What causes acute otitis media?
Dec 06, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Xu Gang
Introduction
Acute otitis media, clinically also known as acute tympanitis, is generally caused by unhygienic practices such as using unclean ear picks to clean the ears, which may damage the ear canal mucosa, leading to ulceration and bleeding, thereby causing bacterial or viral infections. Other causes include consuming excessively spicy or greasy foods that may affect the eardrum, or having untreated external otitis or otitis media, where persistent inflammation is not promptly addressed.
Acute tympanitis is also known clinically as acute drum membrane inflammation. It is generally caused by hygiene issues, dietary factors, or the spread of inflammatory infections.
1. Hygiene Issues
If ear hygiene is neglected for a prolonged period and unclean ear picks are used to clean the ears, it may lead to ulceration and bleeding of the ear canal mucosa, resulting in bacterial or viral infections that cause acute tympanitis. It is important to maintain good personal hygiene, keep the ears clean, and be gentle when cleaning the ears.
2. Dietary Factors
Long-term consumption of spicy, greasy, or irritating foods can adversely affect bodily organs. If such effects extend to the eardrum, acute tympanitis may develop. It is advisable to improve dietary habits by eating清淡 (light) meals, maintaining proper nutrition, ensuring a balanced diet, and drinking plenty of water.
3. Spread of Inflammatory Infections
If external otitis or otitis media is left untreated, persistent inflammation may spread via inflammatory mediators to involve the eardrum, leading to inflammatory changes in the eardrum and resulting in acute tympanitis.
In addition to the above causes, other factors such as upper respiratory tract infections may also contribute.
