A Tubular catarrh is noticeable through stabbing pain and an uncomfortable feeling of pressure in the ear. The disease is harmless and in most cases heals on its own. Complications that require minor medical intervention are rare.
What is tube catarrh?
Under a Tubular catarrh one understands an inflammation of the Eustachian tube, which creates a permanent negative pressure in the middle ear. The patient has the feeling that the ear has fallen shut and complains of slight pain.
The Eustachian tube is an approximately four centimeter long connecting duct between the middle ear and the throat, which is also called a tube or ear trumpet. The negative pressure arises because the tube closes due to the inflammation. The pressure equalization between the middle ear and the outside air is made more difficult.
This disease often occurs as a result of a runny nose. If the inflammation becomes chronic, it is called a tympanic effusion, which can lead to hearing loss. There is also a negative pressure in the middle ear when diving and flying. In this case we are talking about a barotrauma.
causes
A Tubular catarrh is often a side effect of a cold. If the patient suffers from inflammation in the nose, throat or middle ear, the pathogens sometimes also reach the Eustachian tube and trigger the tubular catarrh there.
Children are generally at a higher risk. In small children, the Eustachian tube is still shortened and, due to its almost horizontal position, is more prone to inflammation. Children also often suffer from enlarged tonsils (polyps), which promotes the development of tubular catarrh.
The disease also occurs occasionally as a side effect of hay fever. Therefore, allergy sufferers are particularly often affected in adulthood. The same applies to smokers. Active smoking and passive inhalation of cigarette air are among the greatest risk factors.
Symptoms, ailments & signs
Tubular catarrh has symptoms in one or both ears. Most of those affected struggle with hearing disorders. Other symptoms that are often associated with the flu accompany the acute illness. If tube catarrh is not treated medically, it can develop into a chronic form. Then patients suffer from permanent hearing loss.
Noise and dizziness occur in everyday situations. Basically, children are more prone to middle ear inflammation. As a result, the diagnosis of tube catarrh occurs much more frequently in minors than in adults. In the early stages, those affected describe a feeling of pressure.
This is accompanied by a noise. Sounds and sounds cannot be clearly perceived. Sometimes sick people describe that they have the impression that they are carrying a glass bell over them. The signs make communication with other people much more difficult. Acute tubular catarrh only leads to short-term restrictions if treated appropriately.
In addition to perception disorders, there are also other signs. The hearing loss is accompanied by an earache. Flu symptoms such as fever or high temperature are present. A runny nose and a sore throat are also encountered. Doctors often diagnose sinusitis in this context. Some patients even complain of sudden attacks of dizziness, which make it impossible to participate in everyday life.
Diagnosis & course
Sharp pain in the middle ear suggests one Tubular catarrh down. The pain is not as severe as with an otitis media. Sometimes fluid also leaks out of the ear, and hearing is impaired.
In addition, patients report a cracking noise in their ears. The doctor will use an otoscope to examine the patient's ear canal to diagnose the condition. Tubular catarrh rarely causes major problems in adulthood. In many cases, it heals quickly without treatment. If this is not the case, there is a risk that the tubular catarrh will become chronic.
In this case, the chain of the ossicles hardens, which can lead to hearing loss. Surgery is sometimes necessary and can be performed under local anesthesia.
Complications
Tubular catarrh leads to very uncomfortable discomfort in the area of the ears. Those affected suffer from severe earache and a noticeable feeling of pressure in the ear. Furthermore, hearing problems also occur, so that the everyday life of the patients is significantly restricted. Furthermore, the disease can also lead to loud noises in the ears, so that those affected suffer from sleep problems and irritability.
Dizziness or even vomiting can also occur due to illness. Those affected also suffer from a blocked nose or runny nose. Severe sore throats or various inflammations in the nose can also occur. There may also be inflammation in the ears.
Often the concentration is clearly disturbed by the severe earache. There are no complications in treating the disease. The symptoms are alleviated with the help of medication. Various exercises can also ventilate the ear in order to avoid further infections and inflammation.
In serious cases, however, those affected are dependent on an operative intervention. Here, too, there are no complications and the disease progresses positively. The life expectancy of the person affected is not reduced by the disease.
