Question

Mr. Audi Oh is an 80 year old patient with complaints of left ear pain, fullness in his ear, tenderness when he moved his jaw, and some hearing loss.He reported that his symptoms were present for about 1 week. Upon examination at a local health clinic in Florida, he showed no remarkable symptoms with the exception of an acute otitis externa, characterized by redness and swelling of his left ear canal. His history was unremarkable with the exception of Type II DM for which he takes insulin. The treatment he received was irrigation of the ear canal.

After 3 days when he did not experience relief, he saw his primary care physician, Dr. Canu Helpme. Upon examination, Mr. Audi Oh presented with increased left ear pain, increased fullness in his ear, increased tenderness when he moved his jaw, and worsening hearing loss. Upon examination, he presented with significant redness and swelling of his left ear canal. In addition, he evidenced green pus-like discharge that had a foul-smell. The patient also presented with fever, difficulty swallowing, and mild weakness in his facial muscles. There was swelling in the lymph nodes in his throat.

When Dr. Canu Helpme heard of the previous ear irrigation, he instructed the patient to go directly to the hospital for examination by Dr. I. Canhear, an otolaryngologist. Following examination, Dr. I. Canhear admitted the patient to the hospital for further diagnostic testing.

Why do you think Dr. I. Canhear admitted this patient to the hospital? Based on the symptom presentation, what do you think the MD was suspecting? What tests would be done to get a more definitive diagnosis? Do you think that the patient's DM was related in any way? Do you think the irrigation contributed to the problem? What treatment would be given? What would the prognosis be?

At the end of your initial post, select 10 medical terms related to this body system, dissect them into their component parts, and provide their meanings . :-)

Answer 1

# Dr.I. Canhear admitted this patient to the hospital because the patient had severe infection of the middle ear which is called otitis externa and it has reached a stage where it will affect the other parts of the ear . For administration of antibiotics and other investigations to see the extent of disease Dr.I. Canhear admitted the patient .

MD was suspecting severe stage of otitis media based on the symptoms .

# The investigations done to get a more definitive diagnosis are:-

- pus for C/S

- examination with otoscope/ microscope

- X- ray of mastoid

- X- ray of PNS

- pure tone audiography

- tympanoplasty

- eustachian tube function test

- VRA

Yes , patients DM is related with this condition and it's the reason behind the delayed healing of the infection .The irrigation did not contributed to the condition ,it was just done to remove cellular debris, and surface pathogens contained in the wound exudates . The prognosis of the patient is very excellent once analgesics and antibiotics are started patients improve within 2-4 days .

10 medical terms related to this body system are :-

- otitis media is infection of middle ear

- tinnitus is ringing in the ear

- perforated eardrum is inflammation and rupture of eardrum

- autoimmune inner ear disease is the disease which attacks the own body cells and tissues

- cholesteatoma is abnormal skin growth that occur in the middle ear behiy middle section of ear .

- external ear infection is the infection of auditory canal

- earwax

- rupture of tympanic membrane

- menieres disease is the inner ear disease that causes episodes of vertigo and tinnitus .

- sensorineural and conductive hearing loss