A middle ear inflammation is a disease caused by a virus or a bacterium that causes inflammation in the middle ear. This condition is most common in children.

According to the National Library of Medicine, middle ear inflammations occur in 80 percent of children by the time they reach age 3.

Most middle ear inflammations occur during the winter and early spring. Middle ear inflammations usually go away without any medication. However, you should seek medical treatment if pain persists or you have a There is a high degree of fever..

There are two types of middle ear inflammations: acute otitis media (AOM) and otitis media with effusion (OME).

Acute otitis media

This type of ear infections can be very fast and can cause swelling and redness in the ear behind and around the eardrum. Purulent fluid behind the eardrum can cause ear ache, ear inflammation, and hearing impairment.

Otitis media with effusion (OME)

After an illness is over, fluid and mucus can build up in the middle ear. This may happen as a result of a cold or other condition. This can cause the ear to be full and affect your hearing.

There are many reasons children get middle ear inflammations. They are often caused by an old respiratory tract infections that spread to the ears.

The middle ear tube that connects it to the pharynx is blocked. The fluid can be filled withbacteria causing pain and inflammation.

Middle ear inflammations can have a variety of symptoms. Some of the most common include.

A doctor will conduct a physical examination on your child. The doctor will use an otoscope to check for redness, swelling, and fluid in the ear during the exam.

Adults are better at describing their symptoms than kids. Both adults and children have the same problems.

The doctor might also conduct a test called tympanometry to determine whether the middle ear is working properly and if OME is present.

The eardrum is vibrated and the pressure in the ear canal is changed. The test records the changes in vibration on a graph. This will not show whether the fluid is infectious. A doctor will read the results.

There are many ways to treat otitis media. OME is not typically accompanied by an infection so antibiotics are not needed.

“A doctor will base treatment on your child’s health and history. Doctors will consider the following.”

  • The severity of the inflammation or the infection.
  • “Your child’s ability to tolerate antibiotics.”

Depending on the severity of the infection, a doctor may tell you that the best option is to treat the pain and wait to see if symptoms go away. Ibuprofen or another There is a high degree of fever. and pain reducer is a common treatment.

A doctor will recommend antibiotics if symptoms last more than 3 days. If the infection is caused by a virus, antibiotics will not cure it.

Complications from otitis media are rare. These are some of the problems that include:

“There are ways to lower your child’s risk of ear inflammations.”

  • You should wash your hands frequently.
  • “If you bottle- feed, always hold your baby’s bottle yourself and feed them while they sit upright or semi-upright. They must be off the bottle when they are 1 year old.”
  • Avoid smoky environments.
  • Keep your child’s immunizations up to date.
  • When your child is 1 year old, you should remove the pacifier.

The American Osteopathic Association also recommends nursing your baby, if possible, since it can help reduce the incidence of middle ear inflammations.