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Types of ear mites
There are several types of ear mites that infect human skin. They are carriers of bacteria and cause infectious diseases. Infection is accompanied by redness and painful sensitivity.
Types of ticks:
- Ixodid tick - lives mainly in fields, meadows, and forests. The adult size varies from 2 to 5 mm. The body is covered with chitin - a dense, protective shell. Before implantation into the auricle, it is black or brown in color. After infection, it becomes white-yellow, the bloodsucker increases in size to 2-3 cm. Once in the body, they will be able to reproduce.
Ixodid ticks have an oblong shape, large enough individuals that can be seen with the naked eye.
They are the cause of otoacariasis and are brought with them by tourists from countries with tropical climates.
- Argas mite - has microscopic dimensions, reaching up to 1 mm. The body has an oblong shape and is painted black. After infection it increases noticeably, reaching from 3 to 30 mm. Parasites feed on blood, but survive even with prolonged absence of food. Thus, larvae retain vital activity for up to 2 years, adults for up to 14 years.
The main habitats are closed spaces, abandoned houses, farms, bird nests. They are carriers of many dangerous diseases.
The bite of the parasites is painless, so it is possible to diagnose an argas mite infection only after the appearance of characteristic symptoms.
- Demodex are microscopic arthropods that live in the sebaceous glands of the skin and hair follicles. The tick's body reaches a length of up to 0.3 mm, life expectancy is 2-3 weeks. Parasites are most often localized on the head, shoulders, and back, and are the main cause of acne. They feed on the sebum projected by the glands. With concomitant bacterial infection, purulent inflammation is observed.
A subcutaneous mite can enter a person’s ear through clothing and bedding.
Possible consequences of the disease
The most dangerous are argasid and ixodid ticks. Many serious diseases can be transmitted through a bite, as well as through feces and other waste products of a bloodsucker. These two species are carriers of the following diseases:
- tick-borne relapsing fever;
- Lyme disease;
- tick-borne encephalitis.
In addition, parasites can introduce fungal spores into the human body, and demodectic mites can cause inflammation of the sebaceous glands.
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Symptoms of ear mites in humans
The main routes of infection are staying in the habitat of arthropods or contact with an infected animal. The ixodid tick can be brought from a trip to tropical countries. Argassy enters through dust particles settling on human skin and clothing. Subcutaneous mites in the ear are a consequence of decreased immunity, hormonal imbalance, and stress. The Demodex parasite can be found on household items, bed linen, and towels.
Symptoms of ixodid tick infestation:
- feeling of arthropod movement in the ear;
- itching, burning;
- inflammation.
Symptoms of argas mite infestation:
- swelling of the ear;
- itching, burning;
- painful sensitivity;
- redness.
The first symptoms may appear immediately or several weeks after infection.
Damage to demodicosis has a slightly different clinical picture. It can be determined by the following characteristics:
- the synthesis of sebaceous secretions increases;
- the skin becomes pale and acquires an unhealthy gray-earthy color;
- there is a feeling of a foreign moving body under the skin;
- general health worsens;
- itching becomes more active at night.
Diagnostics
Determining the presence of a parasite in the human ear is quite difficult, especially at an early stage. Several methods are used for diagnosis:
- patient interview;
- visual examination of the auricle (allows you to detect ixodid ticks, but is useless if the disease is caused by Demodex);
- microscopic examination (a smear or scraping of tissue from the ear is taken as a biomaterial, which is then examined under a microscope, determining the presence of eggs, larvae and adult parasites);
- biopsy is a painful and most difficult method, which is used quite rarely.
Research is carried out both in public medical institutions and in private clinics.
Treatment and removal of ticks
At the first signs of the presence of a parasite, it is recommended to treat the ear with a disinfectant and take an antihistamine. If uncomfortable symptoms appear, you should immediately consult a doctor - therapist or otolaryngologist. The doctor collects anamnesis, finds out the patient’s recent location and health complaints. When examining the ear, the doctor pays attention to areas of inflammation. When a parasite is detected, it is sent for a smear to determine the species; damage to the ixodid tick is noticeable to the naked eye.
Diagnosis may also include microscopy. Inflammatory processes in the ear make diagnosis difficult; otitis may be a consequence of the parasitic activity of mites.
To remove a tick from a person's ear, you need to seek medical help. Attempting to remove the parasite yourself may result in remains of the arthropod's body under the skin. The mite infects the auricle and ear canal, firmly attaching itself under the skin.
Treatment includes complex therapy:
- Procedures are prescribed for washing the ear canals. The method is effective for removing ixodid and argasid species. Change the aqueous solution of ethanol or hydrogen peroxide. Drops from ear mites block the respiratory system, the parasite tries to get out and appears on the surface.
- Mechanical suction is used to remove mites from the ear canal and pinna.
- To relieve inflammation and block the proliferation of parasites, laser coagulation, electrophoresis, and ozone therapy are performed.
- Drug therapy is prescribed - antibacterial drugs Ornidazole, Trihapol.
- Use topical ointments to reduce inflammation and pain. The composition contains zinc, sulfur, tar.
- To reduce allergies due to intoxication with waste products of mites, antihistamines are used.
