Otitis Media Treatment in Dubai
What is Middle Ear Infection?
Middle ear infection also known as otitis media is one of the most common paediatric conditions treated by an ENT doctor. As per the latest guidelines, 3 out of 5 children will have an ear infection by the time they are 5 years old. It is more often associated or followed by cold’s, allergy, or upper respiratory tract infection. Middle ear infection can happen in adults, but it is not that common as in kids.
Risk factors for otitis media in kids:
- Children who attend daycare or a nursery
- Children under the age of two
- Children with craniofacial abnormalities, Down’s syndrome, and other conditions
- Breastfeeding has a preventive effect against otitis media as compared to formula feeding.
Second-hand cigarette smoke exposure, as well as air pollution.
Signs and symptoms of otitis media in kids:
- Irritability and excessive crying in infants and toddlers
- Pulling or excessive tug at their ears
- Sleep disturbances
- Fluid draining from their ears
- Ear pain, hearing issues, balancing problems in older children
Signs and symptoms of otitis media in adults:
- Ear pain
- Ear blockage, hearing difficulty
- Ear discharge
- Tinnitus, dizziness
- Fever
Treatment of otitis media:
- During your visit, the doctor will examine your ears to look for any signs of Otitis media like redness and bulging of the ear drum, any discharge in the ear canal, or for any fluid behind the ear drum.
- If required, doctor might ask you to do Pure Tone Audiogram to check for your hearing levels at different frequencies and Tympanogram to look for any fluid in the middle ear and evaluate functioning of the eustachian tube.
- Most often your doctor will prescribe a course of oral anti-biotics for 7 – 10 days and would ask you to follow up after completion of treatment.
- In case of associated colds, doctor will also give you antihistamines tablets, and nasal decongestant drops especially in kids.
- ‘Pain killers and analgesics as required.
Treatment for repeated Otitis media:
- Most of the time in adults, Otitis media resolves completely after treatment and no further treatment is needed.
- But in case of kids, due to unfavourable Eustachian tube anatomy, repeated URTI’s, immature immunity and enlarged adenoids they are more prone to get repeated ear infections.
- For repeated otitis media or persistent fluids in the middle ear, doctor will recommend myringotomy and tubes (grommet) insertion for your child.
- It is a procedure in which small incision is taken on the ear drum to drain the fluid and small tube (grommet) is placed through that incision in the ear drum for proper ventilation of the middle ear and drainage of fluids.
Frequently Asked Questions
A virus or bacteria causes acute ear infections. Common cold and allergies can eventually cause infections in the ear. A viral infection fills the middle ear with fluid. A bacterial infection fills the middle ear with pus.
The infection of the ear itself is not contagious. The infection often arises from a previous throat, mouth, or nose infection.
The Eustachian tube is essential in maintaining a healthy ear by ventilating the middle ear space, keeping its pressure near normal levels, and draining any secretions, infection, or debris. Several small muscles located in the posterior of the throat and at the roof of the mouth control its opening and closing when we swallow or yawn. Without this tube, the middle ear cavity would be closed off from the surrounding environment and unable to adjust to changes in air pressure leading to unhealthy ears.
Note: If the Eustachian tube is not functioning properly, changing air pressure in a plane can cause discomfort for a child with an ear infection.
Doctors use aotoscope to look inside your ear to check for any eardrum bulges or redness/congestion over the eardrum or if fluid is present behind your eardrum.
Sadly, ear infections are often non-preventable, and some children are more prone to having ear infections than others. Some things have been proven to decrease the risk of ear infections. Breastfeeding, avoiding second-hand smoke, and getting all recommended vaccines (including the flu) can all help prevent ear infections. Handwashing frequently can prevent the spread of diseases, which can help your child stay healthy! Encourage your kids to do so!
Bottle feeding is a risk factor for otitis media in infants. However, the immunities passed through breastfeeding can help prevent it. It is suggested to hold the child when bottle feeding, not allowing them to lie down with the bottle, as this will improve the Eustachian tube function.
Acute ear infections usually go away without treatment, but ENT doctors may give the following:
- Antibiotics
- Pain medicine, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen
- Decongestant Nasal spray
- Antihistamine pills for allergy sufferers.
If your ear pain is severe, doctors may drain fluid from your middle ear. The fluid may be drained by making a small hole in the eardrum or inserting tubes.
If for some reason, there is fluid present in the ear, vibrations cannot be transmitted efficiently, and sound energy is lost, resulting in temporary hearing loss. However, if the condition occurs repeatedly, the ear drum and hearing nerve are damaged, leading to permanent hearing loss.
If your child does not feel better within 2-3 days after being diagnosed (whether they are taking antibiotics), it is important to notify your ENT Doctor. They will likely want to evaluate your child.
There are two types of middle ear infections: the common cold, a viral upper respiratory infection, and the middle ear infection, which occurs after a child has had a sore throat, cold, or upper respiratory infection. The infection-causing bacteria may spread to the middle ear if the upper respiratory infection is bacterial. Bacteria may also enter the middle ear after a viral upper respiratory infection, such as a cold.
- Ensure that your children do not miss any of the mandatory child vaccinations.
- Ensure infants do not drink from a bottle while lying down or taking a bottle to bed.
- Avoid smoking when children are around.
Acute otitis media (ear infection) describes inflammation of the middle ear or tympanum. There is fluid in the middle ear and signs or symptoms of ear infection, such as bulging eardrums that usually cause pain or perforated eardrums that drain pus (purulent material).
