Frequently Asked Questions About Middle Ear Infection

Frequently Asked Questions About Middle Ear Infection

Middle Ear Inflammation (Otitis Media): Acute otitis media is inflammation of the middle ear cavity behind the eardrum. In children, the eustachian tube is shorter than in adults, and therefore it is easier for germs to reach the middle ear from the nose. As a result, fluid accumulates in the middle ear; The pressure exerted by the fluid causes pain and the eardrum cannot vibrate. Therefore, some hearing loss occurs during otitis media. When the bacteria are killed with appropriate drug treatment, the fluid in the middle ear disappears and hearing improves. It may take up to 3-4 weeks for the fluid to disappear.

Acute otitis media is a common disease of childhood. 2/3 of children up to the age of three experience otitis media at least once. Treatment of acute otitis media is done with antibiotics. Even if effective antibiotic treatment is given, non-inflamed fluid remains in the middle ear for 3-6 weeks in 40% of children and may cause mild hearing loss, which recovers later. Middle ear inflammation is also common in children with frequent upper respiratory tract infections. For this reason, colds and ear problems are more common in children who begin to enter crowded environments such as kindergartens for the first time, especially in the first two years.

Symptoms and Signs: Older children may complain of a feeling of fullness in the ear, pain and hearing loss. In young children, the first symptoms may be restlessness, sleep disturbance or loss of appetite. Children of all ages may have fever. These symptoms are usually accompanied by upper respiratory tract infection complaints such as runny nose and cough that accompany otitis media. In severe middle ear infections, a perforation of the eardrum may occur. As a result, the inflammation in the middle ear flows from the ear canal, pain decreases and fever decreases. The hole in the eardrum usually closes spontaneously as a result of treatment.

Disease Prevention: In newborn babies, the immunity provided by substances passed through breast milk prevents the development of acute otitis media. The position of breast-fed children during feeding is more suitable for the normal function of the Eustachian tube than that of bottle-fed children; For this reason, otitis media is less common in breast-fed children than in bottle-fed children. If the child needs to be bottle fed, it is better to feed in a sitting position rather than lying down.

Duration of the disease: The recovery time for otitis media may vary. Even if it is not treated at all, it may resolve spontaneously within 48 hours. Sometimes, despite treatment with antibiotics, fluid continues to remain in the middle ear for 2 weeks to 2 months. This fluid usually disappears on its own, but hearing may be diminished during this time. Otitis media is not contagious, but its primary cause, an upper respiratory tract infection, can be.

Medical treatment: Acute otitis media is usually treated with antibiotics and medications to restore eustachian tube function. Sometimes, if the child's eardrum becomes very swollen due to inflammation and causes severe pain, it may be necessary to make a small incision (paracentesis) in the eardrum and drain the inflammation. After this procedure, the eardrum usually heals within a week. Parents often worry about whether there will be permanent hearing loss. If it is treated appropriately and the medications are used at the recommended dose and duration, the possibility of permanent hearing loss is very low.