[Medical Q&A] Did you know that pus in the ear may be a sign of otitis media?

Planner: Chinese Medical Association

Reviewer: Guo Shubin, Chief Physician, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University

Pus discharge from the ear may seem like a minor symptom, but it may actually be a major problem of otitis media. Many people do not know enough about otitis media and think it is just a minor problem that can be tolerated. Ignoring pus discharge from the ear may worsen the condition and even affect hearing. Below, let us learn about the common causes of otitis media.

1. Improper treatment: If acute suppurative otitis media is not treated promptly and appropriately, the course of the disease may be prolonged to more than 8 weeks. Acute necrotizing otitis media will be more serious if the lesions are deep into the bone.

2. Nasopharyngeal diseases: If there are diseases in the nasopharynx such as adenoids hypertrophy, chronic tonsillitis, chronic suppurative sinusitis, etc., otitis media may recur and be difficult to cure.

3. Decreased resistance: Decreased systemic or local resistance, such as malnutrition, chronic anemia, diabetes, etc., may lead to the occurrence of otitis media.

4. Infants and young children: Because their immune function is not yet mature, acute otitis media is more likely to develop into chronic otitis media.

Otitis media not only causes pus in the ears, but if not treated in time, it may also cause hearing loss, and in severe cases, even intracranial infection. Therefore, once pus in the ears or suspected symptoms of otitis media appear, you should seek medical attention and receive professional treatment in time.