Middle Ear Infection

Middle Ear Infection

Middle ear infection, also known as otitis media, is an infection caused by germs. These germs enter from nose and throat that gets trapped in your eardrum. An eardrum is a middle part of the ear. These parts (eardrum, nose and throat) are related to each other by Eustachian tubes from ears to nose.

Middle ear infection is most common in children. It develops just few days after a child has a cold or flu. Generally, there are three types of ear infection from which the children may suffer from any one. One may a sudden but temporary inflammation in the middle ear known as acute otitis media, another may be ear infections that keep coming back again and again at regular intervals known as recurrent acute otitis media and a constant buildup of sticky fluid (effusion) in the middle ear, known as glue ear or OME or Chronic otitis media with effusion.

Some of the facts are also related to middle ear infection and that is half of all children can have at least one ear infection by the time they are three years old. Even children who are exposed to smoking at home tend to have more ear infections. After age 5, nearly all the children have outgrown their susceptibility to ear infections. It is also most common in boys rather than girls.

Causes

There are many factors that can cause middle ear infection:-

1. Eustachian Tubes: - Sometimes the structure of the ear itself is the cause for infection. This tube gets infection due to bacteria, viruses, smoke or allergens. When infected, the part of Eustachian tubes swells and closes and traps the infected fluid in the middle ear thus creating breeding ground for the germs. This tube may also be plugged when clear mucus made by the lining of the nose and middle ear becomes thick especially when you have cold.

2. Bacteria and Viruses: - There are some of the harmful bacteria that are associated with the respiratory infections such as Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae. Viruses responsible for lower respiratory infections such as respiratory syncytial virus and influenza viruses play an oblique role in ear infection. It causes inflammation in the nasal passages and a stifling nose, with thick mucus. The viruse that is responsible for cause of common cold (Rhinovirus) has been found in one to eight percent.

3. Allergies: - Some of the inflammation of the nasal passage is result of allergies, May be, allergy to some animal hairs or pollen. It is not very clear whether this actually causes middle ear infections, but if it causes inflammation and congests to the nasal passage along with high fever then it is likelihood of having infection in the middle ear.

4. Some health related problems: - Certain health problems of children increase the chances of developing middle ear infection for them. For example children suffering from problems of irregular breathing or asthma are likely to have more ear infections than that compared to healthy child. This is also true for those who are sensitive with allergies and sinusitis. Also children suffering from complicated medical problems such as cleft palate or illness that restrain the body immune system are also at high risk of developing middle ear infection.

5. Lifestyle: - Many children are affected by middle ear infection due to lifestyle followed at home. For example exposure to the smoking develops chances of infection in middle ear. Also formula-feeding to the small babies can lead to middle ear infection. As it doesn’t provide any strength to immune system of the body as mother’s milk can help for this. Even exposure to respiratory infections develops middle ear infection. When your baby is sleeping flat and bottle feeding, the Eustachian tubes do not function as well as compared to when you held your baby with his head up.

Symptoms

Before developing the infection you may see;-
a. Symptoms of cold
b. Sore throat
c. Cough
d. Sniffles and mucus in nose
e. Stuffiness or congestion with thick yellowish mucus

Initially, when your child get ear infection it may show the symptoms like tugging at the ear, not getting sound sleep, restlessness, inability to stop crying and sometimes may have mild fever . But gradually, as the infection grows you may observe redness around the ear and clear, yellowish or blood tinged fluid coming out of the ear. If you see this kind of symptom immediately consult for a doctor. If your doctor sees redness of the eardrum with fluid behind it, bulging of the eardrum with pus then your child has developed a severe ear infection.

Treatment

Most of the ear infections are cured themselves. There are also may home remedies for ear ache that you can try out at your home. In some cases you can have antibiotics such as penicillin or forms of penicillin, for treating a single ear infection or preventing and treating recurrent infections. Before your doctor coming to you can use pain relievers as first aid means for ear infection. You can take help of heating pads or you can give decongestants. Do not give aspirin to children because they might be dangerous.

You can also go for vaccines as they may be effective for children who are liable to recurrent ear infections. Vaccines against the flu and pneumonia viruses help in protecting against the ear infection. If your child’s ear infection fails to respond to the medicines then you must consult your doctor. Depending upon the seriousness he may recommend surgery. There are surgeries which includes minor surgery from drawing of the fluid from the eardrum to complex one like putting up of small tubes involves which help in preventing recurrent ear infection and maintaining the hearing ability.