When should you go to the doctor?
In the case of tube catarrh, immediate treatment must always be given by a doctor. If left untreated, severe complications can arise, and in the worst case scenario, the affected person can suffer complete hearing loss. Therefore, a doctor should be contacted at the first symptoms and signs of this disease. A doctor should be seen in the case of tube catarrh if the person concerned has sudden hearing loss. Inflammation in the middle ear can also indicate this disease and should also be further investigated.
Some people also have a high fever and severe pain in the ears. Dizziness or disturbances in perception also indicate this disease. The usual symptoms and complaints of the flu often appear as accompanying complaints with tubular catarrh and can also indicate the disease. This disease is treated by an ENT doctor. If the doctor is consulted early, the disease can be treated relatively well and there are no further complications or complaints.
Treatment & Therapy
A Tubular catarrh is treated in conventional medicine with decongestant nasal drops. Naturopathy relies on steam baths with essential oils and Swedish herbs. Inhalations and heat radiation are also extremely helpful in eliminating tube catarrh.
Medical professionals also recommend doing mechanical exercises to loosen the congestion in the ear. You keep your nose and mouth closed. At the same time you try to blow out air. This creates pressure in the ear that encourages the mucus to drain away. The ear is ventilated, so to speak. It is recommended that this exercise be performed every hour during acute tubal catarrh.
If the inflammation does not heal despite these measures, medical treatment is necessary. In some cases, a minor procedure must be performed. The doctor scratches the patient's eardrum under local anesthesia. A thin tube is used to suck the mucus out of the ear to allow the inflammation to heal. In children, this procedure is usually performed under anesthesia.
prevention
There a Tubular catarrh usually caused by a cold, a vital lifestyle in the wet season helps prevent this disease. However, if an infection does occur in the nasopharynx, you should not blow too hard when you blow your nose so as not to force the pathogen into the Eustachian tube. Smokers should stop or reduce their cigarette consumption with such an infection in order to eliminate at least one risk factor.
Aftercare
As a rule, tube catarrh is not an independent disease, but is caused by a cold, sinusitis or a runny nose. The mucous membranes in the ear become inflamed, and for the patient tube catarrh is associated with ear pain and impaired hearing. Follow-up care is advisable to counteract consequential damage in the ear. The short to medium term goal is the complete healing of the catarrh.
Therapy and follow-up care are carried out by the ear, nose and throat specialist. Tubular catarrh is treated with medication. The person concerned receives ear drops to treat the inflammation, and if necessary, pain medication is also prescribed. Follow-up care will be discontinued when the catarrh has been successfully eliminated. In severe cases, surgery is necessary in which the ENT surgeon inserts an artificial ventilation tube into the ear.
In the clinic, the doctor monitors the healing process. Hospital follow-up care ends with discharge, but regular check-ups should still be made. The doctor makes sure that the artificial tube is tolerated by the body. After a year at the latest, it comes off by itself and is no longer needed.
In the event of acute deterioration or recurrent tubal catarrh, the patient must visit the practice immediately. Treatment and follow-up care start again. At the doctor's discretion, (further) surgery may be necessary to prevent future catarrh.
You can do that yourself
Tubular catarrh must always be clarified by an ear specialist. The passage of the ear trumpet can sometimes be opened without surgery or surgery, for example by swallowing, yawning and chewing excessively and intensely. Regular jaw movements and pressure compensation are effective remedies for the painful ear disease. In addition, ear drops may have to be taken. Heat treatment in the form of warm baths or applications with steam is also recommended.
After an operation in which a ventilation tube is inserted into the ear drum, the affected ear canal must be checked regularly. After six to twelve months, the body pushes the tube off again on its own. Still, you should see a doctor regularly, especially if you experience unusual symptoms or complications.
Since tubular catarrh is an inflammation, anti-inflammatory drugs and possibly antibiotics must be taken to relieve the symptoms. If the symptoms do not improve as a result, medical advice is required. Sometimes conservative therapy can be treated with anti-inflammatory agents from naturopathy. Medicines made from marigolds and St. John's wort, for example, have proven effective.
