Probably, almost every parent at least once in his life faced with a situation where the child has otitis media. This very unpleasant disease is accompanied by an inflammatory process and severe, sharp pain. If left untreated, the disease can lead to complications, so it is essential to know about its main symptoms and effective therapy.
Otitis media and its forms
As already mentioned, otitis in modern medicine is called inflammation of the ear. Of course, often the inflammatory process is observed in the outer part of the auditory analyzer and is associated with mechanical damage to the tissues of the auricle or ear canal, complicated by the penetration of infection.
However, pediatricians most often diagnose acute otitis media in children - a disease in which the focus of inflammation is localized in the middle ear. This form of the disease is accompanied by fever and sharp, shooting pain in the ears.
By the way, it is not uncommon for a child to have recurrent otitis media. 3 years- this is a kind of "transitional" age in children, as statistics confirm the disappointing fact that almost 60% of young patients suffer from repeated inflammations. This is due to some anatomical features of the structure of the Eustachian tubes in babies.
Why does the child have otitis media?
The main cause of the inflammatory process is an infection, most often bacterial. It is worth noting that otitis often develops against the background of tonsillitis and some other respiratory diseases, since the middle ear cavity is connected to the nasopharynx by the Eustachian tubes.
However, in some cases, the disease is the result of the activity of a virus, for example, it can occur as a complication of the flu or a cold. Much less often, the cause of inflammation is a fungal infection.
Child has otitis: what are the symptoms?
In fact, such a disease is difficult not to notice or ignore, since its symptoms are very specific. The main symptom of otitis media is severe, sharp pain in the ear, which the child simply cannot bear. In addition, the inflammatory process often leads to an increase in temperature. In some cases, you may notice profuse discharge from the ear canal (often this is sulfur mixed with exudative fluid or pus).
But how do you know if a child has otitis media if they are too young to report discomfort to their parents? In such cases, you need to carefully monitor the baby. Sick children become capricious,often cry out and for no reason suddenly start crying violently, often wake up at night. In addition, newborn babies often rub the sore ear, and also refuse to eat and drink, as sucking movements only increase pain.
How to treat inflammation of the middle ear?
It is extremely important to show a small sick child to a specialist in time. The fact is that inflammation of the middle ear, especially if it is accompanied by an accumulation of pus, can lead to a decrease or complete loss of hearing.
Treatment depends on both the age of the child and the severity of the disease. To begin with, doctors prescribe pain-relieving ear drops, as well as nasal sprays that relieve swelling of the mucosa and make breathing easier. If necessary, antipyretic drugs are also used. If the larynx is inflamed, then, of course, it is also treated. In the event that these methods do not work or the body temperature rises to 39 degrees, it is advisable to use antibiotics.
