6. AETIOLOGY
• More common especially in infants and children
of lower socioeconomic group.
• The disease typically follows viral infection of
upper respiratory tract:
Rhinovirus
RSV
Influenza virus
enterovirus
8. ROUTES OF INFECTION
1. Via Eustachian tube.
2. Via external ear.
3. Blood-borne.
9. Understanding position of
Eustachian tube:
Ant.
Cranial
fossa
Middle cranial
fossa
Posterior
cranial
fossa
Jugular
fossa
Sphenoid
sinus
nasopharynx
10.
11. Normal functions of Eustachian tube
• Normally Eustachian tube is closed.
• Functions:
Ventilation and thus regulation of middle ear pressure
Protection against
Nasopharyngeal reflux of nasopharyngeal
sound pressure secretions
Clearance of middle ear secretions
12. Via Eustachian tube
• Most common route.
• In infants and young children, tube
is:
Shorter
Wider
More horizontal
Via External ear
•Due to traumatic perforation of tympanic
membrane.
Blood-borne
13. PREDISPOSING FACTORS
Anything that interferes with the normal functioning
of Eustachian tube, predisposes to middle ear
infection, like:
1. Recurrent attacks of common cold
2. URI
3. Measles, diphtheria or whooping cough
4. Infection of tonsils and adenoids
5. Chronic rhinitis
6. Sinusitis
7. Nasal allergy
8. Tumors of nasopharynx, packing of nose or
nasopharynx for epistaxis
9. Cleft palate.
10. Down syndrome
14. PREDISP
OSING
FACTORS
Acute tubal blockage
Absorption of middle
ear gases
Negative pressure in
middle ear
Transudate in middle
ear/ haemorrhage
Prolonged tubal
blockage
OME (thin watery or
mucoid discharge)
Atelactatic
ear/perforation
Retraction pocket/
cholesteatoma
Erosion of
incudostapedial joint
15. (A) incomplete unilateral cleft of the lip, (B) unilateral cleft of the lip, alveolus, and palate, (C) bilateral cleft of
the lip, alveolus, and palate, (D) isolated (median) cleft palate.
17. PATHOLOGY AND CLINICAL FEATURES
STAGE OF
TUBAL
OCCLUSION
STAGE OF
PRESUPPURATION
STAGE OF
SUPPURATION
STAGE OF
RESOLUTION
STAGE OF
COMPLICATIONS
18. STAGE OF TUBAL OCCLUSION
PATHOLOGY SYMPTOMS SIGNS
Tubal blockage due to
edema and hyperemia of
nasopharyngeal end of
Eustachian tube
Deafness
Earache
NOT marked
Generally no fever
T.M. retracted
Handle of malleus –
horizontal
Prominence of lateral
process of malleus
Loss of light reflex
Tuning fork test-conductive
deafness
20. As the drum becomes increasingly retracted, it drapes over the ossicular chain,
and the incus and stapes head may be outlined.
21. STAGE OF PRESUPPURATION
PATHOLOGY SYMPTOMS SIGNS
Pyogenic organisms
invade tympanic cavity
Hyperemia of lining of
tympanic cavity
Inflammatory exudate
in middle ear
Tympanic membrane-congested
Marked throbbing
headache
Adults – deafness and
tinnitus
Children – high degree
of fever and restlesness
Congestion of pars
tensa
Cartwheel appearance
of pars tensa
Later- congestion of
whole tympanic
membrane
Tuning fork test-conductive
deafness
found
23. STAGE OF SUPPURATION
PATHOLOGY SYMPTOMS SIGNS
Marked pus formation
in middle ear
May extend upto
mastoid air cells
Excruciating earache
Deafness increases
Children- fever 102-
103 degree F
Vomiting
Convulsions
Redness and bulging in
tympanic membrane
handle of malleus-engulfed
Yellow spot on T.M.
where rupture imminent
X-ray of mastoid-clouding
of air cells
24.
25.
26. STAGE OF RESOLUTION
PATHOLOGY SYMPTOMS SIGNS
T.M. – ruptures with
release of pus
Hence subsidence of
symptoms
Earache relieved
Fever – down
EAC- blood tinged
discharge may be
present
Small perforation in
anteroinferior
quadrants of pars tensa
Hyperemia of T.M.
subsides- normal colour
and landmarks
29. • Gradenigo's syndrome, also called Gradenigo-Lannois
syndrome and petrous apicitis
is a complication of otitis
media and mastoiditis involving the apex of the
petrous temporal bone.
SYMPTOMS:
triad of symptoms consisting of
periorbital unilateral pain related to trigeminal nerve
involvement,
diplopia due to sixth nerve palsy (Dorello’s canal)
persistent otorrhea, associated with bacterial
otitis media with apex involvement of the petrous part
of the temporal bone (petrositis).
30. retroorbital pain due to pain in the area supplied by the
ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve (fifth cranial
nerve),
Bell's palsy caused by invo lvement of the facial
nerve (seventh cranial nerve), and
otitis media.
Other symptoms can include photophobia,
excessive lacrimation, fever, and
reduced corneal sensitivity.
The syndrome is usually caused by the spread of
an infection into the petrous apex of the temporal bone.
TREATMENT:
Mastoid exploration.
Exeneration of the cell tracts leading to petrous apex
31. TREATMENT
Acute otitis
media
Antibacterial
therapy
Earache and
fever
Complete
resolution
Review after 48-
72hours
Good response
Persistent fluid
but earache and
fever abate
Complete
resolution (no
effusion)
Persistent
effusion
Treat as otitis
media with
effusion
Complete
resolution
Another antibacterial
therapy therapy for 10 days
or myringotomy and culture
and specific antimicrobial
for 10 days
Periodic checks for 12
weeks
33. Oral nasal decongestants:
Pseudoephedrine
Analgesics:
Paracetamaol
Ear toilet:
Dry local heat
Myringotomy: incising the drum to evacuate
pus.
34. • Indications of myringotomy:
Bulging drum and acute pain
Incomplete resolution
drum remains full with persistent conductive
deafness
Persistent effusion beyond 12 weeks
Onset of complications like facial nerve
paralysis or labyrinthitis
Serous otitis media
Non suppurative otitis media
35. PREVENTION
Routine childhood vaccination against:
pneumococci (with pneumococcal conjugate
vaccine),
H. influenzae type B, and
influenza
decreases the incidence of AOM.
Infants should not sleep with a bottle, and
elimination of household smoking may decrease
incidence.