How to tell if a child has otitis media

Video: "Acute Otitis Media" by Alex Ruan and Jennifer Cheng

Content

Steps
Part 1 of 2: Recognize the main symptoms
Part 2 of 2: See a doctor
Tips
Warnings
Similar articles

Otitis media is a painful inflammation of the middle ear (located behind the eardrum) that is often caused by bacteria. Anyone can get an ear infection (known medically as otitis media), but infants and children are much more susceptible to this condition. In Russia, otitis media is the most common reason for parents to contact a medical institution for treatment of a child. There are several clear signs of otitis media that can help you determine if your child is sick. Make an appointment with your family doctor or pediatrician if you suspect your child has an ear infection.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Recognize the main symptoms

1 Watch for sudden ear pain. The hallmark of otitis media is acute ear pain due to fluid build-up due to the inflammatory response. The pain can be so strong that the child will cry "out of the blue", partly warning of the discomfort he is experiencing. In the prone position, the pain is increased, in particular if the child touches the pillow with the infected ear, which prevents him from falling asleep.
- Try to place the child on their back and support their head in a way that will reduce the pain in the ear.
- In addition to crying due to acute pain, the child may also pull or twitch their ear, which is also a sign of discomfort.
2 Be alert if your child becomes more irritable than usual. It is also worth paying attention to other non-verbal signs that signal discomfort, such as increased moodiness and irritability of the child or the manifestation of signs of a cold.The irritability stage begins a few hours before the crying stage and may be accompanied by the fact that the child wakes up early after a short nap or is unable to fall asleep at all. As fluid builds up in the ear, the feeling of pressure and swelling increases, which reaches its peak in the form of sharp, throbbing pain. Headache, which is a common occurrence in otitis media, only aggravates the discomfort of an infant and worsens his condition, because he is not yet able to tell you anything.
- Middle ear inflammation is usually preceded by sore throat, colds, or other upper respiratory tract infections (allergies). The infection or mucus then flows into the middle ear through the Eustachian tubes, which run from the ears to the back of the throat.
- Some children with otitis media may experience vomiting or even diarrhea.
- In addition to bacteria, viruses, and allergic reactions to food (milk) and environmental factors, the disease can eventually lead to an infection that spreads throughout the middle ear.
3 Monitor your child's hearing and response to sounds. It becomes more difficult for a child to perceive sounds as the middle ear is blocked by fluid or mucus. Therefore, check if the child's hearing has deteriorated and whether his attention and reaction to loud sounds have decreased. Call your child by name or clap your hands to look at you. If the baby has not responded, this could be a sign of otitis media, especially when combined with moody and irritable behavior.
- In addition to temporary hearing loss, the child may become poorly balanced. The tissues of the middle ear are responsible for balance, and inflammation can affect this function. Pay attention to how the child crawls or sits: if he leans to one side or falls, this may indicate otitis media.
- Children have ear infections more often than adults because their immune systems are weaker and the Eustachian tubes are smaller and less sloping, which is why they are filled with fluid that does not circulate properly.
4 Check your child's temperature. Fever is an integral sign that the body is trying to prevent the reproduction and spread of pathogenic microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi), because most of them cannot reproduce vigorously at high temperatures. Thus, fever is a beneficial factor and a good indicator that the child's body is fighting the disease. Measure the child's temperature with a thermometer. A temperature of 37.7 ° C or higher is typical with otitis media (and many other infections).
- If otitis media is suspected, the temperature should not be measured with an infrared ear thermometer. The accumulated warm fluid (inflammation) in the middle ear heats up the eardrum and shows inaccurate readings that are too high. Use an ordinary thermometer, placing it in the armpit area or on the forehead of the child, or for maximum accuracy, you can use a rectal thermometer.
- You can also observe other typical signs and symptoms accompanying fever, such as loss of appetite, redness of the skin (especially on the face), increased thirst, irritability.

Part 2 of 2: See a doctor

1 Consult your family doctor or pediatrician. If you notice any of the above signs and symptoms that persist for several days (and your parental instincts are alarming), make an appointment with your doctor. This is the best way to find out if a child has otitis media or other medical conditions that require medical attention. The doctor will use a backlit device called an otoscope to look at the eardrum. A reddened and swollen eardrum indicates inflammation of the middle ear.
- The doctor may also use a special pneumatic otoscope that blows a stream of air into the ear canal through the eardrum. A healthy eardrum vibrates with a small amplitude in response to air flow, and a clogged eardrum may generally remain motionless.
- The release of fluid, which is accompanied by the release of pus and blood from the child's ear, is a sign of aggravation and spread of otitis media. In this case, do not wait for an appointment with a doctor, but immediately take the child to the emergency clinic or hospital. (Be sure to check with your doctor first, as they can see your child right away).
2 Ask your doctor about the benefits and drawbacks of antibiotics. In fact, most ear canal infections in children and adults can be cured without antibiotics. The most appropriate treatment depends on a number of factors, including the age and severity of the symptoms. Children with ear infections usually recover within a few days, and most recover without antibiotics in one to two weeks. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians recommend a method of waiting and watching if a 6-month-old child suffers moderate ear pain for 48 hours at temperatures up to 39 ° C.
- Amoxicillin is an antibiotic prescribed for children with otitis media. It must be taken within seven to ten days.
- Keep in mind that antibiotics are effective for bacterial inflammation, not viral or fungal infections and allergic reactions.
- The disadvantage of antibiotics is that they do not completely eradicate the infection, but can create resistant strains of bacteria that only exacerbate the disease.
- Antibiotics also kill the "good" bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, leading to digestive problems and diarrhea.
- Ear drops combined with small doses of oral acetaminophen are an alternative to antibiotics.
3 Get a referral to a specialist. You will certainly be referred to a specialist in ear, nose and throat diseases (otolaryngologist) if for some time the child's condition remains the same, the disease cannot be treated, or the infection has frequent relapses. Most childhood ear infections are not serious, but frequent or persistent inflammation can lead to serious complications such as hearing impairment, developmental delays (eg, speech), widespread infection, or ruptured / ruptured eardrum.
- A ruptured or punctured eardrum can heal on its own, but sometimes surgery is necessary.
- If your child has recurrent ear infections (three in six months or four in a year), a specialist may recommend surgery (myringotomy) to drain the accumulated fluid from the middle ear through a small catheter.
- The catheter is left in the eardrum to prevent further fluid buildup and otitis media. Typically, the tube will fall out on its own after about a year.
- If a tube inserted through the eardrum has not prevented otitis media, the otolaryngologist may consider removing the adenoids (located behind the nose and above the palate) to prevent infection from spreading through the Eustachian tubes.

Tips

You can reduce pain and discomfort by placing a warm, damp cloth over your child's sore ear.
Children who attend kindergartens or are in a team are more prone to colds, which subsequently leads to ear infections, since they are more prone to childhood diseases.
Bottle fed babies (especially when lying down) are more likely to have ear canal inflammation than breastfed babies.
Ear infections in children are common mainly in the fall and winter when cold and flu viruses are most active / dangerous.
Do not expose your child to secondhand smoke. Studies have shown that children who are among smokers are more likely to get ear infections.

Warnings

Do not try to diagnose your child unless you are a healthcare provider. It is commendable to know the main signs and symptoms, but in order to make an accurate diagnosis, consultation with a specialist is necessary.