Otitis media

Symptoms: This is how you recognize an otitis media

Middle ear infection mostly occurs in children and babies . It affects the youngest, between the ages of six months and six years, most often. Adolescents and adults rarely get sick.      

Typical signs of an otitis media are sudden, severe pain in the ear and a fever . The disease can appear in only one ear or both sides. The children often also have the following symptoms:

• headache
• Feeling of pressure in the ear
• Hearing loss
• Vomit
• diarrhea

Parents usually recognize otitis media when their child is restless and sleeps poorly.

An otitis media is different for everyone . For example, there are cases without pain and without fever. In some patients, however, the symptoms spread to neighboring muscles and nerves. Many complain of jaw pain, which makes it difficult to open your mouth and chew.

In some cases the eardrum ruptures under the pressure of the inflammation. This leads to a discharge from the ear , which can consist of pus and blood. Some people hear ringing in their ears ( tinnitus ) - such as clicking or knocking - as a result of an otitis media. These symptoms are usually very stressful for the sick. As a rule, however, the symptoms go away again when the otitis media has healed.

In addition to the pain, there may be an itch in the ear. Those affected usually have the feeling that their ears are closed. In most cases, however, it is not a otitis media: In these cases, the external ear canal is often inflamed.

Causes: What is behind an otitis media

A common cold is usually the trigger for an otitis media . This is due to the special anatomy of the ear: the middle ear is connected to the nose and throat via the so-called ear trumpet. Viruses and bacteria get through it into the middle ear and trigger the inflammation there with the typically severe pain.

In children, the ear trumpet is even shorter and more horizontal than in adults. Pathogens get into the ear faster. In addition, the immune system in the little ones is not yet fully developed. Therefore, children are often affected by otitis media.  

Parents then wonder if their child is contagious. The following rule of thumb applies: the otitis media is not contagious , but the previous cold is.

Treatment: what helps against otitis media

The therapy of choice are anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. They ease the pain and reduce the fever at the same time. In addition, nasal drops help , which swell the nasal cavity and clear the ear trumpet again. Ear drops, on the other hand, are not effective in treating otitis media.

Antibiotics for otitis media: wait cautiously

In the past, doctors would prescribe antibiotics such as amoxicillin directly for otitis media. Experts have deviated from that today. The reason for this: Antibiotics can also cause side effects such as diarrhea or an allergic reaction. Frequent use favors the development of antibiotic resistance . In addition, bacteria do not always trigger otitis media. Antibiotics do not work in viral diseases. Experts advise you to wait a day or two . If the symptoms do not improve after 48 hours despite pain medication, the child can still take an antibiotic. Doctors immediately prescribe an antibiotic in the following cases :

• Infants under six months of age
• Fever over 39 degrees
• otitis media on both sides
• torn eardrum

Home remedies for otitis media: Doctors advise against it                                 

A popular home remedy are onions, which are placed on the ear in a sheet. Warmth or red light are also said to reduce inflammation. However, it has not be proven whether the methods actually help. Also of homeopathy or globules for otitis doctors advise decreasing.

 

Course of the disease: This is how long an otitis media lasts

An otitis media is typically very painful but short- lived . How long the affected children are sick also depends on how much they take care of themselves . For example, going swimming is taboo. When showering and bathing , parents should make sure that the sick child does not get water in the ears.

Air travel should be postponed by patients if possible. The fluctuating pressure in the plane can cause additional pain. Anyone who has to fly despite an otitis media should use a decongestant nasal spray before take-off and landing.
The disease usually heals within two to seven days . Only when the otitis media has completely subsided should children go back to kindergarten or school and adults should go to work. Sport is then also possible again.

Chronic otitis media: Another clinical picture

Doctors differentiate between three forms of otitis media:

• Acute otitis media: an inflammation that occurs suddenly; the symptoms subside after a few days.
• Recurring (r ezidivierende ) otitis media: At least three inflammation of the middle ear in half a year or at least four in one year.
• Chronic otitis media : The inflammation persists for more than three months.

Acute and recurring middle ear infections heal again. The chronic otitis media , however, is a rare disease. Children are less affected, adults are more likely to get sick.

Doctors differentiate between two causes:

• Patients with chronic mucosal suppuration have a permanent hole in the eardrum. This causes fluid to run on the ear again and again, and there is hardly any pain.
• With chronic bone suppuration , skin cells grow into the middle ear and form a type of lump. Most of the time, secretion flows from the patient's ear and they suffer from earache, hearing impairment and a feeling of pressure.

Preventing otitis media: How to prevent the disease from recurring

Here are a few things to keep in mind to protect your child from developing an otitis media:

• Breastfeeding in the first six months : breast milk has a protective effect.
• Avoid smoking: Children exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to develop otitis media.
• Vaccinate against pneumococci : Children are less likely to develop otitis media after immunization. Influenza vaccinations, however, do not help.
• Remove tonsils and polyps : In some children, the procedure makes sense to better ventilate the middle ear and reduce the risk of inflammation.
• Avoid colds : No colds, no otitis media. If children are still ill, they should sniff out gently when blowing their nose instead of pulling their noses up forcefully.

 

Diagnosis: This is how the doctor diagnoses an otitis media

When should you see a doctor with your child? Even if many otitis media are harmless, you should always go to the pediatrician or ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor with your child if they have ear pain.    

The doctor can look into the ear canal with an ear microscope or an otoscope (ear mirror with a light source and magnifying glass). If the eardrum is reddened and bulged or already torn, it is an otitis media. In some cases, the doctor will also test your hearing.

A visit to the doctor is not only important so that the child gets the right treatment. The doctor can also prevent possible complications , such as inflammation of the neighboring bone (mastoiditis). Although such complications are very rare, they can have serious consequences for the child.