Eustachitis is a disease of the auditory (Eustachian) tube. It is inextricably linked with the pathology of the tympanic cavity, therefore, terms that combine both diseases are not often used: “salpingo-otitis” or “tubo-otitis”.

The reasons

The cause of acute eustachitis is often a disorder of the functions of the auditory tube, expressed to varying degrees, leading to a violation of the ventilation of the tympanic cavity. The patency of the pharyngeal mouth of the tube can be impaired when the infection spreads from the upper respiratory tract to the mucous membrane of the auditory tube.

Infection of the auditory tube occurs with acute respiratory diseases, influenza, and in children, in addition, with acute infectious diseases accompanied by catarrh of the upper respiratory tract. Anterior and posterior tamponade (due to bleeding from the nose or after surgery) can also be the cause of eustachitis. The etiological factor is viruses, streptococci, staphylococci, etc.

Symptoms

Feeling of stuffiness in the ear, hearing loss, sometimes tinnitus, autophony (resonation of one’s own voice in the affected ear). It is not often that these complaints are discovered during an acute respiratory infection or during convalescence thereafter. Ear congestion can occur during or as a result of a change in atmospheric pressure, for example, when flying in an airplane.

Pain and a feeling of pressure in the ear can be severe and appear immediately with a pressure drop, or they are not pronounced, the general condition suffers little.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of eustachitis does not cause difficulties in the presence of marked signs of the disease.

Treatment

In order to reduce the swelling of the mucous membrane in this area, the patient is prescribed vasoconstrictor nasal drops: naphthyzine, sanorin, tizin, nazivin, etc. Antihistamine products (suprastin, hismanal, claritin, etc.) contribute to the reduction of swelling of the mucous membrane. To prevent the throwing of infected mucus from the nasopharynx through the auditory tube into the tympanic cavity, the sick person should be warned against blowing his nose too vigorously. The nose should be cleansed alternately each half of the nose and at the same time do not strain too much.