[This content is a story-based medical science article, please read it rationally, and do not sit down]
On the university campus, the silence of the night was shattered by the sound of hurried footsteps. I saw a boy covering his right ear and rushing to the infirmary with a painful face. This sophomore named Xiao Ming is alive and kicking on weekdays, who would have thought that he would suffer such a severe earache tonight?
"Doctor, my ears hurt so badly!" As soon as Xiao Ming entered the door, he shouted, "It feels like someone is hitting me with a hammer." "
Dr. Li, the doctor on duty, quickly put on an otoscope and carefully examined Xiao Ming's ear canal. I saw that deep in the ear canal, a small red and swollen protrusion came to my eye.
"Huh? What is it? Xiao Ming saw the doctor's expression change and hurriedly asked.
"Don't be nervous," Dr. Li said with a smile, "It looks like a 'pox', but the specific situation needs to be further examined." I suggest you go to the ENT department of the city hospital tomorrow for a detailed examination. "
Early the next morning, Xiao Ming came to the city hospital. Dr. Zhang from the Department of Otolaryngology examined it carefully, and his face showed an expression of sudden realization.
"Young man, you're no ordinary pimple," Dr. Chang said, "it's a condition called ear canal abscess. "
Xiao Ming looked dazed, "Ear canal abscess?" What's that? "
Dr. Zhang patiently explained, "An ear canal abscess is a purulent inflammation of the soft tissues of the ear canal, which simply means that there is a 'pustule' in your ear canal. This condition is usually caused by a bacterial infection, such as Staphylococcus aureus. "
Xiao Ming was confused, "But I usually pay attention to hygiene, how can I get this disease?" "
Dr. Zhang smiled, "That's a good question, the occurrence of ear canal abscess is actually related to many factors. Have you cleaned your ears with a cotton swab lately? Or did the water get in your ears while swimming? "
Xiao Ming thought about it for a while, "I did clean my ears with a cotton swab a few days ago, and I accidentally poked my ear canal. "
"That's right," Dr. Zhang nodded, "when using a cotton swab to clean your ear, if you accidentally scratch your ear canal, it gives bacteria a chance to invade." This, combined with the warmth and humidity of the ear canal, creates the ideal environment for bacteria to grow. "
Xiao Ming suddenly realized, "So that's the case." So what to do now? "
Dr. Zhang explained, "Based on your symptoms and test results, we need to perform incision and drainage treatment. This procedure is performed under local anaesthesia and is completed quickly. "
Hearing that he was going to "cut it", Xiao Ming couldn't help but be a little nervous. Dr. Zhang saw his concern and comforted, "Don't be afraid, this is a very routine minor operation. After the incision, the pus drains and the pain is quickly relieved. After the surgery, we will prescribe some antibiotics to help control the infection. "
The operation went smoothly, and when the pus drained, Xiao Ming felt the pressure in his ears drop sharply, and the pain was relieved a lot.
After the operation, Dr. Zhang advised, "Keep the ear canal clean and dry for the next few days to avoid water in the ear. At the same time, it is necessary to take antibiotics on time and complete the whole course of treatment. "
Xiao Ming nodded, "Understood, doctor." So how can you prevent this from happening again? "
Dr. Zhang smiled and said, "Good question! The key to preventing ear canal abscess is to maintain ear canal hygiene and avoid ear canal damage. I'll give you a few suggestions:
First, don't clean your ears with cotton swabs too often. The ears are self-cleaning, and excessive cleaning can upset this balance. If you feel that there is a lot of earwax, you can go to the hospital regularly for professional cleaning.
Second, after swimming or bathing, get the water out of the ear canal in time. You can gently pull your ears with your head to the side to let the water flow out naturally.
Third, if you feel discomfort in your ears, such as itching or pain, seek medical attention in time and do not deal with it yourself.
Fourth, maintain good personal hygiene, wash your hands frequently, and avoid touching your ears with dirty hands.
Fifth, if you have underlying diseases such as diabetes and immunocompromise, you should pay extra attention to ear canal hygiene. Because these diseases increase the risk of infection. "
Xiao Ming carefully jotted down these suggestions, "Thank you, doctor, I will definitely pay attention." "
Dr. Zhang nodded, "Another important thing is to raise awareness of ear health. Many people think that ears are not a big deal, but they are not. The ear is not only an organ of hearing, it is also closely related to our sense of balance. When we protect our ears, we protect our quality of life. "
Xiao Ming said thoughtfully: "Doctor, I suddenly thought of a question. When we hear the phrase 'ear acne', is it that most of them are ear canal abscesses? "
Dr. Zhang replied with a smile: "You are very keen, and it is true that many people mistake ear canal abscess for 'ear acne'. But in reality, real acne is rare on the ears. If you feel a 'pox' in your ear, it is best to seek medical attention as it may be an ear canal abscess or other ear disease. "
Xiao Ming suddenly realized, "I see! It seems that we still need to know more about medical knowledge, and we can't easily draw our own conclusions. "
Dr. Zhang nodded in agreement, "That's right, that's why we have always emphasized the importance of popular science. Knowing the basics of medicine can help us better protect our health and seek the right help when something goes wrong. "
After this experience, Xiao Ming not only cured the ear canal abscess, but also learned a lot about ear health. He decided to share his experience with his classmates and friends, hoping to help more people understand and value ear health.
After returning to school, Xiao Ming posted a message in the class group: "Everyone, pay attention! If you feel that you have a 'pox' in your ears, don't take it lightly, it may be an abscess in the ear canal! Go to the hospital for a check-up in time. "
As soon as the news was issued, it immediately aroused heated discussions among the students. Some people shared similar experiences, some said they had learned a lot, and some asked about how to prevent it. Xiao Ming patiently told everyone what the doctor taught him.
This unexpected experience not only made Xiao Ming cherish his health more, but also gave him the idea of studying medicine. He secretly made up his mind to study hard and become an excellent doctor in the future to help more people.
The ear is a seemingly inconspicuous organ, but it carries such an important function. It not only allows us to listen to the world and feel the beauty of life, but also maintains our sense of balance. So let's pay more attention to our ears from now on. Remember that healthy ears can bring us a better world of sound!