Although ear infections can affect any part of the ear, it is most common for them to be found in the middle ear. The middle ear is an air-filled space that is found behind the eardrum and contains the ear’s tiny vibrating bones. Children are affected by ear infections more often than adults.
Symptoms of an Ear Infection
Signs and symptoms of an ear infection are typically very sudden. They normally include:
- Ear pain
- Drainage from the ear
- Diminished hearing
Though symptoms are generally the same for adults and children, it can be harder to recognize these symptoms in a child, especially if they are unable to communicate how they are feeling to you. These are the symptoms you should look for in your children if you suspect they may have an ear infection:
- Ear pain that worsens when they are lying down
- Crying more than usual, or acting generally more irritable than usual
- Presence of drainage in the ear
- Difficulty sleeping
- Loss of balance
- Headaches
- Difficulty responding to noises
- Loss of appetite
- Tugging or pulling at their ear
- Fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
Causes of an Ear Infection
Ear infections are typically caused by a virus or bacterium in the middle ear. It is common for them to follow other illnesses, such as a cold, the flu, or allergies, since these conditions can cause swelling and congestion in the nasal passages, throat, and Eustachian tubes.
Eustachian tubes are two narrow tubes that run from each middle ear to behind the nasal passages, in the back of the throat. The tubes usually function as a drain for normal secretions in the middle ear, with the throat end of the passages opening and closing in order to also regulate air pressure in the middle ear, provide fresh air to the middle ear.
If any swelling, inflammation, or mucus makes its way to the Eustachian tubes because of some sort of upper respiratory infection, this can cause blockage in the middle ear, which can lead to an accumulation of fluids in the middle ear.
The reason that children are more affected by middle ear infection than adults is because their Eustachian tubes are more horizontal and more narrow than those of an adult, which means that they are more difficult to drain and more likely to get clogged.
Also, adenoids are small pads of tissues that are located in the back of the nose. Because of their location, they are more vulnerable to inflammation and infection, which can block the Eustachian tubes as well. Children also have larger adenoids than adults, which is another reason they are more susceptible to ear infections.
Treatments for an Ear Infection
Generally, ear infections are able to correct themselves without antibiotic treatment. For this reason, it is common for doctors to first recommend a “wait-and-see” approach before writing any prescriptions. However, antibiotics may be prescribed in severe cases as well.
Since it can take up to two weeks for an ear infection to heal on its own, managing pain is usually part of the treatment process. This can include warm compresses, pain medications, or medicated eardrops, depending on the severity of the pain.
If a child is experiencing recurrent ear infections (at least three episodes within six months, or four episodes within a year), then your doctor may recommend a surgical procedure to drain the fluid from the ear. The procedure is called a myringotomy, and it involves creating a tiny hole in the eardrum to suction fluid out of the middle ear, and then placing a tiny tube in the opening to help ventilate the middle ear and prevent future fluid build-up.
