Dull Ear????????????

Question

The doctor has just told me that my daughter has dull ear and she needs to see a specialist - can any one tell me what this is please

Answer 1

Earache and deafness can occur commonly together with a "cold". The upper respiratory virus causes inflammation in the throat, sinuses and nasal passages.

A consequence of this inflammation is that the Eustachian tube (running between the middle ear cavity and the back of the throat) gets blocked. Normally, the throat end of the Eustachian tube is opened every time we swallow and this keeps the middle ear cavity at atmospheric pressure. When the Eustachian tube is blocked, the nitrogen in the trapped air is absorbed into the skin lining it and the pressure falls. This produces two consequence; the goblet cells lining the middle ear cavity produce mucus or "glue" which fills the cavity and the ear drum gets sucked inwards because it is the only flexible part of the middle ear apparatus. You can probably guess that sucking the ear drum makes it tauter and less able to sense air vibration. This is deafness!

When associated with a cold this whole process is called "acute otitis media". The doctor will see a dull, red, retracted ear drum when looking inside the ear. Sometimes it is possible to see bubbles behind the drum where some air has got in via the throat and mixed with the glue.

So much for the explanation. Now the bad news! Treatment is not terribly effective. It is really all symptomatic treatment (deals with how you feel, not the cause) and is much the same as the medicines we recommend for a "cold". Painkillers, decongestants and inhalations all help. Antibiotics are usually not indicated in adults. 9 out of 10 cases are cause by viruses which are not killed by antibiotics. Sometimes putting some warm olive oil into the ear will help.

If you have a sleepless night with earache it is best to get it checked at the Health Centre the following morning.

Sometimes, the ear drum will perforate with the pressure of glue in the middle ear. This will produce a discharging ear and it is best to be prescribed antibiotics to protect the ear. The perforation normally heals very rapidly once the infection settles.

The deafness arising from otitis media can last for weeks after the cold and earache have long gone. This is because it can take time for the glue to resolve and for air to re-enter the middle ear. If the problem persists beyond 4-6 weeks, it is worth having an appointment.

Answer 2

This is all I could find.
She needs to see a good ENT.
Good luck to you.
http://www.bcm.edu/oto/studs/exam.html

Answer 3

glue ear perhaps - may need grommets - how old is she?