What is the treatment for ear infection in children? Your child expresses this problem by crying intensely, and rubbing and pulling his ear while crying.

Ear infections are more common in children than adults.

Inflammation may occur after the following cases occur: –

• Colds.
• Allergic conditions.
• sore throat.
• Respiratory infection.

This is to prevent fluid from draining from the middle ear.

otitis

Know your ear infection بOtitis media The eardrum is an air-filled space located between the eardrum and the inner ear, and plays an important role in a person's ability to hear.

This is because it contains tiny bones that help transmit sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear, then they are transformed into nerve impulses and sent to the brain.

Acute ear infections are painful but short-lived, but chronic ear infections do not heal and recur several times.

Symptoms of ear infection

Ear infections are divided into three types, according to the three main parts of the ear, including: –

• Interior.
• Central.
• External.

Symptoms of inner ear infection

This condition is diagnosed as an inflammation, not a true infection, and its symptoms include the following: –

1. الدوخة.
2. Ear pain.
3. الغثيان.
4. القيء.
5. Sudden hearing loss.

But an inner ear infection could be a sign of a more serious condition, such as meningitis.

اعراض التهاب الاذن الوسطى

Symptoms of otitis media in adults include the following: –

1. Ear pain.
2. صعوبة في النوم.
3. Hearing problem in the affected ear.
4. fever.
5. Loss of appetite.
6. dizziness.
7. Brown, yellow, or white discharge from your ear.

If you experience bleeding from your ear, this may indicate that a middle ear infection has progressed to a ruptured tympanic membrane, which can lead to sudden hearing loss.

Therefore, if you suffer from any of the previous symptoms, you should go to the doctor, in order to determine the appropriate ear infection treatment for your condition before the infection develops.

External ear infection

This infection is known as otitis externa, which extends from the eardrum to the ear opening.

Symptoms of an external ear infection include: –

1. The infection begins with a rash.
2. حكة.
3. احمرار.
4. تورم.
5. Pain

Learn about:Learn more about the symptoms of inner ear infection

Causes of ear infection 

There are many causes of ear infections in children and adults, and they cause fluid to accumulate behind the eardrum due to obstruction of middle ear ventilation, making it a fertile environment for the growth of bacteria and microbes. These causes include the following:

• Congenital malformations: Some children are born with congenital deformities such as cleft lip or Down syndrome, followed by a defect in the structure of the ear and the Eustachian tube, which increases the incidence of ear infections.
• Young children: Some may overlook the shortness of the Eustachian tube in infants, in addition to the fact that it is more horizontal, which facilitates the transmission of fluids and microbes into the middle ear.
• Viral infection: Viral infections begin with a severe cold, then the virus travels to the nose or pharynx to the middle ear via the Eustachian tube, causing inflammation.
• Bacterial infection: There are some types of bacteria like Streptococcus Pneumoniae and many others that are responsible for acute otitis media.
• Eustachian tube blockage: The patient may suffer from a defect or blockage in the Eustachian tube due to nasal congestion and swelling of the mucous membranes due to constant runny nose, which obstructs the drainage of fluids and creates a suitable environment for the growth of germs.
• Environmental factors: Continuous exposure to polluted air, especially smoking, weakens the upper respiratory mechanism and causes recurrent ear infections.
• Having allergies: Especially chronic nasal allergies may cause swelling of the nasal lining, which affects the increase in the amount of mucus, causing a blockage in the Eustachian tube.
• Breastfeeding while lying down: Some mothers forget to place the infant's back straight or at a 45-degree angle while feeding from a bottle, so he is in a lying position, which helps milk leak into the Eustachian tube.

Treatment of ear infection

After accurate diagnosis and knowledge of the causes of ear infection, the specialist doctor begins to develop a treatment plan for ear infection according to the cause and degree of inflammation. Treatment methods include the following:

1. Drug treatment

It is a treatment protocol chosen by the doctor according to the type of infection or problem that the ear infection patient suffers from, and it includes the following:

• Antibiotics: In the case of a bacterial infection, the doctor uses the appropriate antibiotic in the form of syrup or tablets, depending on the age of the patient. In this case, the dose must be continued even if symptoms improve.
• Analgesics: Painkillers and antipyretics should be used, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, which help reduce the pain resulting from ear infections while treating high fever.
• Ear drops: If there is inflammation in the external ear canal, a drop containing an antibiotic or antifungal with a pain reliever can be used. 

2.Surgical treatment

Surgical treatment varies from one case to another depending on the severity of the inflammation. The doctor does not resort to this type of treatment except in certain circumstances, or when drug treatment is ineffective. It includes the following procedures:

• Myringotomy: The doctor makes a small incision in the eardrum to get rid of the accumulated fluid and drain it, which reduces the pressure on the ear and improves the quality of hearing.
• Removing part of the bone: The doctor may have to perform surgery to remove and replace part of the damaged tissue or eroded bone that is causing hearing loss. 
• Tympanoplasty: The process of restoring the eardrum is a delicate surgery in the event of a permanent hole in the eardrum, and it is an effective surgery in treating hearing loss.
• Installing a ventilation tube: The doctor implants a tube in the eardrum after making a small incision to allow ventilation of the middle ear, which prevents fluid accumulation.
• Mastoid removal surgery: This surgery is performed in cases of chronic inflammation that has reached the mastoid bone, which is located at the back of the ear. 

3. Treating the root cause

In cases of recurrent colds or chronic allergies, the doctor begins a comprehensive program to treat the root cause to avoid recurrence of ear infections, while recommending that the patient drink warm fluids continuously until the inflammation disappears, and assisting with warm compresses on the ear.

Methods of diagnosing ear infections

The doctor can diagnose an ear infection through the following: –

1. The symptoms you have.
2. Physical examination.

During the physical examination, the doctor uses an otoscope, which may reveal the following: –

1. Redness, or air bubbles inside the middle ear.
2. Fluid draining from the middle ear.
3. Perforation of the eardrum.
4. Swelling of the eardrum.

He may also recommend that your child undergo other tests, which include the following: –

Tympanocentesis

A sample of the fluid inside the ear is taken to determine whether certain types of bacteria are resistant to antibiotics.

Computed tomography (CT) scan

A CT scan of the head is performed to determine the extent of the infection outside the middle ear.

Diagnosing ear infections through blood tests

This is to know the results of your white blood cells.

Hearing test

This test is done if your child has chronic ear infections.

Diagnosis of ear infection by tympanometry

This test measures how the ear responds to changes in air pressure inside the ear.

In conclusion, you now understand, dear mother, what is the treatment for ear infection? And what are the causes that can lead to this infection.

You also realized what symptoms indicate that your child has this infection. To Al Mousa Specialist Hospital To conduct the necessary tests and determine the appropriate treatment for your child’s condition.

Frequently asked questions about ear infections

Dear reader, you may think of many questions regarding ear infections, such as: –

When is an ear infection dangerous?

An ear infection can be serious if you have a fever, or have blood coming from the ear.

How do you know you have an ear infection?

You can check if you have an ear infection by your symptoms and a physical examination using an otoscope.

Is ear infection contagious?

Ear infection is not contagious and is not transmitted from one person to another, but the bacteria and viruses that cause the common cold, which lead to inflammation, are contagious.

المصادر والمراجع :

Ear Infection (Otitis Media) – clevelandclinic

Ear infection – healthdirect