Otitis Media is a middle ear infection that occurs when the Eustachian tube start swelling as a consequence of a cold or throat infection. Sometimes, allergic conditions can also trigger Otitis Media where there is accumulation of fluid in the middle ear.
The infection of this fluid can lead to an inflamed eardrum and consequent buildup of pus and mucous behind the ear drum. At times, there may be even some pus and blood drainage from the ear because of an extreme increase in the middle ear pressure caused by this fluid buildup.
Symptoms
The symptoms of Otitis Media are severe ear pain, drainage of blood and pus from the ear, nausea and dizziness and even high fever in small children. Those at risk of Otitis Media are people who suffer from persistent cough and cold or any other respiratory tract infections, bottle-fed babies who drink in a supine position as there is a chance of the milk entering the straight Eustachian tube, and those living in cold climates at high altitudes.
Causes
Fluid accumulation behind the eardrum which fails to drain from the Eustachian tubes, bacteria from the nasal passage entering this fluid and causing an ear infection and poor and immature functioning of Eustachian tubes in small children.
Diagnosis and treatment
The doctor uses an otoscope to check the patients’ ear for redness or fluid behind the eardrum and additional tests to check the severity of the infection. An audiogram may be used to check the extent of hearing loss and testing of the ear discharge to identify the micro-organisms causing the infection to give the right antibiotic as treatment.
Otitis Media is generally treated with antibiotics for 8-10 days. The usual antibiotic options are ampicillin, clairthromycin, bactrim, erythromycin and cefaclor. Though symptoms usually clear within 2-3 days, the antibiotics course should be completed to prevent a relapse.
The doctor may also prescribe acetaminophen for pain and fever relief and decongestants to help with drainage of the accumulated fluid.
Possible complications
There are some complications that may occur in some patients suffering from Otitis Media. They could suffer from recurrent or persistent ear infections, experience blocked or unclear hearing, younger children may experience delayed language development because of this blocked hearing or there is a chance of the infection extending to the brain. Sometimes, there may even be an abscess formation in the throat that makes swallowing rather difficult.
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