Ear infections, or acute otitis media, are a very common illness for infants and small children, although they can affect adults as well.
Infections of the ear are characterized by fluid or pus that builds up in the middle ear, a small space behind the eardrum, which causes pain, redness, and fever. These kinds of infections are most common in the first two to four years of life because children at this age will have less-developed organs around their ears and throat, which makes natural drainage more difficult and fluid buildup easier to occur.
Otitis media has different types, such as chronic otitis media, which means the fluid in the middle ear is present for 6 weeks or longer. Otitis media with effusion means that the fluid in the middle ear can be temporary and may not necessarily even be infected. Distinguishing between the different types will also help your doctor to determine which avenue of treatment is best for you or your child.
The general symptoms of middle ear infections include pain in the ear, diminished hearing, and drainage of fluid. However, these symptoms can vary in severity and can be more difficult for parents to recognize in infants and small children who cannot communicate how they are feeling. Some of the things you can look for in your children that indicate they may be suffering from a middle ear infection include:
- Ear pain comes from the fluid in the middle ear pushing on the eardrum, which can be very uncomfortable especially for small children. While older children can complain of earaches, younger children will probably tug at their ears or act more irritable than usual.
- If you notice your child eating less than usual or having trouble sleeping, this could be related to ear infections as well. This is because lying down, chewing, and sucking can all cause painful pressure changes in the middle ear when it is filled with fluid.
- Sound can also be blocked from fluid buildup. If your child is having trouble hearing, you might notice him or her not responding to soft sounds, needing to turn up the television or radio, talking louder than normal, or appearing inattentive at school.
- Finally, if the pressure becomes high enough within the middle ear, then the eardrum may rupture, which will cause fluid to drain out of the ear.
In some cases, other symptoms may also be present, such as fever, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, coughing, or runny nose. Since these symptoms can often be present for other common conditions, they are usually not indicative of an ear infection unless they are seen in conjunction with some of the other above symptoms.
On the other hand, some children will experience no symptoms at all with otitis media. However, ear infections will commonly follow upper respiratory tract infections, such as a cold or allergies, so your doctor will generally check your child’s eardrums as a precaution when diagnosing other conditions.
