What Is a Middle Ear Infection?
Middle ear infections occur when the space behind the eardrum (the middle ear) fills with fluid and becomes infected. This happens when the eustachian tubes become blocked or swollen, and fluid begins to build up. Pressure on the eardrum from this mucus can cause significant ear pain in both children and adults. Ear infections can be caused by a virus or a bacteria. Not every ear infection needs treatment with antibiotics.
Middle Ear Infection Symptoms
Both children and adults are susceptible to ear infections, although children have a much higher possibility of getting them. Middle ear infection symptoms typically come on quickly, with intense pain that can be difficult for children to deal with. Symptoms can differ slightly between children and adults, so it’s important to know what you’re looking for when ear pain and other symptoms develop.
Symptoms common to both children and adults include:
- Ear pain
- Difficulty hearing
- Drainage of fluid from the ears
When children — especially young children — develop ear infections, they may not be able to communicate their symptoms in a way that adults can understand. Some middle ear infection symptoms and behaviors to specifically look for in children include:
- Pulling at or tugging repeatedly on an ear
- A fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or more
- Loss of balance
- Excessive crying and fussiness
- Appetite loss
- Headache
- Noticeable lack of response to sounds
- Difficulty sleeping
If you notice these behaviors in your child, it’s a good idea to bring them in to Nebraska Home Pediatrics & Parents for an evaluation.
Causes
When the eustachian tubes become blocked or swollen, fluid can build up behind the eardrum, leaving this space at a higher risk for bacteria or viruses to infiltrate and infect the fluid. This swelling and congestion can be caused by other conditions like the common cold and allergies.
Who is at risk?
While anyone can develop a middle ear infection, children between 6 months and 2 years of age are at the highest risk of developing this condition. Certain environmental settings can affect these risk factors, including areas and seasons where allergens are high, and environments with poor air quality.
Children who attend group childcare are also at a higher risk of developing respiratory illnesses, which can directly contribute to an increased risk of middle ear infection. Other factors include bottle feeding and cleft palate smoke exposure.
Middle Ear Infection Treatment
Some middle ear infections will resolve themselves without any treatment after a few days, but sometimes an antibiotic is needed for treatment. Your medical provider’s advice will vary based on the duration and severity of symptoms, as well as the age of the patient and their ability to handle the pain and other symptoms.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents take a “wait and see” approach for 48 hours if their child is older than 6 months of age and their fever stays below 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit. If symptoms are able to be managed comfortably, there is a chance that the middle ear infection will clear up without the need for antibiotics. This method is designed to prevent antibiotic resistance that can happen with excessive or unnecessary use.
If your child is under 6 months of age or the symptoms persist, it’s time to contact your medical provider here at Nebraska Home Pediatrics & Parents to schedule an appointment.
Treatment and Pain Relief
As mentioned before, antibiotic therapy is one method of middle ear infection treatment, along with waiting 48 hours (in certain situations) for the infection to resolve itself.
If middle ear infections become chronic, there is a chance that your medical provider may recommend consulting an ENT for tubes. This is a routine surgical procedure in which tiny tubes are placed into a child’s ear in order to ventilate the middle part of the ear and prevent future fluid buildup.
Regardless of treatment, over-the-counter pain management will likely be needed, due to the intensity of pain that comes with ear infections. Over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen and acetaminophen are highly effective in managing ear infection symptoms.
Preventing Middle Ear Infections
Since middle ear infections are often caused by other illnesses like the common cold, flu, or RSV, one of the best methods of prevention is to follow basic illness prevention guidelines like handwashing, staying up-to-date on immunizations, covering your cough, and avoiding touching your mouth and nose when you are out in public.
Some research indicates bottle feeding babies while lying down can contribute to middle ear infections. In these cases, medical providers recommend feeding babies a bottle while upright, rather than lying down.
Schedule an appointment for middle ear infection symptoms today!
Ear infections can be extremely painful. At Nebraska Home Pediatrics & Parents, we know how disruptive that can be no matter how old you are! If you suspect you or your child needs middle ear infection treatment, please call us today and schedule an appointment.