Otitis Media
What is Otitis Media?
Otitis media is a condition in which the middle ear is inflamed or infected. The middle ear is the air-filled area behind the eardrum. Ear infections happen when bacteria or viruses infect the eardrum and trap fluid behind it, causing pain and swelling/bulging of the eardrum.
Types of Otitis Media
Different types of otitis media include:
- Acute Otitis Media: In this type of otitis media, swelling and redness arise abruptly as a result of this middle ear infection. Fluid and mucus become trapped inside the ear, causing fever and ear pain.
- Otitis Media with Effusion: In this type of otitis media, accumulation of fluid and mucus continues in the middle ear after an initial infection subsides. The child may experience a feeling of fullness in the ear and it may affect hearing or there may be no symptoms.
- Chronic Otitis Media with Effusion: In this type of otitis media, the fluid remains in the middle ear for an extended period of time or returns on a regular basis. It's possible that the child's hearing will be affected by new infections.
Causes of Otitis Media
Middle ear infections are usually a result of a cold or allergy and this can lead to swelling and congestion of the lining of the nose, throat, and eustachian tube. A malformation of the eustachian tube can also cause otitis media.
Some of the risk factors for otitis media include:
- Poor air quality
- Family history of ear infections
- A weak immune system
- Absence of breastfeeding
- Seasonal factors such as allergies or weather changes
- Having a cold
- Bottle-feeding while the child is lying on its back
Symptoms of Otitis Media
Common signs and symptoms of otitis media include:
- Ear pain
- Tugging or pulling at the ears
- Fluid draining from the ear
- Unusual irritability
- Difficulty sleeping or staying asleep
- Fever, especially in infants and younger children
- Loss of balance
- Hearing difficulties
- Headache
Diagnosis of Otitis Media
Your doctor will review your medical history and symptoms and based on this a physical examination of the outer ear and eardrum will be performed. Your doctor may also recommend the following diagnostic test:
- Otoscopy: This is the examination of the ear canal and associated structures using an otoscope, which is a lighted instrument that allows the doctor to visualize the inner ear. A pneumatic otoscope blows a puff of air into the ear to test eardrum movement.
- Tympanometry: The movement of the eardrum is measured in this examination. The air pressure in the ear canal is adjusted by the device, which causes the eardrum to move. The instrument measures the eardrum's movement and offers an indirect assessment of middle ear pressure.
If your child has had multiple ear infections or fluid buildup in the middle ear, your doctor may refer you to an audiologist, speech therapist, or developmental therapist for hearing, speech, language comprehension, or developmental abilities tests. Your doctor may also check your child’s throat and nasal passage for signs of upper respiratory infections and listen to your child’s breathing with a stethoscope.
Treatment for Otitis Media
Treatment for ear infections is determined by the age, the severity of the illness, the nature of the infection, and if fluid remains in the middle ear for a long period of time. The treatment includes:
- Monitoring: Children with recurring infections or persistent fluid in the middle ear will need to be regularly watched. Regular hearing and language tests may be recommended by your doctor.
- Pain medication: Your doctor may recommend the use of over-the-counter acetaminophen or ibuprofen to relieve pain.
- Anesthetic drops: These may be used to relieve pain if the eardrum doesn't have a hole or tear in it.
- Myringotomy: In this procedure, the doctor makes a tiny hole in the eardrum so that fluid can be suctioned out of the middle ear. A tympanostomy tube is placed in the opening to help ventilate the middle ear and prevent the buildup of more fluids. Some tubes are designed to stay in place for four to eighteen months before naturally falling out. Other tubes are meant to stay in place for longer periods of time and may require surgical removal.
Prevention
The following tips may reduce the risk of developing ear infections:
- Teach your children to cough or sneeze into their elbow.
- Teach your children to wash their hands regularly and thoroughly, and not to share their eating and drinking utensils.
- Hold your baby in an upright position if you're bottle-feeding.
- Get vaccinations on time.
- Avoid smoking.
- Get allergies treated.
If you wish to be advised on your condition and the most appropriate treatment, please call to schedule an appointment or click here to request an appointment online.