Note: Children with draining ear infections should not swim. Most children have one or more ear infections by the age of six.
Early childhood otitis media tends to lead to more ear infections later in the childhood for children who have acute otitis media before six months of age.
An ear infection can cause hearing loss because pus buildup dampens eardrum vibrations. Temporary hearing loss may occur due to a buildup of pus within the middle ear that causes pain and dampens eardrum vibrations.
The common cold is a major risk factor for ear infections, as it is highly contagious. Frequent and thorough hand washing is the best solution to keep cold viruses away. Getting your child vaccinated yearly to prevent flu and pneumococcal disease also helps reduce the chance of an ear infection. In addition, limiting exposure to second-hand smoke and breastfeeding your baby for at least one year may help guard against acute ear infections.
People commonly refer to an ear infection as otitis media or a middle ear infection. The infection occurs behind the tympanic membrane (ear drum), a barrier between the middle and outer ear of the body. A swimmer’s ear (otitis externa) is an outer ear canal infection caused by water staying in the canal after swimming or bathing or trauma to the ear canal. Usually, drops are used to treat this external infection.
A virus or bacteria causes acute ear infections. Common cold and allergies can eventually cause infections in the ear. A viral infection fills the middle ear with fluid. A bacterial infection fills the middle ear with pus.
The infection of the ear itself is not contagious. The infection often arises from a previous throat, mouth, or nose infection.
The Eustachian tube is essential in maintaining a healthy ear by ventilating the middle ear space, keeping its pressure near normal levels, and draining any secretions, infection, or debris. Several small muscles located in the posterior of the throat and at the roof of the mouth control its opening and closing when we swallow or yawn. Without this tube, the middle ear cavity would be closed off from the surrounding environment and unable to adjust to changes in air pressure leading to unhealthy ears.
Note: If the Eustachian tube is not functioning properly, changing air pressure in a plane can cause discomfort for a child with an ear infection.
Doctors use aotoscope to look inside your ear to check for any eardrum bulges or redness/congestion over the eardrum or if fluid is present behind your eardrum.
Sadly, ear infections are often non-preventable, and some children are more prone to having ear infections than others. Some things have been proven to decrease the risk of ear infections. Breastfeeding, avoiding second-hand smoke, and getting all recommended vaccines (including the flu) can all help prevent ear infections. Handwashing frequently can prevent the spread of diseases, which can help your child stay healthy! Encourage your kids to do so!
Bottle feeding is a risk factor for otitis media in infants. However, the immunities passed through breastfeeding can help prevent it. It is suggested to hold the child when bottle feeding, not allowing them to lie down with the bottle, as this will improve the Eustachian tube function.
Acute ear infections usually go away without treatment, but ENT doctors may give the following:
- Antibiotics
- Pain medicine, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen
- Decongestant Nasal spray
- Antihistamine pills for allergy sufferers.
If your ear pain is severe, doctors may drain fluid from your middle ear. The fluid may be drained by making a small hole in the eardrum or inserting tubes.
There are two types of middle ear infections: the common cold, a viral upper respiratory infection, and the middle ear infection, which occurs after a child has had a sore throat, cold, or upper respiratory infection. The infection-causing bacteria may spread to the middle ear if the upper respiratory infection is bacterial. Bacteria may also enter the middle ear after a viral upper respiratory infection, such as a cold.
If for some reason, there is fluid present in the ear, vibrations cannot be transmitted efficiently, and sound energy is lost, resulting in temporary hearing loss. However, if the condition occurs repeatedly, the ear drum and hearing nerve are damaged, leading to permanent hearing loss.
If your child does not feel better within 2-3 days after being diagnosed (whether they are taking antibiotics), it is important to notify your ENT Doctor. They will likely want to evaluate your child.
- Ensure that your children do not miss any of the mandatory child vaccinations.
- Ensure infants do not drink from a bottle while lying down or taking a bottle to bed.
- Avoid smoking when children are around.
Acute otitis media (ear infection) describes inflammation of the middle ear or tympanum. There is fluid in the middle ear and signs or symptoms of ear infection, such as bulging eardrums that usually cause pain or perforated eardrums that drain pus (purulent material).
Note: Children with draining ear infections should not swim. Most children have one or more ear infections by the age of six.
Early childhood otitis media tends to lead to more ear infections later in the childhood for children who have acute otitis media before six months of age.
An ear infection can cause hearing loss because pus buildup dampens eardrum vibrations. Temporary hearing loss may occur due to a buildup of pus within the middle ear that causes pain and dampens eardrum vibrations.
It is possible that untreated ear infections can result in more serious complications, such as mastoiditis (a rare inflammation of the bone adjacent to the ear), hearing loss, scarring and perforation of the eardrum, meningitis, speech problems, facial nerve paralysis.
The common cold is a major risk factor for ear infections, as it is highly contagious. Frequent and thorough hand washing is the best solution to keep cold viruses away. Getting your child vaccinated yearly to prevent flu and pneumococcal disease also helps reduce the chance of an ear infection. In addition, limiting exposure to second-hand smoke and breastfeeding your baby for at least one year may help guard against acute ear infections.
People commonly refer to an ear infection as otitis media or a middle ear infection. The infection occurs behind the tympanic membrane (ear drum), a barrier between the middle and outer ear of the body. A swimmer’s ear (otitis externa) is an outer ear canal infection caused by water staying in the canal after swimming or bathing or trauma to the ear canal. Usually, drops are used to treat this external infection.