The use of ear drops for ear inflammation is an important method of treating this pathology, since it is this form of medication:
- ensures the flow of the medicinal substance directly to the damaged organ, that is, it has a purposeful action;
- characterized by the speed of action, since the drugs used in tablets begin to take effect after a certain period of time;
- characterized by the simplicity and availability of administration, which allows the patient to use it independently, in contrast to injection forms;
- differs in safety, in contrast to drugs characterized by systemic action.
Characteristics of ear drops
Ear drops for otitis media are divided into:
- agents with analgesic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory action;
- antibacterial agents;
- combined preparations, which contain substances with various therapeutic effects, including corticosteroids.
The use of ear drops for otitis media follows certain rules:
- Before instillation, the ear must be cleared of the contents in the external auditory canal, mucus, blood, pus;
- The temperature of the instilled solutions must correspond to the patient's body temperature, for which the bottle must be held in the hand or heated by placing it in warm water;
- Instillation should be carried out in a lateral position, alternately turning one side or the other.
Indications for use
The ear consists of several departments, and therefore the nature of the clinical manifestations, the course of the disease, the prognosis may differ markedly. It has its own characteristics and therapeutic tactics, due to the localization of the pathological process.
The main symptom of otitis media, both external and middle, is a pronounced pain syndrome.
Therefore, drugs that are analgesic or contain local anesthetics are of paramount importance.
For the treatment of otitis externa, manifested by diffuse inflammation of the skin of the entire external auditory canal or a limited area, it is important that the drops from otitis media contain an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory component. The presence of an antibiotic is optional, since with preserved immunity, the body can easily cope with this problem for several days. Antibiotic therapy can only be discussed when the general condition worsens, the body temperature rises to 38 degrees, and the treatment is ineffective.
Analgesic drugs
The most popular pain reliever is boric alcohol as an antiseptic. The availability and effectiveness of this tool allows us to consider the drug the best drops for otitis media for many decades. These ear drops can be used for otitis media in adults both with external localization of the process, and with damage to the middle ear.
A contraindication to their use is the presence of perforation of the tympanic membrane and suppuration. The injured tympanic membrane cannot prevent the penetration of 70% alcohol into the middle ear area and the development, in this regard, of the toxic effect. The patient's age up to one year is another limitation to the use of this remedy.
A more modern drug used to relieve pain is Otipax ear drops from otitis media. In addition to the non-steroidal inflammatory component, which has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, they include the local anesthetic lidocaine. Otinum drops for the treatment of otitis media have a sufficient anti-inflammatory effect. The absence of a local anesthetic among its components allows the drug to be used in patients with a tendency to develop allergic reactions. However, these drugs also cannot be used with the existing perforation of the tympanic membrane, since the salicylates present in their composition are toxic substances for the structures of the middle ear.
Antibacterial agents
Drops with an antibiotic are used in the treatment of otitis externa in cases where clinical symptoms become pronounced, when the patient's condition worsens and the treatment is ineffective. They are also necessary for purulent otitis media, when there is a perforation of the tympanic membrane. However, it should be borne in mind that some of the antibiotics have an ototoxic effect, which can manifest itself after the penetration of the agent into the middle ear. The literature describes cases when even a single use of antibiotics such as gentamicin, kanamycin, neomycin led to hearing loss.
Antibiotics that are part of ear drops from otitis media should be active against the most common pathogens of this disease. Most often, acute otitis media is caused by pneumococcus, moraxella and Haemophilus influenzae. As for chronic otitis media, the spectrum of potential causative agents of this disease is much wider. Proteus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa are added to this group, which complicates the choice of an effective drug.
List of drops in the ears for otitis media containing an antibiotic:
- Otofa;
- Tsipromed;
- Normax.
Otofa contains the antibiotic rifamycin. Cipromed is based on ciprofloxacin. Drops Normax is an antibiotic norfloxacin. All these drugs can be used for any localization of the inflammatory process in the ear.
Among the combined preparations, which include an antibiotic, Candibiotic is very popular. It owes its wide distribution to its components. In addition to its two antibacterial agents, a local anesthetic, one of the components is an antifungal agent. Thus, the drug is actively used in the chronic course of otitis media, when the flora is resistant to other antibacterial agents. It is also widely used for otitis externa, which can be caused by various microorganisms, including fungi.
The use of combined funds
Sofradex ear drops are very popular for otitis media. This combination drug consists of an antibiotic, an anti-inflammatory agent and a corticosteroid, which allows it to be used for otitis externa, as well as average, not accompanied by perforation of the tympanic membrane. The same group of ear drops for inflammation includes the drugs Anauran, Dekson, Polydex, in which a corticosteroid is a mandatory component, which is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent.
Combined agents should be used for ear inflammation with great care, since the presence of a perforated tympanic membrane is a contraindication for the use of not only ototoxic antibiotics, but
- alcohol-containing products;
- drugs containing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory components in their composition.
In connection with the presence of such serious restrictions, the appointment of a drop in the ear for otitis media should be done by an otolaryngologist. The specialist is reliably able to assess the clinical picture using the results of an objective examination. Quite often, when positive dynamics is already noted when using Otipax, the question of using antibacterial agents is not even raised.
In cases where thermal procedures, the use of antiseptic and anti-inflammatory solutions do not give the expected effect, the doctor can not only prescribe antibiotic therapy, but also recommend paracentesis.
Thus, when choosing drops in the ear for otitis media in adults, you must trust a specialist.
