Chronic otitis media
Kronisk mellemørebetændelse - "væske i mellemøret"
Chronic otitis media is a bit of a strange term, as the condition is neither an inflammation nor a chronic one. Rather, it is a condition where there is secretion in the middle ear and which is easily treated. The condition sometimes goes away on its own, but in some cases the condition does not go away until something active is done, such as placing a drain in the eardrum.
Chronic otitis media - or "fluid in the middle ear" typically causes both ear pain and hearing loss, as well as thick discharge from the ear. Chronic otitis media is very common among children of institutional age, but adults can also be affected. Children and parents often see an otolaryngologist after a prolonged period of poor sleep and changed behavior. This is often a good reason to check the children's ears.
Uanset alder er kronisk mellemørebetændelse og væske i mellemøret meget ubehageligt, og kan være årsag til mange urolige og søvnløse nætter for hele familien.
At Charlottenlund Private Hospital, we treat both children and adults with chronic otitis media (fluid in the ears). If you or your child has symptoms of fluid in the middle ear, Charlottenlund Private Hospital always offers quick appointments for examination and treatment. Contact us to make an appointment by clicking here.
Baggrund: Hvad er kronisk mellemørebetændelse?
Øret består af det ydre øre, mellemøret og det indre øre. Der kan opstå væskeophobning i mellemøret – oftest i forbindelse med, eller efter en forkølelse.
The most common cause of chronic otitis media or fluid in the middle ear is usually a result of a common cold, where the narrow passage (also called the Eustachian tube), which connects the middle ear to the pharynx, swells up and thus closes off, which reduces the ability to equalize pressure in the middle ear and negative pressure in the middle ear occurs. Negative pressure in the middle ear is completely normal in small children, but when the middle ear has been exposed to negative pressure for a longer period of time, the mucous membrane in the middle ear begins to produce a thick secretion that has the consistency of contact glue - hence the English name "Glue Ear". The fluid in the middle ear dampens the movements of the eardrum and therefore causes hearing loss, just as it presses on the eardrum - especially when lying down where the pressure increases - which causes pain in the ears and often wakes small children - and not least the rest of the family - at night.
Tilstanden forsvinder ofte af sig selv men såfremt der ikke er nogen fremgang efter nogle måneders observation, vil speciallægen typisk tilbyde at lægge et lille dræn ved en operation i fuld bedøvelse, som aflaster øret. Derved forsvinder smerter og hørenedsættelse med det samme.
Watch Sundhed.dk's animation of how otitis media works.
Ofte stillede spørgsmål
What is chronic otitis media?
Det er meget vigtigt at skelne mellem akut og kronisk mellemørebetændelse.
Acute otitis media is a very painful infection with bacteria or viruses that causes pus and inflammation in the middle ear, which causes high fever and pronounced pain. Due to the rapid development and large production of inflammation, it often ends with the eardrum bursting and a mixture of pus and inflammation flowing from the ear, which provides immediate pain relief.
In the vast majority of cases, the body is able to fight otitis media itself. The pain will typically disappear after 2-4 days, after which the condition can progress to a less painful but more chronic condition, where there is simply fluid and secretions in the middle ear.
Hvis denne tilstand ikke går over, eller den akutte mellemørebetændelse bliver ved med at komme igen, kan det komme på tale at behandle med et dræn, hvilket med det samme skaber normalt tryk i mellemøret, hvorved forholdene som skabte væsken i mellemøret normaliseres.
Kronisk mellemørebetændelse skal undersøges og behandles af en øre-næse-hals-læge, da det ofte kan være svært for ikke-speciallæger at stille den korrekte diagnose.
Behandling af kronisk mellemørebetændelse foregår ved, at man i fuld bedøvelse indsætter et lille dræn i trommehinden, hvorefter mellemøret suges tomt for væske. Hele operationen er overstået på ganske få minutter og medfører øjeblikkelig normalisering af hørelsen, ligesom de natlige smerter og skrigeture stopper.
På Charlottenlund Privathospital har vores erfarne øre-næse-hals-læger behandlet mange tusinde patienter med kronisk mellemørebetændelse og kan også behandle Dem eller Deres barn.
I nogle tilfælde oplever forældrene den lidt frustrerende situation, at på trods af at alle symptomer har peget i retning af, at årsagen til den lilles søvnløse nætter skulle være i ørerne, så fejler ørene ingenting trods gentagne grundige undersøgelser.
Håbet er jo ofte, at hvis bare der kunne lægges et dræn så ville alting blive godt - men det hjælper jo ikke at lægge dræn på raske børn.
In these situations, we always advise parents to have the child examined to see if they either have reflux (typically children who have regurgitated a lot as infants), or if the child has signs of chronic constipation or perhaps musculoskeletal problems that a chiropractor can help with.
Uanset om vi finder noget galt med ørerne eller ej, vil i som forældre altid får råd og vejledning med som du kan bruge når du går herfra.
Video som viser anlæggelse af dræn i trommehinden.
Bestil tid til behandling af kronisk mellemørebetændelse
Hvis du lider af kronisk mellemørebetændelse, og ønsker at blive behandlet hos os, er du velkommen til at kontakte os. Vores sekretærer står klar til at hjælpe og besvare eventuelle spørgsmål samt at finde tid til både forundersøgelse og operation.