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Otitis media is a disease whose symptoms most often appear in children, although it happens to adults as well. During the first two years of life, as many as 65 percent. children suffer from them at least once, and about 30 percent. more than three times. The pain in the ear is so severe that it makes the baby cry. How to treat otitis media and what to do to avoid serious complications?

Otitis mediais a common childhood disease, but it also happens to adults. Its symptoms are present in 50-85 percent. children up to 3 years of age. The older the child is, the lower the risk of developing the disease is - even in seven-year-olds the disease does not occur so often. It is easy to predict because as much as 90 percent. cases are preceded by an upper respiratory tract infection.

Exceptacute otitis mediaENT specialists distinguish other types of this disease.

  • Chronic otitis media
  • Chronic cholesteatoma
  • Wet otitis
  • Allergic otitis

Otitis media: causes

The reason for such frequent ear infections in children is very simple - it is primarily anatomy. In young children, the Eustachian tube is short, wide and runs horizontally, connecting the tympanic cavity with the pharynx, and its opening in the throat is constantly open. It is therefore an ideal path for bacteria and viruses from the nasopharynx to penetrate deep into the ear. Therefore, in approx. 90 percent. acute casesotitis mediais a consequence of an upper respiratory tract infection.

Zaacute otitis mediabacteria may correspond (about 70 percent of cases) -Streptococcus pneumoniaeandHaemophilus influenzae , i.e. the same that cause pharyngitis or laryngitis.

Viruses - mainly influenza, parainfluenza, adenoviruses, rhinoviruses - are much less often (about 30% of cases).

They create an exudate which is a great breeding ground for bacteria. As the infection worsens, swelling of the mucosa lining the Eustachian tube (similar to the lining of the nose during a runny nose) increases, which impairs its patency.

In this case, the pressure inside the ear is disturbed, which in turn causes swelling of the eardrum and increased secretion of mucus. Due to obstruction of the trumpetThe auditory mucus has a difficult outflow: it builds up, eventually it can rupture the eardrum. Then, secretions start to ooze from the ear.

It is very rare that pathogenic microbes reach the ear through the bloodstream (from another inflammation in the body). Even less often, they penetrate directly from the outside of the ear. However, the ears and sinuses do not like exposure to cold, so unless you wear a hat, your risk of gettingear infectionsor sinusitis increases. On the other hand, the factor that certainly contributes to the disease is the imperfection of the immune system in young children - ear infections are much less common after the age of 7.

In addition to the anatomical structure of the ears and the not fully developed immune system in a young child, there are also other risk factors for acute otitis media:

  • abnormalities in the structure of the palate
  • hypertrophy of the tonsils, especially the so-called an oversized third almond that closes the mouth of the Eustachian tube
  • obstruction of the Eustachian tube, caused e.g. by allergic swelling of the mucosa lining the tube
  • chronic sinusitis, as well as infectious diseases - scarlet fever, measles or chickenpox
  • exposing a child to cigarette smoke, which irritates the mucosa of the nose and throat

Otitis media: symptoms

Symptoms of otitis mediaare:

  • earache, pulsating, worsening at night, lying down
  • hearing loss
  • tinnitus
  • fever (even up to 40 ° C)
  • anxiety that disturbs sleep
  • reluctance to suck (in babies)
  • vomiting
  • sometimes diarrhea

Ear pain goes away when there is leakage from the ear because the perforation of the eardrum reduces the pressure in the tympanic cavity.

Otitis media: diagnosis. What tests should be performed?

Otoscopic examination is the basis for the diagnosis of acute otitis media. It consists in viewing (using a special speculum) the inside of the external ear canal and the eardrum.

If there is a suspicion that complications may have occurred (e.g. mastitis, manifested by swelling and soreness in the area behind the auricle), your doctor may order a CT scan of the temporal bone.

Otitis media: treatment

Acute otitis media in a childis usually treated by a pediatrician or ENT specialist - the doctor diagnoses the disease after examining the ear with an otoscope, based on the appearance of the eardrum. If the symptoms are acute - it will appearfever above 39 ° C, vomiting, diarrhea, severe earache - you need to give a painkiller and see a doctor as soon as possible or call him home.

However, if the child is older than two years, the infection is relatively mild and there are no other risk factors (such as immunodeficiency or a tendency to recurrent otitis), the appointment may be postponed until the next day and medication administered until then painkillers.Acute otitis mediaalways requires antibiotic treatment. In addition, the antibiotic is also recommended:

  • when a sick child is less than six months old
  • in children with high fever
  • with ear leak
  • for bilateral acute otitis media

This is also the method of treating children from the group at increased risk:

  • prone to ear infections
  • Down syndrome
  • craniofacial defects
  • immune disorders

It is then given for 7-10 days. After the end of the treatment, a follow-up visit is necessary.

Sometimes, however, paracentesis is necessary - a procedure that involves incisioning the eardrum to allow the secretion to exit. The treatment brings immediate relief, relieving the pain caused by the tension of the inflamed eardrum. Additionally, material for bacteriological examination is collected during the procedure.

When purulent discharge appears in the ear, proper hygiene of the ear canal is very important - systematic change of dressings, use of ear drops (prescribed by an ENT specialist). After some time, the membrane heals without any he alth damage.

Otitis media: home remedies

Relief is usually brought by applying warm, dry compresses to the ear, e.g. a towel warmed up on a radiator. In this way, you can accelerate the rupture of the eardrum. When purulent discharge appears in the ear, it is necessary to contact an ENT specialist as soon as possible. In addition, the patient should rest - if the child does not want to, he does not have to lie down, but he should not exert himself physically.

Otitis media: complications

Treatment of acute otitis media usually takes about 3 weeks. After that, the otoscopy should be performed again to make sure that the infection has healed - there is no discharge in the tympanic cavity and the hole in the membrane is closed. The ENT specialist should also check for any hearing impairment. Acute otitis media has a tendency to become chronic, which leads to complications - mastitis, paresis orperipheral facial nerve paralysis, inflammation of the inner ear. First of all, it is related to hearing loss caused by the residual fluid in the tympanic cavity.

Otitis media: how to prevent the disease?

It is extremely difficult - there are no special measures that will protect you from getting sick. The only thing that ENT specialists recommend is careful treatment of any infections in the throat and nose, as well as otitis externa.

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