The term infectious myringitis describes an inflammation of the tympanic membrane due to an infection with distinct types of pathogens.
Presentation
Patients suffering from IM usually seek medical attention after the subacute onset of the following symptoms:
- Ear congestion and mild hearing loss
- Sensation of fullness or increased pressure in the ear
- Otalgia
- Otorrhea
- Pruritus
Of note, infants may not be able to describe these symptoms and merely manifest their discomfort in form of sleep disturbances, feeding difficulties and constant crying.
The nature and severity of clinical symptoms may hint at a particular causative agent [3]. In this context, Streptococcus pneumoniae has been shown to cause more severe disease than other pathogens commonly associated with IM and AOM. Moraxella catarrhalis is of rather low virulence and rarely results in complications. Infections with haemophilus influenzae frequently comprise both ears and eyes, and these patients may be diagnosed with conjunctivitis-otitis syndrome [6] [7].
Entire Body System
- Feeding Difficulties
difficulties and constant crying. [symptoma.com]
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Infant Death Syndrome 273 Diagnostic Options 274 Paediatric Thyroid Disease 277 Physiology 278 Investigation of the Thyroid Gland 279 UltrasonographyComputed Tomography Magnetic Resonance Imaging 280 Syndromes Associated with Thyroid Abnormalities 281 [books.google.com]
- Hunting
Otomycosis uden specifikation H62.2D Otomycosis uden specification H60.8B Otitis externa allergica H61.0 Perichondritis auris externae H62.0A Otitis externa, erysipelas H62.1B Otitis externa, zoster Top L03.2 Erysipelas faciei A46.9 Erysipelas B02.2C Ramsay-Hunt [audioweb.dk]
Ears
- Otalgia
Patients suffering from IM usually seek medical attention after the subacute onset of the following symptoms: Ear congestion and mild hearing loss Sensation of fullness or increased pressure in the ear Otalgia Otorrhea Pruritus Of note, infants may not [symptoma.com]
Bullous Myringitis This is a painful infection characterized by bullae on the tympanic membrane (TM), which has a richly innervated outer epithelium (hence the severe otalgia). [foamcast.org]
The tympanic membrane becomes very thickened and bulging, resulting in a conductive hearing loss, pain, and otalgia. A fever occurs. Landmarks are difficult to view. In children, the mastoid area may be tender and swollen. [app1.unmc.edu]
Other complaints include otalgia, itching, aural fullness, hearing loss, and tinnitus. 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8 Some authors define myringitis as having an intact tympanic membrane with no hearing deficit 1, 9 whereas others say that perforations are part of [entokey.com]
[…] syndrom) Q90.9 Down's syndrom uden specifikation Q96.9 Turner's syndrom uden specifikation Q98.4 Klinefelter's syndrom uden specifikation E76.0 Hurler-Scheie's syndrom E76.1 Hunter's syndrom P35.0 Kongenit rubella syndrom Top Variae H93.1 Tinnitus H92.0 Otalgia [audioweb.dk]
Psychiatrical
- Hunger
Well Photo Credit Illustration by Celia Jacobs Outrunning Hunger Intense exercise may change the way certain neurons influence our appetite and metabolism. [nytimes.com]
Neurologic
- Aphasia
Q12.0 Cataracta congenita Q13.0 Coloboma iridis Q13.5 Blå sclerae R62.0 Retarderst psykomotorisk udvikling R47.8 Andre og ikke specificereds taleforstyrrelser R49.0 Dysphonia R49. 1 Aphonia R49.2 Rhinolalia R49.8 Phonastenia R47.0A Dysphasia R47.0B Aphasia [audioweb.dk]
- Dysphasia
[…] retinae heriditaria Q12.0 Cataracta congenita Q13.0 Coloboma iridis Q13.5 Blå sclerae R62.0 Retarderst psykomotorisk udvikling R47.8 Andre og ikke specificereds taleforstyrrelser R49.0 Dysphonia R49. 1 Aphonia R49.2 Rhinolalia R49.8 Phonastenia R47.0A Dysphasia [audioweb.dk]
Workup
Myringitis is diagnosed clinically and in order to do so, the eardrum should be carefully inspected using an otoscope. It is often necessary to clear the external auditory canal from inflammatory secretions and debris to visualize the eardrum. In general, an inflamed tympanic membrane is less translucent than a healthy eardrum. Common signs of inflammation may be observed, with erythema being most characteristic but not pathognomonic of IM. In severe cases, a perforation of the eardrum may be noted.
The aspect of the tympanic membrane may allow for more descriptive diagnoses like bullous myringitis (fluid-filled blisters surrounded by erythematous, opaque tissue), hemorrhagic myringitis (intense redness and possibly blood clots), granular myringitis (presence of granulation tissue) [8], or combinations thereof [9]. However, neither of those diagnoses provides an explanation as to the pathogenesis of the disease. The association of a determined infectious agent with an inflammation of the tympanic membrane requires its isolation or detection by means of other methods, e.g., culture, molecular biological assays. In practice, this is rarely done. Patients are generally treated with analgesics and antibiotics, and further diagnostic measures are reserved for non-responders and those presenting with complicated disease.
Because IM is commonly associated with AOM, pneumatic otoscopy, tympanometry, and acoustic reflectometry may be indicated [10]. In this context, bulging of the tympanic membrane is a strong indicator of middle ear effusion due to AOM.
