Live Life Team
The collection of fluid in middle ear, which is the space in between inner ear and eardrum, is known as otitis media.
The middle ear usually fills up with air or mucus in persons having cold. This can result in the bacterial infection which is commonly known as ear infection.
Acute otitis media is the presence of ear infection in a person for a short span of time. It occurs suddenly.
Chronic otitis media is a condition where the ear infection recurs or the same infection tends to stay for a long span of time. The symptoms associated with this kind of infection are less severe than those associated with acute otitis media.
When the middle ear fills up completely with fluid, the condition is known as Glue ear.
Symptoms
Symptoms associated with acute otitis media include:
- Severe earache because of the pressure the mucus exerts on the eardrum
- High fever
- The children have symptoms like that of flu with tiredness and vomiting.
- A mild deafness
Babies who have ear infections will be very irritable and have high fever. They cry continuously.
In very rare cases, eardrum develops perforations and pus flows out of the ear. Even though this gives temporary relief from the pain, infection will recur.
Chronic otitis media has milder symptoms which recur or persist for a longer span of time. One can experience the flow of pus from the ear.
Causes
The main cause of otitis media is common cold. The infection from the nose spreads to the ears via Eustachian tube.
The fluids that flow out form the ear via the nose get blocked due to otitis media, which causes pain in the ear. The blockage of Eustachian tube may be due to the presence of tonsillitis or enlargement of adenoids. Both tonsils and adenoids may be removed in cases of severe otitis media.
Children suffering from glue ear are subjected to develop more ear infections.
The permanent perforation of the eardrum can also cause otitis media.
The growth of cholesteatoma, a tissue, inside middle ear can also lead to otitis media.
Infections like measles can lead to otitis media due to weakened immunity system.
Treatment
Acute otitis media as well as perforated eardrums normally heal up on their own.
Antibiotics may be used for the treatment of symptoms that occur for a short time span if the infection is severe or worsens after two to three days.
Even though antibiotics can be administered for a longer span of time, there are many risks associate with it.
Over the counter analgesics can be used for the treatment of fever and pain associated with otitis media. But it is advisable not to use aspirin in children who are below sixteen years.
Nasal drops that contain antihistamines or decongestants can be administered fro the reduction of the swelling in the mucous membranes of throat and neck.
In adults, drops containing antibiotics can be used for reducing the pus flow from the ear.
Surgical removal of adenoids as well as tonsils is advised in cases where they block the Eustachian tube.
Complications
Rarely, acute ear infection leads to a discharge from the ear, which remains for more than two weeks. This is known as chronic suppurative otitis media.
