Local anesthetic for oral pain relief and sore throat. Used topically for local anesthesia of mucous membranes. Applied topically for ear pain relief and cerumen removal
Ruptured eardrum is a hole in the tissue separating ear canal from middle ear. Can cause hearing loss and make middle ear vulnerable to infections. Usually heals within few weeks without treatment
Ear consists of outer, middle, and inner parts. Eardrum separates outer and middle ear. Inner ear converts sound vibrations to nerve signals
Impacted wax can block ear canal and cause pain. Eustachian tube dysfunction occurs during rapid pressure changes. Swimmer's ear results from trapped water breeding germs. Middle ear infections are most common cause of ear pain. Cold and allergies can block middle ear tubes
Eustachian tubes connect middle ears to upper throat behind nose. Adult tubes slope 35 degrees, child tubes only 10 degrees. Made of bone, cartilage, and fibrous tissue with cilia. Six muscles control tube opening and closing
AOM occurs in 80-90% of children before school age. Most common organisms are S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, and M. catarrhalis. Diagnosis requires moderate-severe bulging of tympanic membrane. Pneumatic otoscopy is 70-90% sensitive for detecting middle ear effusion