Treatment
Rhinosinusitis in Children 307 Morphogenesis Epidemiology and Pathophysiology 308 Classification and Definitions 310 Chronic Rhinosinusitis 311 Diagnosis 312 Respiratory Allergy 313 Therapeutic Management 314 Additional Medical Therapy 316 Surgical Treatment [books.google.com]
The information herein should not be during any medical or for the diagnosis or treatment of any condition. A licensed professional should be for diagnosis and treatment of any and all conditions. [pillsbase.com]
Prognosis
Outlook (Prognosis) Most neuralgias are not life threatening and are not signs of other life-threatening disorders. For severe pain that does not improve, see a pain specialist so that you can explore all treatment options. [mclaren.org]
[…] proteinuria ;o Conjunctivitis ;o Episcleritis ;o Uveitis ;o ß-hemolytic streptococcal infections ;o Staphylococcal infection ;o Mycoplasma infection ;o Bullous myringitis ;o Orchitis ;o Parotitis ;o Monoarticular arthritis ;o Jaundice EXPECTED COURSE/PROGNOSIS [enotes.tripod.com]
Etiology
The following bacteria are most commonly isolated from patients suffering from IM and other forms of AOM [2] [3]:
As has been implied above, pathogens accounting for upper respiratory infection may spread to the ears and compromise the tympanic membranes. While some of the aforementioned bacteria may fall into this category, viruses are better known to cause such complications, particularly [4]:
Of note, fungi may cause IM, but this condition is rare. It mostly affects immunocompromised patients [5].
Epidemiology
Decannulation 252 Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis 255 Historical Perspective 256 Epidemiology 258 Disease Progression and Complications 259 Managing RRP in Children 260 AnesthesiaAirway Management Techniques 261 Adjuvant Medical Therapy 262 Photodynamic [books.google.com]
Epidemiology: Diabetics, immunocompromised Etiology: Pseudomonas (90%) Treatment: Pediatrics- imipenem or an aminoglycoside and an antispeudomonal penicillin. [foamcast.org]
"Diagnosis, microbial epidemiology, and antibiotic treatment of acute otitis media in children: a systematic review". JAMA. 304 (19): 2161–9. doi : 10.1001/jama.2010.1651. [en.wikipedia.org]
Long-term epidemiology of infections with Mycoplasma pneumoniae. J Infect Dis 1979; 139:681. 8. Kim EK, Youn YS, Rhim JW, et al. Epidemiological comparison of three Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia epidemics in a single hospital over 10 years. [qq8oji.tokyo-med.ac.jp]
Pathophysiology
RRP in Children 260 AnesthesiaAirway Management Techniques 261 Adjuvant Medical Therapy 262 Photodynamic Therapy 263 Pharynx and Oesophagus 266 Ontogeny of Oesophageal Motor Function 269 The Oesophageal Phase 270 Oesophageal Sphincter Physiology 271 Pathophysiology [books.google.com]
Interestingly, this patient had a history of a mastoidectomy on the right side for treatment of presumed cholesteatoma. 13.3 Pathophysiology The pathophysiology of myringitis is not completely understood. [entokey.com]
Prevention
Rapidly find the answers you need with separate sections on diseases and disorders, differential diagnosis, clinical algorithms, laboratory results, and clinical preventive services, plus an at-a-glance format that uses cross-references, outlines, bullets [books.google.com]
Treatment consists of: analgesics, such as aspirin or acetaminophen, to relieve pain application of heat to the external ear codeine for severe pain systemic or topical antibiotics to prevent or treat secondary infection incision of blebs and evacuation [medical-clinic.org]
Summary
Infectious myringitis (IM) is an inflammation of the tympanic membrane due to an infection with distinct types of pathogens. IM is often considered a form of acute otitis media (AOM) and accordingly, the broad spectrum of agents that may cause AOM may also be involved in eardrum infections. However, IM may not only be associated with a more extensive inflammation of auricular tissues but commonly occurs in the temporal context of upper respiratory infection. Most IM patients are children [1].
References
- Bhutta MF. Epidemiology and pathogenesis of otitis media: construction of a phenotype landscape. Audiol Neurootol. 2014; 19(3):210-223.
- Block SL. Causative pathogens, antibiotic resistance and therapeutic considerations in acute otitis media. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1997; 16(4):449-456.
- Palmu AA, Herva E, Savolainen H, Karma P, Makela PH, Kilpi TM. Association of clinical signs and symptoms with bacterial findings in acute otitis media. Clin Infect Dis. 2004; 38(2):234-242.
- Heikkinen T. Role of viruses in the pathogenesis of acute otitis media. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2000; 19(5 Suppl):S17-22; discussion S22-13.
- Ramsey AM. Diagnosis and treatment of the child with a draining ear. J Pediatr Health Care. 2002; 16(4):161-169.
- Bingen E, Cohen R, Jourenkova N, Gehanno P. Epidemiologic study of conjunctivitis-otitis syndrome. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2005; 24(8):731-732.
- Sugita G, Hotomi M, Sugita R, et al. Genetic characteristics of Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from children with conjunctivitis-otitis media syndrome. J Infect Chemother. 2014; 20(8):493-497.
- Levi JR, Ames JA, Gitman L, Morlet T, O'Reilly RC. Clinical characteristics of pediatric granular myringitis. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2013; 148(2):291-296.
- Elzir L, Saliba I. Bullous hemorrhagic myringitis. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2013; 148(2):347-348.
- Shand KD, Campe K. Innovative technologies in diagnosing acute otitis media. Jaapa. 2016; 29(1):37-41.