Ear Infections

Many children will have at least one ear infection before they are 3 years old. Ear infections, also known as otitis media, occur when the middle ear becomes inflamed from a cold, allergy or respiratory infection. Bacteria or viruses collect, forming pus behind the eardrum. As a result, the eardrum swells, causing an earache.

The fluid that forms from an ear infection can linger in the ear for several weeks, causing temporary hearing loss. Children with chronic otitis media may have fluid in their ears for long time, requiring ENT evaluation.

Click here to view a short video with Dr. Hamaker discussing ear infections.

Symptoms of otitis media can include:

• Earache, ranging from mild to severe
• Drainage from the ear can occur if the pressure behind the eardrum is great enough to burst the eardrum. This release of fluid reduces the pressure and causes the pain to subside.
• Fever
• Nausea/vomiting
• Dizziness
• Hearing loss – Your child may not respond to questions, may turn the TV up louder or talk louder.

Causes of otitis media

While otitis media is caused by the presence of bacteria or viruses from a cold, allergy or respiratory infection, children’s ear anatomy makes them particularly susceptible to ear infections.

The eustachian tube is a small tube that connects the middle ear to the back of the throat. It collapses to keep bacteria and viruses from entering the ear, as well as opens to drain fluid from the ear down the back of the throat. Children have eustachian tubes that are shorter, more horizontal and straighter than those of adults. This means bacteria and viruses have an easier time getting to the inner ear.
As a child grows, the eustachian tube becomes longer and more angled, making it more difficult for infection to occur.

Treatment

Treatment for ear infections can range from doing nothing to surgical intervention. Many ear infections will resolve on their own within 2-3 days.

Antibiotics

Sometimes, antibiotics are prescribed to treat ear infections. Depending on the prescription, your child may take an antibiotic for 3 to 10 days. It’s important to finish the entire prescription, even if the symptoms of the ear infection have gone away.

Ear infections caused by a virus cannot be treated with antibiotics. Treatment for these ear infections should focus on comfort measures, such as over-the-counter pain medication and warm cloths applied to the outside of the ear.

Surgery

Children who have chronic ear infections may require surgery to place a small tube in the eardrum to allow fluid to drain. Surgery may be recommended if a child has more than three ear infections in six months, more than four ear infections in one year or prolonged fluid in the ear causing hearing loss.