The consequences of drinking alcohol with otitis media
Mar 26, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Xu Gang
Introduction
The consequences of drinking alcohol with otitis media may exacerbate inflammation, cause severe vascular congestion, and significantly increase purulent secretions and fluid exudation in the middle ear. Alcohol may irritate the stomach, leading to gastroesophageal reflux, allowing gastric contents to flow backward into the nasopharynx, promoting bacterial growth and causing new infections. Drinking alcohol during otitis media may also damage the skull base bone, resulting in intracranial infection and inducing meningitis.
Under normal circumstances, drinking alcohol when suffering from otitis media may lead to consequences such as worsening inflammation, triggering gastroesophageal reflux, and inducing meningitis. A detailed analysis is as follows:
1. Worsening inflammation
Alcohol stimulation may exacerbate inflammation, causing severe vascular congestion and significantly increasing purulent secretions and fluid exudation within the middle ear.
2. Triggering gastroesophageal reflux
After drinking, alcohol may irritate the stomach, leading to gastroesophageal reflux. Stomach contents may flow backward into the nasopharynx and enter the tympanic cavity, creating an environment conducive to bacterial growth, which could cause new infections, worsen the patient's condition, and prolong treatment duration.
3. Inducing meningitis
Drinking alcohol during otitis media may aggravate the condition, damage the skull base bone, cause intracranial infection, and subsequently induce meningitis.
In addition, it may also increase the risk of middle ear cancer. Otitis media can be treated under a doctor's guidance with antibiotic medications, commonly used ones including Amoxicillin Capsules, Cefixime Dispersible Tablets, and Roxithromycin Capsules, which help combat infection.
