Tubal catarrh is noticeable by stabbing pain and an unpleasant feeling of pressure in the ear. The disease is harmless and in most cases heals by itself. Only rarely do complications arise that require minor medical intervention.
What is tubal catarrh?
Tubal catarrh is an inflammation of the Eustachian tube that creates a permanent negative pressure in the middle ear. The patient feels as if the ear is closed and complains of mild pain. The Eustachian tube is a connecting passage about four centimeters long between the middle ear and the throat, also called the tube or eustachian tube. The negative pressure occurs because the tube closes due to inflammation. It becomes difficult to equalize the pressure between the middle ear and the outside air. This condition often occurs as a result of a cold. If the inflammation becomes chronic, it is called a tympanic effusion, which can lead to hearing loss. Negative pressure in the middle ear also occurs during diving and flying. In this case, it is called barotrauma.
Causes
Tubal catarrh often accompanies a cold. If the patient suffers from inflammation in the nose, throat, or middle ear, the pathogens sometimes reach the Eustachian tube and trigger tube catarrh there. Children are generally at higher risk. In young children, the Eustachian tube is still shortened and more susceptible to inflammation due to its almost horizontal position. Children also frequently suffer from enlarged pharyngeal tonsils (adenoids), which favors the development of tubal catarrh. In addition, the disease occasionally occurs as a concomitant of hay fever. Therefore, allergy sufferers are particularly frequently affected in adulthood. The same applies to smokers. Active smoking and passive inhalation of cigarette air are among the greatest risk factors.
Symptoms, complaints, and signs
In tubal catarrh, symptoms are present in one or both ears. Most often, sufferers struggle with hearing problems. Other signs, which are often associated with flu, accompany the acute disease. If tube catarrh is not treated by a doctor, it can become chronic. Patients then suffer from permanent hearing loss. Noise and dizziness are present in everyday situations. Basically, children are more susceptible to the inflammation of the middle ear. As a result, the diagnosis of tubal catarrh occurs significantly more frequently in minors than in adults. In the initial stage, those affected describe a feeling of pressure. This is accompanied by a murmur. Tones and sounds cannot be clearly perceived. Sometimes sufferers describe having the impression that they are wearing a glass bell over their heads. Communication with other people is made significantly more difficult by the signs. Acute tubal catarrh leads to only short-term restrictions with appropriate treatment. In addition to perceptual disturbances, there are other signs on a regular basis. Hearing loss is accompanied by ear pain. Flu-like symptoms such as fever or increased temperature are present. Rhinitis and sore throat are also common. Doctors often diagnose sinusitis in this context. Some patients even complain of sudden attacks of dizziness, which make it impossible to participate in the usual daily routine.
Diagnosis and course
Sharp pain in the middle ear indicates tubal catarrh. The pain is not as severe as that of a middle ear infection. Sometimes fluid also leaks from the ear and hearing is impaired. In addition, patients report a cracking sound in the ear. The doctor will use an otoscope to examine the patient’s ear canal to diagnose the condition. In adulthood, tubal catarrh rarely causes major problems. In many cases, it heals without treatment after a short time. If it does not, there is a risk that the tubal catarrh will become chronic. In this case, the chain of ossicles hardens, which can lead to hearing loss. Sometimes surgery is necessary, which can be performed under local anesthesia.
Complications
Tubal catarrh leads to very unpleasant discomfort in the ears. Those affected suffer from severe ear pain and likewise a distinct feeling of pressure in the ear. Furthermore, hearing difficulties also occur, so that the everyday life of patients is significantly limited.Furthermore, the disease can also lead to severe ringing in the ears, so that those affected suffer from sleep problems and irritability. Dizziness or even vomiting can also occur due to the disease. Furthermore, those affected suffer from a blocked nose or a cold. Severe sore throat or various inflammations in the nose can also occur. Inflammation can also occur in the ears. Often, the concentration is also significantly disturbed by the severe ear pain. Complications do not occur during the treatment of the disease. The discomfort is relieved with the help of medication. Various exercises can also ventilate the ear to prevent further infections and inflammations. However, in severe cases, the affected people depend on surgical intervention. Even in this case, complications do not occur and a positive course of the disease is established. The life expectancy of the affected person is not reduced by the disease.