- Multivitamin preparations help fill the deficiency of important elements to restore the body's immune properties.
When using sulfur ointment in complex therapy, Panthenol is prescribed to prevent dryness and flaking of the skin.
Demodex requires long-term systematic treatment. It will not be possible to completely destroy the subcutaneous mite; therapy is aimed at reducing the vital activity of parasites and getting rid of symptoms. Medicines and physiotherapy are prescribed, and a number of rules must also be followed:
- it is important to adjust your diet, reduce your consumption of sweets and spicy fatty foods;
- you cannot visit baths, saunas, beaches, solariums;
- it is necessary to use disposable towels;
- Skincare and decorative products containing oils are prohibited.
Physiotherapy is also prescribed; cryomassage and electrophoresis are effective.
Reasons for appearance
The cause of an ixodid ear mite attack may be a visit to exotic countries - South Africa, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Chile, India, South Korea. This arachnid-shaped arthropod lives on food products. Vegetables and fruits must be carefully processed before consumption.
Demodex manifests itself when there is an imbalance between human skin bacteria and the microflora of the parasite. As a rule, this happens when the body’s protective properties decrease, the immune system weakens, against the background of severe emotional stress, metabolic disorders, and psychosomatic diseases. Sometimes the inflammatory process can be caused by certain cosmetics or dietary supplements. Most often, the pest manifests its activity in elderly people or pregnant women.
Why are ear mites dangerous?
Demodicosis mites produce toxic waste products. As a result, acne, rosacea and other dermatological diseases occur. Infection can lead to eye damage - blepharoconjunctivitis, loss of vision and hearing. In addition to their parasitic lifestyle, ticks are carriers of many bacterial infections:
- endemic typhus;
- borreliosis;
- hemorrhagic fever;
- piroplasmosis;
- tick-borne typhus;
- ehrlichiosis;
- encephalitis.
Ear mites are dangerous to humans because they can lead to a number of complications. Infection with a bacterial infection is fraught with external otitis. If left untreated, chronic inflammation of the ear tissues is possible. In some cases, a hematoma forms. Blood clots are removed using a syringe, and absorbable compresses are applied to the affected area.
Lifestyle Features
Ear mites infect the outer ear and parasitize in the ear canal, feeding on human waste products. Like its other relatives, the parasite, when it gets on human skin, grabs onto it, adapts to the “host” and no longer leaves it voluntarily. Infection is expressed by redness of the ear, acne, inflammation and the feeling of parasites under the skin.
In addition to the fact that the ear mite leads a parasitic lifestyle, it is a carrier of bacteria harmful to the human body and provokes infectious infections. The type of ear mite determines the type of infection. There are several types of common parasites that actively attack human skin.
Prevention measures
You can only get rid of a tick in a medical facility. But you can prevent a dangerous situation yourself. The main preventive measures are to maintain immunity, as well as correct behavior when walking in the park or forest. To reduce the likelihood of ear mites infestation, you should follow simple recommendations:
- choose light-colored clothing for walks in nature and arthropod habitats;
- trousers must be tucked into socks or boots;
- You need to wear a hood or headdress on your head;
- tie long hair with an elastic band;
- treat clothing with parasite repellents;
- after a walk, inspect shoes and clothes, open areas of the body;
- regularly carry out wet cleaning of premises;
- monitor your health;
- lead an active lifestyle, play sports;
- follow a daily routine, sleep at least 8 hours;
- eliminate bad habits;
- master emotion control techniques that neutralize stressful conditions.
How can a pet become infected?
A cat can pick up ear mites on the street, through contact with sick animals or in walking areas. Most stray cats suffer from otodecosis, so letting your pet roam freely is fraught with negative consequences.
The parasite can be picked up on shoes by the owner while accidentally walking in places where stray cats like to gather. An owner can bring ear mites home after petting someone else's pet with otodecosis. In addition, there is a high probability of disease in homes where there have already been (or are) cases of the disease in other animals.
Kittens can become infected at birth from a mother who is a carrier of ear mites. Infection through bedding, carpets, household furniture or dishes is possible.
Preventive measures
To reduce the likelihood of ear mite infection, you should follow some recommendations:
- The right choice of clothing for forest walks;
- Treating skin and clothing with special products aimed at repelling ticks;
- Compliance with hygiene measures;
- Careful selection of cosmetic products;
- Physical activity;
- Avoidance of stressful situations;
- Reducing the impact of bad habits;
- Maintaining the immune system.
If symptomatic manifestations characteristic of the presence of ear mites are detected, it is necessary to visit a medical facility. An experienced specialist, by clarifying the diagnosis and prescribing appropriate treatment, will avoid the development of infectious pathologies. You should not engage in self-treatment, as this often leads to undesirable consequences for the body.
Conclusion
At the first signs of infection, you need to consult a doctor; you will also need to consult an endocrinologist, neurologist, or gastroenterologist. If the diagnosis has confirmed ear mite damage, a study is necessary to prescribe therapy. The course of treatment depends on individual indicators, the state of the immune system, and lasts from 1 to 6 months. To prevent infection by parasites, it is recommended to follow preventive measures.
Sources
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