Ear Disorders
***BE ABLE TO INTERPRET WEBER AND RINNE EXAM FINDINGS***
External Ear
Cerumen Impaction
MCC of conductive hearing loss
Do NOT use cue-tips for cerumen removal
Use hydrogen peroxide to soften wax then irrigate or use tiny curette
Otitis externa
MCC Pseudomonas
Pain when pulling pinna or tragus
Tx: Topical Abx
Inner Ear
Eustachian Tube Dysfunction
Pressure difference from the inner to outer ear
This happens when you take off on an airplane and you see people around you yawning or chewing gum (which is the treatment to help equalize the pressure)
Vertigo / Labyrinthitis / Meneires Disease
The table and break down of vertigo in PANCE Prep Pearls is unmatched. It breaks down the symptoms and presentations for patients with Central vs Peripheral Vertigo and the pathologies associated with them.
Middle Ear
Cholesteatoma
Gradual onset of symptoms
Abnormal tissue starts to erode the middle ear ossicles over time leading to hearing loss
**PAINLESS discharge**
TM perforation
Acute hearing loss / pain
Visualized on physical exam
Tx: COVER EAR IN SHOWER UNTIL HEALED
Other abnormalities of the ear
Mastoiditis
Infection of the mastoid bone behind the ear
(Look for the kid with the anterior protruding ear)
Dx: CT scan
Tx: IV Abx
Tinnitus
Ringing of the ears
Could be symptom of another pathology
(Think about the ototoxic drugs that cause tinnitus: Aspirin, NSAIDS, aminoglycosides, Loop diuretics)
For additional questions and explanations click below!
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