Otitis media in children

Middle ear infection in children

Symptoms, prevention and treatment methods

Middle ear infection in children is one of the common diseases that affect children of all ages and disturbs mothers and fathers, and the severity of symptoms and complications that occur vary from one case to another. What are the symptoms of otitis media in children and can it be prevented and what are the methods of treatment?

Why does otitis media occur in children?

Usually, otitis media occurs in children after a viral infection that affects the respiratory system or the sinuses, such as the seasonal flu. Given the importance of the Eustachian tube in the ventilation of the middle ear, the occurrence of inflammation or blockage in it is the main cause of otitis media, and in children we find that this channel is shorter than in adults, which accelerates the transmission of infection to the middle ear, so we find otitis media more common in children than adults .

What are the symptoms of otitis media in children?

The symptoms of otitis media in children are very similar to those of a respiratory infection, and the symptoms appear in the form of ear pain, high temperature, hearing impairment, and tinnitus. Symptoms increase in infants, and we find the child crying constantly with his ears pulled, suffering from sleep disturbances and loss of appetite. In general, symptoms of otitis media in children may include the following:

• Fever and high body temperature.
• Pus draining from the middle ear to the outer ear.
• severe ear pain
• Constant fussiness, crying and sleep disturbance in infants.
• diarrhea and vomiting
• Decreased child activity.

When do you go to your child to an ear, nose and throat doctor?

If any of the aforementioned symptoms appear, then most likely your child has an infection in the middle ear, and here the importance of early detection and medical intervention appears to treat the infection quickly and avoid complications. The specialist doctor examines the child’s ear using an otoscope, and through it, the condition of the eardrum appears, and the doctor can know the severity of otitis media. This is in addition to the ear pressure test, which is done using a special device to know the condition of the middle ear, eardrum, and Eustachian tube.

Treatment of otitis media in children

After confirming the diagnosis of otitis media, the doctor prescribes several medications for treatment. The duration of treatment and drug doses vary according to the severity of the inflammation:

● Antibiotics

The use of antibiotics is the first line of treatment for cases of otitis media in children under the age of two years. As for children older than two years, the choice of antibiotic depends on the severity of the inflammation and the associated diseases. Antibiotics result in several side effects such as diarrhea, digestive disorders, and skin rashes. Their misuse leads to the emergence of generations of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics, which threatens human health.

● Painkillers

The attending physician prescribes analgesic medications to relieve the pain caused by otitis media, such as ibuprofen and paracetamol. The dosage depends on the age and weight of the child.

● Antihistamines and decongestants

Contrary to what is expected, medical research has shown that antihistamines and decongestants do not speed up the treatment of otitis media in children, but rather may cause unpleasant complications, so doctors do not recommend using them in the treatment of otitis media.

● Baby note

One of the modern medical recommendations in cases of otitis media in children is to wait and observe the child before starting to take antibiotics. It is allowed to take pain relievers only, and this is in the following cases: If the child is older than two years and does not suffer from severe ear pain or other diseases.

The most common complication that occurs as a result of otitis media

Otitis media may lead to various complications such as:

• Perforation of the eardrum: It is a common complication and occurs as a result of severe inflammation and blockage of the Eustachian tube, so fluid or pus collects in the middle ear, causing high pressure in it and increasing pressure on the eardrum, causing a perforation.
• Hearing impairment: Conductive hearing impairment occurs as a result of the middle ear being filled with fluid resulting from inflammation, which leads to difficulty in moving the middle ear bones and lack of efficiency in transmitting different sounds to the inner ear.

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