Is secretory otitis media serious?

Symptoms of secretory otitis media may cause local erosion of the ear if not treated in time. After suffering from this disease, the patient's ear health will be significantly affected, such as tinnitus, hearing loss, ear pain, etc.

Symptoms of secretory otitis media:

1. Tinnitus: It is mostly low-pitched and intermittent, such as "crackling", buzzing and the sound of running water. When the head moves or when yawning or blowing the nose, a sound of air passing through water may be heard in the ears.

2. Hearing loss: decreased hearing and enhanced self-hearing. When the head tilts forward or toward the healthy side, hearing may temporarily improve (positional hearing improvement) because the effusion leaves the cochlear conduction. When the effusion is viscous, hearing may not change with changes in head position. Children are often brought to the doctor by their parents because of their slow response to sounds, poor concentration, and poor academic performance. If one ear is diseased and the hearing in the other ear is normal, it may not be noticed for a long time and may only be discovered during a physical examination.

3. Earache: Acute cases may cause dull earache, which is often the first symptom of the patient. It may be continuous or cramping. In chronic cases, ear pain is not obvious.

4. The hazards of secretory otitis media

The ear is connected to the nasopharynx through the Eustachian tube. The Eustachian tube can regulate the pressure inside the ear to maintain balance with the atmospheric pressure. It also has defensive and cleansing functions. In autumn and winter, the large temperature difference between day and night often induces upper respiratory tract infections. When the inflammation spreads to the Eustachian tube, negative pressure often forms in the ear, which causes a feeling of stuffiness in the ear. Is secretory otitis media serious? The mucous membrane in the ear secretes more fluid due to negative pressure, and due to Eustachian tube dysfunction, it cannot be discharged in time, and the fluid accumulates in the ear, causing hearing loss and bubbling sounds in the ear. Sometimes you may also experience ear pain.