the ears, as a result of which the septum is damaged, or an object inserted into the ear by a small pioneer, leads to the formation of pus.
6. Surgical interventions. Of course, patients at risk are those who underwent operations in the nasopharynx and nose.

Symptomatic in this disease is observed this:

• in the ear there is pain, the most intense in the night;
• the patient's condition is seriously deteriorating;
• appears pus, initially at night;
• in the sink there are dried out discharge;
• with the development of inflammation pus begins to simply flow out of the ear;
• there is swelling;
• the temperature rises;
• there is a headache;
• hearing loss.

Sometimes the pathology proceeds in chronic form. With such a disease, there may be no discomfort, including pain.

Methods of treatment

Of course, the question arises: if there is pus in your ears - what should I do? It is absolutely not recommended to attempt self-treatment if a person has purulent otitis in the acute stage. This pathology can lead to meningitis. Therefore, it is extremely important to contact lor.

The doctor will prescribe a course of antibiotic therapy for the patient. Most often used drug "Amoxicillin."It is strictly forbidden to apply warming compresses to the patient's ear in the presence of pus. Do not use any drops yourself.

In the case of chronic otitis, the doctor will initially clean the cavity of the pus. The patient will be recommended special antibacterial drops. And further treatments depend on the size of the opening in the membrane. At small sizes, a film of artificial fabric is used. Under it, the wound of the week for 2-3 completely tightened. If the hole is large enough, then tympanoplasty is performed( surgical repair of the membrane).

Development of furunculosis

Pus in the ears of an adult can result from a variety of causes. Sometimes the appearance of furuncles results in its appearance. This disease is most often caused by staphylococci.

Furunculosis develops, usually as a result of the following factors:

• penetration into the ear canal of water;
• scratching the shell;
• hygiene non-compliance.

The following symptoms are characteristic of the disease:

• severe pain in the ear;
• discomfort intensifies during chewing or conversation;
• appearance of itching in the sink
• presence of discharge from the ear canal, green or yellow( signaling the opening of the boil).

Therapy of furunculosis

How to treat pus in the ear in this case? It should be said that without consulting a doctor it is extremely dangerous to take any methods to combat the disease. Therefore, do not delay the visit, contact a specialist.

Most often the doctor prescribes such therapy:

• thermal procedures( it is recommended to apply a heating pad to the affected ear);
• analgesics;
• local remedies( tampon is placed in the sink for 12 hours ichthyol ointment);
• antibiotics, with the deterioration of overall health( drugs: "Flukloxacillin", "Amoxicillin").

The appearance of otomycosis

Fungus can also provoke pus in the ears of an adult. This is the pathology called otomycosis in medicine. For the disease characterized by the penetration of the fungus into the outer region of the ear, as well as the walls of the auditory canal. This pathology over time tends to spread. In this case, deeper tissues are affected.

Otomycosis leads to disturbances in metabolic processes, weakening of the whole organism, the emergence of vitamin deficiency( hypovitaminosis).

Symptoms of the disease manifest themselves as the disease progresses. At an initial degree the pathology practically nothing is shown. Symptoms are almost invisible. As soon as otomycosis turns into acute form, the patient has such complaints:

• severe pain;
• the ear swells;
• can be observed curdled white discharge from the ear;
• itching;
• hearing loss;
• from the shell flow purulent discharge brown.

Treatment of otomycosis

Everyone understands: if the fungus provoked in the ear pus, what to do in this case. Of course, the pathology should be treated with special antifungal agents.

But do not rush to take therapy yourself. It is very important to correctly identify the causative agent of the disease and to select appropriate therapy. For these purposes, the doctor will take a swab from the ear canal. Based on the results of the study, competent treatment will be selected.

The patient is advised to carefully protect the ear from penetration of water into it. Do not forget that in a moist environment the fungus develops rapidly.

In addition, remember: Otomycosis is an extremely insidious pathology. If you do not take the necessary treatment in time, the illness can become chronic. In this case, completely cure it will become very difficult.

Cholesteatomy development

This is an extremely difficult pathology. Cholesteatoma is characterized by the appearance of a tumor in the ear with a layered structure. In the center of this formation is a nucleus containing a yellowish-white liquid, with putrefactive unpleasant odor.

This pathology most often differs in congenital origin. At the heart of its development are various disorders in the temporal zone.

For pathology is characterized by:

• the presence of pains in the ear region;
• pus in the ear;
• hearing loss.

Methods of combating the disease

Self-medication can not even be a speech. If cholesteatoma is caused by pus in the ears, treatment is prescribed exclusively by professional doctors.

In this disease, a surgical procedure is undertaken. The operation is aimed at removing all affected or infected bone tissue. To save the ear, doctors perform one of the interventions depending on the spread of the disease: mastioidectomy, atticoanthrotomy, atticotomy.

If during the operation it is possible to connect the external auditory meatus with a postoperative cavity, the discharge from the shell will continue. Such a clinic is observed until the time when the cavity is covered with skin.

Other causes of

Most often, it is the abovementioned diseases that are the source of pus in the ear canal. However, these are not the only reasons that can provoke such an unpleasant phenomenon.

Sometimes the patient has pus from the ear as a result of such pathologies:

1. A variety of injuries. Very often they lead to the development of the inflammatory process in the shell, against the background of which it forms in the pus cavity.
2. Polyps. About this pathology is evidence of purulent-bloody discharge.
3. Infectious meningitis. In some cases, pus flowing out of the ear canal is a symptom of an extremely serious ailment.
4. Various pathologies of the ears and eyes.

Diagnostic methods

As you already understood, regardless of whether there is pus from the ear in a child or an adult, the first thing to do is to see a doctor. Only a specialist can correctly identify the nature of such a phenomenon.

A doctor may suspect a pathology by the following signs:

1. Pain syndrome in the ear, accompanied by purulent discharge, most often indicates the development of the patient's otitis media, in acute form.
2. A patient who is fond of swimming, or who suffers from seborrhoeic eczema, is most often diagnosed with external otitis media.
3. The transferred operation in the field of the temple or head injury may indicate liquorrhea.
4. Perforation of the membrane or chronic dysfunction of the auditory tube leads to the assumption of cholesteatoma.

For the diagnosis, of course, a physical examination will be carried out. Otoscopy allows you to determine the perforation of the membrane, to identify the symptoms of external otitis, to notice a foreign body in the cavity. If necessary, the patient will be assigned additional research methods.

Conclusion

The appearance of pus in the ear canal is an extremely negative symptom that can indicate a variety of diseases. But remember: it signals a problem in the body. So be sure to pay attention to it. And to avoid serious consequences, contact the doctor without delay and begin adequate treatment.