Are you feeling pain in the ear or trouble hearing? Is your kid having headaches, trouble hearing, or becoming more irritable than usual? A possible cause for all these symptoms can be a middle ear infection (MEI), known scientifically as acute otitis media. The middle ear is the air-filled space behind the eardrum, which contains the small vibrating bones of the ear. Any infection in this region is called a middle ear infection and needs treatment with the best ENT doctor in Coimbatore. Let us know about this in more detail.
Symptoms Of Middle Ear Infection
Middle ear infections can occur both in adults and children, although children are more affected than grown-ups. The commencement of the indications is usually quick. The symptoms are similar, but the types vary more in the children. Some of the symptoms are listed below:
For adults
1. Earache
2. Secretion of fluid from the ear
3. Hearing trouble
For Children
1. Ache in the ear, mainly when lying down
2. Yanking or pulling at an ear
3. Loss of balance
4. Fever of 100 F (380 C) or higher
5. Drainage of fluid from the ear
6. Headache
7. Loss of appetite
8. Problem in sleeping
9. Irritable (crying more than usual, throwing things)
10. A problem in hearing or reacting to sounds
Especially for children, prompt doctor intervention is needed when the following developments take place about the symptom:
· The symptoms linger for more than 24 hours.
· Symptoms are observed in a child of fewer than six months
· Unbearable and severe ear pain
· The child is having trouble sleeping or has become irritated after a cold or other respiratory infection.
· Discharge of fluid, pus or bloody liquid from the ear is observed.
Causes And Related Conditions
Infective biological sources can cause the symptoms of middle ear infection or due to the effect of other illnesses – like cold, flu, and allergy. These causes may require you to consult with an ENT Doctor. Let us know the reasons in some detail:
· Infective bacteria and viruses can cause infection in the middle ear. It can infect the ear through any injury or indirectly through another microbial illness.
· The Eustachian tubes can get blocked and inflamed, giving rise to the symptoms of the MEI. The Eustachian tubes are a pair of narrow tubes that run from the middle ear to the back of the throat behind the nasal passages. This tube refreshes the air in the ear, regulates air pressure in the middle ear, and drains the typical effusion from the middle ear. Blocked fluids in the Eustachian tubes can get infected and cause the symptoms of the middle ear infection to the surface. Narrow Eustachian tubes in children are more difficult to drain and, consequently, more prone to clogging and infection.
· Adenoids, two small pads of tissue situated high in the nose near the Eustachian tubes, can also get blocked and cause the symptoms of MEI to manifest. Swelling of the adenoids may block the tubes, giving rise to MEI. Many ear doctors in Coimbatore state that this event is more prevalent in children due to the larger size of adenoids in them.
Related Conditions
A middle ear infection could result in several conditions at the infected sites, including the following:
· Otitis Media with effusion: The fluid buildup in the middle ear without any infection, mainly after the ear infection has subsided. Another cause may be the blockage of the Eustachian tube.
· Chronic otitis media with effusion: This condition occurs when the fluid continues accumulating in the middle ear without any bacterial or viral infection. This condition is especially prevalent in children and a cause for further infection and hearing problems.
· Chronic suppurative otitis media: This is a severe condition where the infection persists even after antibiotic treatment. This condition is a primary cause of perforation in the eardrum.
Treatment
Middle Ear Treatment with the ENT doctor depends upon the age and the intensity of infection in the patient. Mostly, the usual treatment protocol for a middle ear infection is given below:
· Doctors would not want to take immediate action on kids below two years and more than 6 months old. They would instead wait for a day or two, provided that the child doesn’t suffer from a fever where the temperature spikes to 102.2degrees F or more. The same scenario is applicable for children above two years
· Certain pain-relievers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen can treat pain due to ear infections. However, use the drugs as directed by the physician. Always inform them about any medicines you are currently on or are allergic to. It is best to see a doctor first. The physician may provide anaesthetic drops in the ear in case the eardrum is not perforated.
· Antibiotic may be administered to children after a brief observation period for the following cases:
1. If they are aged six months or older, have moderate to extreme pain in one or both ears. This would be applicable if the condition persists for more than two days or if the kid runs a high fever in excess of 102.2degrees F.
2. Kids below two years and more than 6 months old have mild middle ear pain for less than two days and the kid does not run a high fever in excess of 102.2degrees F
3. Children aged two years and older with slight ear pain for less than two days and the kid does not run a high fever in excess of 102.2degrees F
In Conclusion
Ear infections are often observed to self-heal, so often, the treatment requires monitoring the problem and pain management. Antibiotics may be prescribed if the disease becomes severe and needs medical intervention. However, people prone to getting issues in or around the ear are at most risk for hearing loss or other serious complications.
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