Is Your Child Having Ear Problems? - It Could be Otitis Media

As any parent is aware there are many childhood infections that we have to deal with as our children are growing up and one of these is Otitis Media. In fact Oitis Media is one of the most common treatable infections of childhood. One child in two has Otitis Media by one yearof age and over 75% of all children will have had at least one episode by the time they are five years old.

What is Otitis Media? Well it is an infection or inflammation of the middle ear space, just behind the eardrum. Fluid can collect in the middle ear space and push against the eardrum.

This condition can be either acute or chronic. In acute Otitis Media the onset of illness is rapid and recovery after treatment is usually rapid but with chronic Otitis Media, fluid remains in the middle ear space even though the child may show few symptoms of illness.

Children with allergies are susceptible to ear infections and Otitis Media is also often associated with upper respiratory infections such as colds or the flu.

We each have an Eustachian tube which is an open airway between the middle ear and mouth. The main function of the Eustachian tube is ventilation, to allow air to move in and out of the middle air space. Should this tube get blocked or swollen ventilation is impaired and fluid can accumulate in the middle ear space.

The Eustachian tube in an adult slopes down and is fairly rigid or stiff which makes ventilation of the middle ear easier and the slope helps the fluid drain from the middle ear but in children the eustacian tube is almost horizontal and less rigid which lets it collapse easily. For these reasons ventilation of the middle ear is more difficult in children and thus fluid may not drain as easily.

Symptoms of Otitis Media

1 Ear pain

2 Pulling or rubbing of the ear

3 Irritability

4 Fever

5 Weakness and lack of interest in activity

6 Nausea and vomiting

7 Loss of appetite

8 Loss of hearing

Babies with this condition will often run a high fever and be in severe pain.

If your child should shows signs of Otitis Media then call the Doctor. The Doctor will examine the child's ears with an instrument called an otoscope. If the eardrum is inflamed it will be red and bulging from the fluid collected in the middle ear cavity. The Doctor may also use a tympanometer which is a device that measures the pressure behind the eardrum.

What is the treatment? As Otitis Media is caused by bacteria it can be treated with anti-biotics. The Doctor may also recommend pain relievers. Even if your child looks mucn improved be sure to finish the course of anti-biotics as the infection may still be present. If your child does not seem better after a day or two call the Doctor and additional treatment may be required.