Inflammation of the middle ear may result from eustachian tube dysfunction.
There are two types of otitis media:
- Acute otitis media
- Otitis media with effusion
Acute otitis media is a more common condition. A person with this condition usually has ear pain, which can be followed by a fever and lack of appetite. The reason why this happens, and especially with young children, is due to pulling the ear, a lot of crying, and not sleeping enough. On the other hand, otitis media with effusion usually doesn’t have any symptoms, and it is a result of having fluid in the inner ear for a long period.
There are different causes for acute otitis media; some of them may be the anatomy and immune function of a child. An infant is sensitive to anything, so any bacteria or virus could be the cause of it.
The most common risks are:
- Smoking near the child
- Staying in daycare
- Using pacifiers
There are different things a mother of a child can do to prevent this from happening. That is to not expose her child to smoking, breastfeeding for at least six months, and influenza vaccination. In those with otitis media with effusion, antibiotics do not generally speed recovery. The use of pain medications for AOM is important. This may include: paracetamol (acetaminophen), ibuprofen, benzocaine ear drops, or opioids. In AOM, antibiotics may speed recovery but may result in side effects.
Antibiotics are often recommended for those with severe disease or those under two years old. In those with less severe disease, they may only be recommended in those who do not improve after two or three days. The initial antibiotic of choice is typically amoxicillin. In those with frequent infections, tympanostomy tubes may decrease recurrence.
