Tubal catarrh is noticeable through stabbing pain and an uncomfortable feeling of pressure in the ear. The disease is harmless and in most cases heals on its own. Complications that require minor medical intervention are rare.
What is tubal catarrh?
Tubal catarrh is an inflammation of the Eustachian tube that creates a permanent negative pressure in the middle ear. The patient has the feeling that the ear has fallen shut and complains of slight pain. For introduction to cryptococcosis, please visit sciencedict.com.
The Eustachian tube is an approximately four centimeter long connecting passage between the middle ear and the pharynx, which is also called the tube or auditory tube. The negative pressure is created because the tube closes due to the inflammation. The pressure equalization between the middle ear and the outside air is made more difficult.
This disease often occurs as a result of a cold. If the inflammation becomes chronic, it is called a tympanic effusion, which can lead to hearing loss. Negative pressure in the middle ear also occurs when diving and flying. In this case we are talking about a barotrauma.
Causes
Tubal catarrh is often a side effect of a cold. If the patient suffers from inflammation of the nose, throat or middle ear, the pathogens sometimes reach the Eustachian tube and trigger tube catarrh there.
Children are generally at higher risk. In small children, the Eustachian tube is shortened and more susceptible to inflammation due to its almost horizontal position. Children also often suffer from enlarged pharyngeal tonsils ( polyps ), which promotes the development of tubal catarrh.
In addition, the disease occasionally occurs as a side effect of hay fever. Therefore, allergy sufferers are particularly often affected in adulthood. The same applies to smokers. Active smoking and passive inhalation of cigarette air are among the greatest risk factors.
Symptoms, Ailments & Signs
In the case of tube catarrh, there are complaints in one or both ears. Most sufferers struggle with hearing disorders. Other signs that are often associated with influenza accompany the acute illness. If tube catarrh is not treated medically, it can become chronic. Then patients suffer from permanent hearing loss.
Noise and dizziness are present in everyday situations. Basically, children are more susceptible to inflammation of the middle ear. As a result, tubal catarrh is diagnosed much more frequently in minors than in adults. In the early stages, those affected describe a feeling of pressure.
This is accompanied by a noise. Tones and sounds cannot be clearly perceived. Sometimes sufferers describe that they have the impression of wearing a glass bell over them. Communication with other people is made significantly more difficult by the signs. With appropriate treatment, acute tuber catarrh only leads to short-term limitations.
In addition to disturbances of perception, there are regularly other signs. The hearing loss is accompanied by earache. Flu-like symptoms such as fever or high temperature are present. Colds and sore throats are also encountered. Doctors often diagnose a sinus infection in this context. Some patients even complain about sudden attacks of dizziness, which make it impossible to take part in everyday life.
Diagnosis & History
Stinging pains in the middle ear indicate tubal catarrh. The pain is not as severe as with a middle ear infection. Sometimes fluid leaks from the ear and hearing is impaired.
Patients also report a cracking noise in their ears. The doctor will use an otoscope to examine the patient’s ear canal to diagnose the condition. Tubal catarrh rarely causes major problems in adulthood. In many cases, it heals without treatment after a short time. If this is not the case, there is a risk that the tubal catarrh will become chronic.
In this case, the chain of auditory ossicles hardens, which can lead to hearing loss. Sometimes an operation is necessary, which can be performed under local anesthesia.
Complications
Tubal catarrh leads to very unpleasant discomfort in the area of the ears. Those affected suffer from severe earache and also from a clear feeling of pressure in the ear. Furthermore, hearing problems also occur, so that the everyday life of the patients is significantly restricted. The disease can also lead to loud noises in the ears, so that those affected suffer from sleep disorders and irritability.
Dizziness or even vomiting can also occur as a result of the illness. Those affected also suffer from a stuffy nose or a runny nose. Severe sore throat or various inflammations in the nose can also occur. Inflammation can also occur in the ears.
Often the concentration is clearly disturbed by the severe earache. There are no complications in the treatment of the disease. The symptoms are alleviated with the help of medication. Various exercises can also ventilate the ear to avoid further infections and inflammation.
In severe cases, however, those affected are dependent on surgical intervention. Here, too, there are no complications and the disease progresses positively. The life expectancy of those affected is not reduced by the disease.
