Ear Infections
What is Ear Infection?
Ear infection or Otitis media is a very common childhood disease. It is a kind of inflammation of the middle ear. Ear infection occurs in the area between the ear drum and the inner ear, including the Eustachian tube. Otitis media is almost always accompanied by a viral upper respiratory infection (URI), usually the common cold. The rhinoviruses, responsible for causing common cold, infect the Eustachian tube causing inflammation. The major function of the tube is to equalize pressure which gets compromised due to the infection. It is found that if a person is born with poor Eustachian tube function, there are more chances of being affected by Otitis media.
Symptoms of Ear Infections
Usually, the children are too young to communicate about their troubles to their parents. Hence, it becomes doubly important to check out the indications to detect that there is trouble with the children, especially in case of ear infections. The common indications given by the child while suffering from ear infection include the following:
• Complaints of pain in their ears may be due to ear infection.
• A fever of 100 F (38 C) or higher may develop.
• A clear fluid that drains from the ears may be due to Otitis media.
• Headaches, without any visible reasons, may be a symptom, too.
• Children may constantly tug or pull at their ears while suffering from the infection.
• Children may cry more than usual due to ear infections.
• Children may have trouble in sleeping due to the infection.
• Otitis media may make children fail to respond to sounds
• Children may be unusually irritable due to infection.
Adults who suffer from ear infection may show the symptoms, such as earache, a feeling of blockage in the ear, dizziness, a fever of 100 F (38 C) or higher and temporary hearing loss.
Diagnosis of Ear Infections
The examination of the child suffering from ear infection may include several questions. A lighted instrument known as otoscope may also be used to look for inflammations in the middle ear. Sometimes, a pneumatic otoscope may also be used to check the movements of the eardrum. This instrument is used to puff air into the ear drum in an intention to move it. If there’s any fluid present in the ear drum, it will restrict the movement.
Some other pain free tests may also be performed to diagnose ear infection. These tests include acoustic reflectometry and tympanometry.
Acoustic reflectometry: In this test, a hand held device is used to project sounds of various frequencies into the ear. The reflections of the sounds from the insides of the ear may reveal how much fluid is in the ear drum.
Tympanometry: Tympanometry is performed to test the movement of the eardrum. A soft plug is inserted into the ear which consists of a device that changes air pressure. The movements of the eardrum may reveal the amount of liquid present in the ear.
Causes of Ear Infections
The most common causes of ear infection include the attack by Streptococcus pneumoniae and non-typable Haemophilus influenza bacteria. Apart from these, ear infection may also be caused by common cold viral infection. This happens due to the damage of epithelial cells of the upper respiratory tract. A diplococcus called Moraxella catarrhalis may also be the cause of ear infection. Sometimes, ear infection may also be caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Most commonly, the viral infection (in common cold) may infect the middle ear lining, making it swollen and full of fluids which accumulate in the ear drum. Ear infections may also be caused by a blockage or swelling of the Eustachian tube. During a cold, the Eustachian tubes get blocked and fluids may get trapped in the middle ear.
Swelling of adenoids may also lead to ear infections. Adenoid tissues are located in the upper throat near the Eustachian tubes. These tissues may get infected and block the Eustachian tube. Also, the infection of adenoids may spread to the Eustachian tube.
The underdeveloped immune system also makes children prone to various diseases such as common cold and ear infections.
Types of Ear Infections
There are various terminologies to describe various conditions of ear infections. Depending upon the nature of the infection and the underlying causes, ear infections may be broadly classified into three categories.
i. Acute Otitis Media: This type of ear infection accompanies an upper respiratory infection. The common symptoms include congestion of the ears, mild discomfort and popping. If the middle ear is infected and accumulates pus then it is known as acute bacterial otitis media. The symptom of acute bacterial otitis media includes earache that is continuous and severe and accompanying with high fever. Bacterial infection may lead to perforation of the ear drum and, in severe cases, meningitis.
ii. Otitis media with effusion: This type of ear infection refers to fluids that stay even after the infection has been cured. This increases the chances of developing another infection. Accumulation of fluid in the ear drum may increase the chances of conductive hearing impairment.
iii. Chronic suppurative otitis media: This type of otitis media involves a perforation of the ear drum. There may also be active bacterial infection of the middle space for several weeks. There may be enough pus which may drain out and sometimes purulence may be minimal enough to be only seen by microscope. This type of infection is more common with the persons who have poor Eustachian tube functioning.
Treatment of Ear Infections
Treatment of ear infections is made after a thorough checkup of the condition and proper counseling. Usually, the age of the child, medical history and the type of ear infection is taken into consideration while the disease is being treated.
The wait-and-see approach is very popular and nearly 80% of the infections are treated through this method. In this method antibiotics are not readily prescribed to treat the condition. It has been observed that antibiotics are incapable of treating the types of ear infections which are caused by viruses. Sometimes, pain relievers, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen are prescribed. Prescription ear drops are also used for relieving the pain in many cases.
Antibiotics are also used for children under 6 months of age and for those who have had two ear infections within a period of 30 days. The most common antibiotic is amoxicillin, when it is non-allergic.
Sometimes, surgeries are also performed for ear infections of the children. The most common type of surgeries is myringotomy. Surgeries are not performed for adult patients.
Living with Ear Infections
Over the counter is the first option if your child is suffering from severe pain and discomfort. However, aspirin should not be given to anyone who’s younger than 16, due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome. Placing a warm, moist cloth over the affected ear will also provide ample relief.
Ear monitors can also be a handy option if your child is suffering from frequent ear infections. These monitors are helpful in checking the fluids inside the ears. The readings of the monitor provide information about the fluids inside the ear.
It is also essential to save the infected ear from water and injuries. However, sometimes scratching of the ear provides quite relief by releasing the accumulated pus. However, care should be taken to save the ear from further infection.
Prevention of Ear Infections
The first step of prevention is to keep the child away from other children, especially in a child care group. The children should also be saved from passive smoke. Moreover, a child should be breast fed for at least six months to avoid frequent infections. It helps in strengthening the immune system of the child. If the baby is fed with the bottle, hold the baby in an upright position.
Pneumococcal vaccines may also be helpful in special circumstances. The adults may take the OTC decongestants or allergy medications to prevent the spread of infections.
