Other abnormalities of the ear (PEARLS)

Mastoiditis (ReelDx)

Complication of acute otitis media. Fever, otalgia, pain & erythema posterior to the ear, and forward displacement of the external ear.

TX: IV antibiotics (ceftriaxone), drainage of middle ear fluid

Meniere disease

Vertigo attacks lasting hours, classic triad of low-frequency hearing loss, tinnitus with aural (ear) fullness and vertigo

TX: Low salt diet, diuretics (HCTZ + triamterene) to reduce aural pressure

Tinnitus

A perceived sensation of sound in the absence of an external acoustic stimulus; often described as a ringing, hissing, buzzing, or whooshing.

90% are associated with sensorineural hearing loss – caused by loud noise, presbycusis, medications (aspirin, antibiotics, aminoglycosides, loop diuretics, and CCBs), Meniere's disease, acoustic neuroma

TX: No pharmacologic agent has been shown to cure or consistently alleviate tinnitus

The goal is to try to identify the cause, i.e remove ototoxic medications, hearing aids

PANCE Blueprint EENT (7%)