Otitis
Media
What is Otitis
Media?
Otitis media is infection or inflammation located
in the middle ear.
About 75 percent of children
have at least one episode of otitis media by the time
they are three years of age. Nearly half of these children
have three or more infections by the time they are age
three.
Otitis media can also affect
adults, although it is primarily a disease that occurs
most often in children.
What Causes Otitis
Media?
Inflammation usually begins when infections
due to sore throats, colds, or other respiratory problems,
spread to the middle ear.
What are the Symptoms
of Otitis Media?
The following are the most common symptoms
for otitis media, however, individuals may experience
symptoms differently.
Common signs of otitis
media in children include:
- unusual irritability
- difficulty sleeping
or staying asleep
- tugging or pulling at
one or both ears
- fever
- fluid draining from
ear(s)
- loss of balance
- hearing difficulties
The symptoms of otitis
media may resemble other conditions or medical problems.
Consult a physician for a diagnosis.
What are the Effects
of Otitis Media?
In addition to the symptoms of otitis media
listed above, untreated otitis media can result in any/all
of the following:
- infection in other parts
of the head
- permanent hearing loss
- problems with speech
and language development
Can Otitis Media
be Prevented?
Cold and allergy medications do not appear
to prevent otitis media. And, currently, there is no
vaccine that can prevent the disease. However, there
are certain factors that seem to increase the chances
of otitis media developing in some children. These include:
- living in a home where
cigarettes are smoked
- nursing with a bottle
while lying down
How is Otitis Media
Diagnosed?
In addition to a complete medical history and
physical examination, the physician will inspect the
outer ear(s) and eardrum(s) using an otoscope.
The otoscope is a lighted instrument that allows the
physician to see inside the ear. A pneumatic
otoscope blows a puff of air into the ear to
test eardrum movement.
A tympanometry,
a test that allows for air and sound to be directed
into the middle ear, may also be performed.
A hearing test
may be performed for people who have frequent ear infections.
Treatment for Otitis
Media:
Specific treatment will be determined by the
physician(s) based on:
- patient's age, overall
health, and medical history
- extent of the disease
- expectations for the
course of the disease
- patient's tolerance
for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
- patient's (or family's)
opinion or preference
Treatment may include:
- antibiotic medication
- medication for pain
- myringotomy and ear
tubes - surgery to insert tubes to ventilate the middle
ear and keep air pressure level