Outer ear inflammation, unfortunately, is not uncommon. Otitis externa affects people who swim in water or injured the skin of the auricle and ear canal. This variant of otitis media can be not only microbial, but also fungal in nature and in many cases is characterized by a combined infection. The variety of probable reasons for the development of otitis externa is quite large. Since the disease can occur on vacation or in an area where it is difficult to get to a medical facility, it is necessary to have an idea of how to treat otitis externa at home. In addition, some patients deliberately abandon pharmacological medications in favor of home prescriptions, which requires knowledge of traditional medicine.
Treatment principles
Otitis externa is a disease that is traditionally considered much less dangerous than otitis media. However, the possibility of treatment at home depends on what symptoms of otitis externa are observed. Not all cases of ear inflammation can be cured on their own without qualified medical attention. With a purulent form of inflammation, antibiotics cannot be dispensed with, and a furuncle of the external auditory canal (limited otitis externa) may be accompanied by severe pain in the ear, general malaise, and fever. Folk remedies can be used only as ancillary, and antibiotic therapy should be the main one.
It is urgently necessary to contact a medical institution:
- With severe ear pain.
- With pronounced swelling and redness of the ear.
- With the appearance of purulent discharge from the ear.
Otitis externa does not always occur as a primary disease and may be due to the presence of purulent otitis media.
The safety rules for treating otitis media at home are:
- refusal to use irritating agents;
- refusal of self-medication with antibacterial drugs;
- taking into account individual contraindications to the use of home remedies.
Home treatment for otitis externa is acceptable if the patient has previously consulted a doctor. A specialist otolaryngologist (ENT) deals with the problems of diagnosis and therapy of otitis, but if necessary, a general practitioner can examine the patient, give initial recommendations and referral to an ENT.
Home treatment
What to do if otitis externa occurs? Home treatment includes:
- regular toilet of the outer ear;
- the use of local therapy;
- adherence to a diet.
Ear cleansing is carried out with furacilin solution or sterile saline solution.
Since local treatment is more often prescribed for inflammation of the external ear, it is necessary to combine drugs with a different mechanism of action to achieve the best effect. However, to choose a remedy, you need to have an idea of the etiology of otitis media. In acute purulent inflammation, antibacterial drops (Normax, Polydexa) are shown, which sometimes also contain the local anesthetic Lidocaine (Anauran). If the disease is provoked by a fungal infection, Candibiotic (as part of Chloramphenicol, Beclomethasone, Clotrimazole and Lidocaine) may be recommended.
Spicy and spicy dishes, alcohol are excluded from the patient's diet. Meals should be balanced, sufficient in calories, enriched with vitamins.
Drops and solutions injected into the ear should be warmed to approximately 40 ° C. It is necessary to monitor the patient's well-being. If after a few days the symptoms remain the same or new ones appear, you should immediately consult a doctor.
With severe pain in the ear or the presence of limited external inflammation (furuncle of the external auditory canal), the patient is treated in an otolaryngological hospital. During this period, surgery and follow-up may be required to correct conservative therapy.
Folk recipes
Alternative treatment of external ear inflammation is carried out mainly with the help of herbal ingredients. Among the recommendations you can find such recipes as:
- Inserting a geranium leaf into the ear canal, which must be thoroughly washed and dried before use. The duration of the procedure is 10-15 minutes.
- Juniper berry tincture is prepared at the rate of 10 grams of the main raw material per glass of vodka. The resulting mixture must be infused for about 10 days, after which it can be used to treat otitis media. It is impregnated with a cotton swab inserted into the external auditory canal.
- Use of plantain juice in the form of ear drops.
Any components of home remedies can trigger an allergic reaction.
The homemade recipes above are not intended for children.
Honey and otitis media
Among the components of home remedies, honey deservedly takes one of the places of honor. It is included in a large number of traditional medicines. Besides being healthy, honey tastes good.
For otitis media, bee products can be used as follows:
- alcohol solution of propolis;
- honey combined with beets;
- propolis oil combined with vegetable oil.
Honey and beets are used to make a compress; the vegetable can be raw or boiled. The beetroot juice is squeezed out so that it does not drain from the compress, and the remaining raw materials are mixed with honey. In this case, 5 parts of the vegetable component are taken, 1 part of honey. The compress is made at night, folded into a bag and covered with cotton wool. You need to keep it on your ear for at least several hours.
An alcoholic solution of propolis (30%) or propolis oil (10%) in combination with vegetable oil is impregnated with turunda, which is injected into the ear canal every day for 8 hours. The course of treatment lasts from 10 to 15 days. The means used for insertion into the ear through the turunda must be warm (about 40 ° C).
Honey and bee products should not be used by patients prone to allergies.