When should one go to the doctor?
In the case of tubal catarrh, immediate treatment by a doctor is always required. In this case, severe complications can occur if left untreated, and in the worst case, the affected person may suffer complete hearing loss. Therefore, a medical professional should be contacted at the first symptoms and signs of this condition. A doctor should be consulted in case of tubal catarrh if the affected person suffers from sudden hearing loss. Inflammation in the middle ear may also be indicative of this disease and must also continue to be examined. Some sufferers also experience high fever and severe pain in the ears. At the same time, dizziness or disturbances in perception also indicate this disease. Also the usual symptoms and discomforts of a flu occur in a tube catarrh not infrequently as concomitant complaints and can thereby also point to the disease. This disease is treated by an ENT physician. If the doctor is consulted early, the disease can be treated relatively well and there are no further complications or discomfort.
Treatment and therapy
Tubal catarrh is treated in conventional medicine with decongestant nasal drops. Naturopathy relies on steam baths with essential oils and Swedish herbs. Inhalations and heat radiation are also considered extremely helpful in eliminating tubal catarrh. Medical professionals also recommend performing mechanical exercises to unblock the blockage in the ear. This involves holding the nose and mouth. At the same time, you try to blow out air. This creates pressure in the ear, which helps the mucus to flow out. The ear is ventilated, so to speak. It is recommended to perform this exercise every hour during acute tubal catarrh. If the inflammation does not heal despite these measures, medical treatment is necessary. In some cases, a small operation must be performed. Under local anesthesia, the doctor incises the patient’s eardrum. With the help of a thin tube, the mucus is sucked out of the ear to allow the inflammation to heal. In children, this procedure is usually performed under anesthesia.
Prevention
Since tubal catarrh is usually triggered by a cold, a vital lifestyle during the wet season helps prevent this disease. However, if an infection in the nasopharynx has occurred, one should not blow too hard when blowing the nose so as not to push the pathogens into the eustachian tube. Smokers should stop or reduce their cigarette consumption if they have such an infection to eliminate at least one risk factor.
Follow-up
Usually, tubal catarrh is not a disease in its own right, but is caused by a cold, sinusitis, or the common cold. The mucous membranes in the ear become inflamed, and for the patient, tubal catarrh is associated with ear pain and impaired hearing. Follow-up care is advisable to counteract subsequent damage to the ear. The short- to medium-term goal is the complete healing of the catarrh. Therapy and aftercare are carried out by the ear, nose and throat specialist. Tubal catarrh is treated with medication. The affected person receives ear drops against the inflammation, and painkillers are also prescribed if necessary. Follow-up care is discontinued when the catarrh has been successfully eliminated. In severe cases, surgery is necessary, in which the ENT surgeon inserts an artificial tympanostomy tube into the ear.In the clinic, the physician monitors the healing process. Aftercare at the hospital ends with discharge, but regular check-ups should still be made. The doctor makes sure that the artificial tube is tolerated by the body. After one year at the latest, it detaches itself and is no longer needed. In the event of acute deterioration or recurrent tubal catarrh, the patient must visit the doctor’s office immediately. Treatment and follow-up care resume. At the physician’s discretion, (further) surgery may be necessary to prevent future catarrh.
Here’s what you can do yourself
Tubal catarrh must always be clarified with an ear specialist. The passage of the Eustachian tube can be opened in some circumstances completely without surgery or surgical intervention, for example by swallowing excessively and intensively, yawning and chewing. Regular jaw movements as well as pressure equalization are effective remedies for the painful ear condition. Accompanying ear drops may need to be taken. Heat treatment in the form of warm baths or applications with steam is also recommended. After an operation in which a tympanic tube is inserted into the eardrum, the affected ear canal must be checked regularly. After six to twelve months, the body will reject the tube on its own. Nevertheless, a doctor should be consulted regularly, especially if unusual symptoms or complications occur. Since tubal catarrh is an inflammation, anti-inflammatories and, if necessary, antibiotics must be taken to relieve the symptoms. If this does not improve the symptoms, medical advice is needed. Sometimes conservative therapy can be treated with anti-inflammatory remedies from natural medicine. For example, medicines made from marigolds as well as St. John’s wort have proven effective.
