Category : ENT
An ear infection is an inflammation of the middle ear caused by microorganisms-bacteria, viruses etc leading to fluid build-up behind the eardrum. Though Ear infections can develop in anyone, but kids get them more often than adults. The medical name for ear infections is OTITIS MEDIA (OM).
What are the different types of ear infections?
There are three major types of ear infections.
- ACUTE OTITIS MEDIA (AOM)
Acute otitis media occurs when middle ear is infected and fluid is trapped behind the eardrum. Pain in the ear, fever, excessive crying in infants are the symptoms associated with acute otitis media
- OTITIS MEDIA WITH EFFUSION (OME)
Otitis media with effusion is when your ear infection progresses and fluid gets trapped behind the eardrum. General, it shows no symptoms. It can only be diagnosed with special instruments.
- CHRONIC OTITIS MEDIA WITH EFFUSION (COME)
Chronic otitis with effusion occurs when there is recurrent collection of fluid behind the ear drum recurrence even though there without any evidence of no infection. It can cause hearing loss.
How can you tell if your kid has an ear infection?
If a child is not old enough to say that his/her ear hurts, please look for the following complaints/clues to pick up an ear infection.
- Fever
- Fluid draining from the ear
- Fussiness and crying
- Clumsiness or problems with balance
- Trouble hearing or responding to quiet sounds
- Trouble sleeping
What causes ear infections?
When a child suffers from a bacterial upper respiratory infection, the same bacteria may spread to the middle ear and cause an ear infection by building up fluid behind the eardrum. They can also occur due to other viral respiratory infections.
Who is at higher risk of developing ear infections?
Ear infections can develop in:
- Children with allergies.
- Children attending to crowded play homes.
- Children who were not breastfed, as antibodies in breast milk can protect against ear infections.
- Children with anomalies like cleft palate.
- Children less than the age of 5 years who have relatively shorter Eustachian tubes. These are tubes that help prevent ear infections.
- Children who are frequently exposed to dust and cigarette smoke, as smoke causes inflammation of the Eustachian tube.
How to prevent children from an ear infection?
Things that you can do to prevent your kids getting ear infections are:
- Breastfeed your baby
- Avoid bottle feeding
- Wash your child’s hands and your own while feeding the child
- Do not allow your child to play with children who are sick
- Avoid smoking inside the house and keep your child away from any kind of dust/ smoke.
- Vaccinate your child against the influenza and pneumococcal vaccine.