Eustachian Tube Dysfunction in Doomsday

Disclaimer.  I am not a licensed health practitioner.  This is just another post on knowledge and understanding you might wish to acquire in advance of a disaster in case no higher care is available.  As long as our society is functioning, you should leave anything more substantial than applying a Band-Aid to the professionals.  No medication, including those available over the counter, should be taken without consulting a physician.  Information shared here is for educational and entertainment purposes only.  It is not medical advice nor a substitute for licensed medical care. 


Now here's an interesting question, at least to me.  What if you have a child complaining of ear pain, but there is no fever, which suggests that there is no bacterial infection?  This is often a Eustachian tube dysfunction, where the middle ear is blocked, like with a middle ear infection, but there is no bacteria involved.  It often occurs with colds and hay fever.

Because this is not a bacterial infection, antibiotics will do nothing.  In previous generations, before antibiotic use became widespread, such an ear would often be lanced by the family physician.  However, this is something most practicing physicians, with the exception of ENTs, are totally unfamiliar with.  Regardless, the dysfunction usually resolves on its own, without any treatment at all.

Unfortunately, the child is still in pain.  While pain relief is the main purpose of treatment, treatment is also a way of ruling out other more serious issues and confirming the diagnosis.  Normal doses of Tylenol or Advil should significantly lessen the pain, as will hot compresses or a heating pad.  Sudafed and/or Afrin may also be used, especially if there is significant nasal congestion.  If, on the other hand, the patient worsens, the problem could be meningitis, and finding a physician should be done if at all possible.

What happens if the eardrum ruptures?  That's entirely possible, but it's not the end of the world.  It's not even close.  If the eardrum is stretched too thin, it may indeed rupture, and the fluid (possibly bloody mucus or pus) may leak out.  If that happens, do not wash the ear out under any circumstances.  You do not want to risk introducing bacteria into the eardrum in this situation.  In most cases, a ruptured eardrum will heal just fine without any other intervention or antibiotics

Links to related posts:
Ear Infections

 29 october 2019