When should you go to the doctor?
Tubal catarrh must always be treated immediately by a doctor. If left untreated, this can lead to serious complications, and in the worst case the affected person can suffer a complete hearing loss. Therefore, at the very first symptoms and signs of this disease, a medical professional should be contacted. A doctor should be consulted for tube catarrh if the person affected suffers from sudden hearing loss. Inflammation in the middle ear can also indicate this disease and must also be examined further.
Some sufferers also suffer from a high fever and severe pain in their ears. Dizziness or disturbances of perception also indicate this disease. The usual symptoms and symptoms of influenza often appear as accompanying symptoms in the case of tube catarrh and can also point to the disease. This disease is treated by an ENT doctor. If the doctor is consulted at an early stage, the disease can be treated relatively well and there are no further complications or symptoms.
Treatment & Therapy
Tubal catarrh is treated in conventional medicine with decongestant nose drops. Naturopathy relies on steam baths with essential oils and Swedish herbs. Inhalations and heat radiation are also considered to be extremely helpful in eliminating tubal catarrh.
Doctors also recommend doing mechanical exercises to clear the congestion in the ear. You hold your nose and mouth shut. At the same time you try to blow out air. This creates pressure in the ear, which promotes the drainage of mucus. The ear is aired out, so to speak. It is recommended to do this exercise every hour during acute tubal catarrh.
If the inflammation does not heal despite these measures, medical treatment is necessary. In some cases, a minor operation may need to be performed. Under local anesthetic, the doctor incises the patient’s eardrum. A thin tube is used to suck mucus out of the ear to allow the inflammation to heal. In children, this procedure is usually performed under anesthesia.
Prevention
Since tube catarrh is usually triggered by a cold, a vigorous lifestyle during the wet season helps to prevent this disease. However, if an infection has occurred in the nasopharynx, you should not blow too hard when cleaning your nose, so as not to push the pathogens into the Eustachian tube. Smokers should stop or reduce their cigarette consumption with such an infection in order to eliminate at least one risk factor.
Aftercare
As a rule, tube catarrh is not an independent disease, but is caused by a cold, sinusitis or a cold. The mucous membranes in the ear become inflamed, and the tube catarrh is associated with earache and impaired hearing for the patient. Aftercare is advisable to counteract consequential damage in the ear. The short to medium term goal is the complete healing of the catarrh.
Therapy and aftercare are carried out by the ear, nose and throat doctor. Tubal catarrh is treated with medication. The person concerned receives ear drops against the inflammation, and painkillers are also prescribed if necessary. Follow-up care is discontinued when the catarrh has been successfully eliminated. In severe cases, an operation is necessary, in which the ENT surgeon inserts an artificial ventilation tube in the ear.
In the clinic, the doctor monitors the healing process. Follow-up care at the hospital ends when you are discharged, but you should still attend regular check-ups. The doctor makes sure that the artificial tube is tolerated by the body. After a year at the latest, it detaches itself and is no longer needed.
In the event of an acute deterioration or recurring tube catarrh, the patient must go to the practice immediately. Treatment and follow-up care start again. At the doctor’s discretion, (further) surgery may be necessary to prevent future catarrhs.
You can do that yourself
Tubal catarrh must always be clarified by an audiologist. The passage of the auditory tube can sometimes be opened without surgery or surgical intervention, for example by excessive and intensive swallowing, yawning and chewing. Regular jaw movements and pressure equalization are effective remedies for painful ear problems. Ear drops may need to be taken at the same time. Heat treatment in the form of warm baths or applications with steam is also recommended.
After an operation in which a ventilation tube is inserted into the eardrum, the affected ear canal must be checked regularly. After six to twelve months, the body rejects the tube on its own. Nevertheless, a doctor should be consulted regularly, especially if unusual symptoms or complications arise.
Since tube catarrh is an inflammation, anti-inflammatories and, if necessary, antibiotics must be taken to relieve the symptoms. If the symptoms do not improve as a result, medical advice is required. Sometimes the conservative therapy can be treated with anti-inflammatory drugs from naturopathy. Medicines made from marigolds and St. John’s wort, for example, have proven effective.
