Otitis media is basically an ear infection affecting the middle ear. This ear infection is quite common among infants and young children, but can also affect adults. In most cases, the infection can be instigated by bacteria or viruses and the treatment is based on the symptoms, age and other connected factors.
Take note that middle ear infections often develop after upper respiratory infections such as flu or common cold.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of otitis media tend to vary depending on the age. Among adults, there is persistent ear pain that typically indicates an ear infection.
Among young children, the indications might not be as evident since they are not able to tell how they feel. The symptoms of an ear infection among infants and young children include the following:
- Fever
- Unusual irritability or fussiness
- Pulling on the ear
- Drainage of fluid from the ear
- Difficulty sleeping
- Loss of balance
- Indications of difficulty hearing
- Nausea and vomiting
How otitis media is diagnosed
Since the indications of otitis media tend to vary and any of the symptoms can be linked to other conditions, the distinctive way to diagnose this ear infection is proper assessment by a doctor using an otoscope to check for any inflammation or fluid in the middle ear. Many doctors will not prescribe medications for ear infections unless thorough assessment is carried out.
What are the possible causes?
It is important to note that children develop ear infections more frequently than any other age group and usually occur during the initial 2-4 years of life.
There are various factors responsible such as a short Eustachian tube which allows viruses and bacteria to enter and trigger infections. Some children might also have large-sized adenoids that can disrupt with the opening of the Eustachian tube, thus fluid could not easily drain.
Who are at risk?
Children who are constantly exposed to cigarette smoke, bottle-fed and those who attend daycare face a higher risk for developing ear infections. Otitis media can also occur more often in boys, those who have a family history of recurrent ear infections and when common cold and other respiratory conditions are common.
Treatment for otitis media
The treatment for middle ear infections usually depends on various factors. Even though treatment using antibiotics has been the standard in managing ear infections, it was discovered in studies that most cases of ear infections clear up on their own within 3-5 days without treatment.
When managing otitis media at home, over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can be used for pain relief. Even if the child is treated with antibiotics, it might not help the pain, thus medications can be useful. Nevertheless, the treatment involving antihistamines and decongestants were not useful for ear infections and not suitable for children below 4 years old.