Overview
A painful and short infection of the middle ear is called acute otitis media. Acute otitis media occurs due to a block in the Eustachian tube. The tube connects the back of the nose to the middle ear; a block will lead to pus collection behind the eardrum in the middle ear. This more commonly occurs in infants and children, as their tubes get blocked easily. Common cold and allergies block the tube and often lead to an acute infection of the middle ear.
Causes and Risk Factors
Acute otitis media commonly occurs as a result of viruses or the presence of bacteria. The most common bacteria in ear infections are Pneumococcus, H. influenza and Moraxella Catarrhalis, according to The New York Times.
According to the National Institutes of Health, babies not breastfed, children going to daycare centers and people exposed to cold climates are the groups most at risk for getting an acute ear infection.
Features
The ear infection usually starts soon after a cold. The buildup of pus under pressure in the middle ear will result in a severe pain in the ear. A younger child will be highly irritable, cry a lot and have trouble sleeping due to the pain. He may have associated vomiting.
Someone with an acute ear infection may also have a high fever, and the ears will feel full. The doctor will see a bulged and red eardrum when he examines the ear. A severe infection may cause the drum to perforate and may result in a discharge from the ear. The drum usually heals within a few days.
Treatment
The experts at UCSanDiego Medical Centre say that the treatment for an acute middle ear infection is antibiotics. The drug amoxycillin is recommended as first-line treatment. The sufferer should finish the entire course of antibiotics to prevent bacterial resistance.
Painkillers like ibuprofen and paracetamol are given for pain relief.
Surgical Treatment
According to Merck’s Manual, if there is a severe earache and the drum is bulging, the doctor may perform a myringotomy. He will make an opening in the eardrum to drain out the pus. This will relieve the pain.
Complications
Acute otitis media can lead to a hole in the eardrum, which may not heal. The infection can also spread to the bone of the skull behind the ear, resulting in mastoiditis. It can infect the brain lining, leading to meningitis, and can cause a collection of pus in the brain, leading to an abscess.
Prevention
To reduce the chances of getting an acute infection in children, breastfeed your child. Breastfeeding offers protection against ear infections, according to The New York Times. Avoid giving pacifiers to children. Avoid cigarette smoke, as second-hand smoke can increase the risk of getting an ear infection.
About this Author
Vaishali Mehta is a doctor by profession and has a master’s degree in otolaryngology from India. She has clinical experience in the field of ENT. She has a passion for medical writing and has written stacks of research articles. She likes to write for health, fitness and nutrition, and otolaryngology-related topics.
