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Home Otoscope
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Using the Otoscope to Diagnose Ear Diseases
Ear check up is a part of general physical examination. And physicians usually use otoscopes to do it. Many times families also have otoscopes when a member of the family frequently gets ear infections and earaches.
Otoscopes are used to see the eardrum and the inside of the ears through the ear canal. Usually infections are detected through the presence of redness or fluids in the eardrum. The examination is usually prompted by fever and pain. Sometimes people also experience partial or total hearing loss so they are alarmed and they go to a doctor for check up.
The check up usually starts with the patient being told to tilt his head to the side opposite of the ear examined. This way the ear will be pointed upwards giving the examiner a better access and a better view. Then the doctor or the nurse will hold the ear lobe to carefully insert the ear speculum so the inner ear can be viewed using the otoscope. Even if the patient is only bothered by one ear, both of his ears are normally examined starting from the supposedly good ear to the other.
Normally the ear canal would appear in skin tone. The ear canal also has tiny hairs. Having yellowish brownish earwax on the ear canal is normal. The eardrum in pearl white to grayish in color and it’s usually tiny and shiny. There are also tiny bones found in the middle ear spiking up on the eardrum membrane like poles of a tent. Through the light that the otoscope reflects on the eardrum, infections or redness or swelling can be detected.
One infection or disease that can be diagnosed through the use of an otoscope is otitis media. This is a swelling that typically occurs in the middle ear just right behind the ear drum. This is usually signaled by pain, fever and abnormalities in hearing. People suffering from this infection may also experience tinnitus and vertigo. This infection may also have originated from the pharynx that may have just been transmitted though the eustachian tubes.
There are actually two types of otitis media. The first one is called acute otitis media. In this phase infection and swelling can be observed in some parts of the ear. Mucus and fluid is also trapped inside the ear and so pain is usually felt.
The second type is otitis media with effusion. This is when the fluid and mucus remains trapped inside the ear even after the infection. When this happens it’s even harder to fight off new infections and the trapped fluid may affect one’s hearing.
Children are most affected by this. This is one of the most reasons for doctor visits and it is most commonly dealt with through antibiotic or in worse cases, surgery. Acute otitis media may occur when exposed to organisms capable of propagating infection. It may also be caused by bacteria and viruses. It often occurs after respiratory infections. Otitis media with effusion typically follows the acute otitis media phase. It is mostly linked to the malfunction of the eustachian tube causing liquid leakage into the middle ear.
Otitis externa, on the other hand, is the infection of the ear canal. This is usually caused by constant exposure to excessive moisture.
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