Acute ear infection
It is one of the most common reasons why parents bring their children to the doctor. While there are different types of ear infections, the most common is called otitis media, which is inflammation and infection of the middle ear, which is located just behind the eardrum.
The term “acute” refers to a short and painful episode. An ear infection that lasts a long time or comes and goes is called chronic middle otitis media crónicaotitis.
Causes
For each ear, a eustachian tube runs from the middle ear to the back of the throat. This tube drains fluid that normally occurs in the middle ear. If the eustachian tube becomes blocked, fluid can build up. When this happens, germs such as bacteria and viruses can multiply and cause infection.
Ear infections are common in infants and children, in part because their eustachian tubes become clogged easily.
Ear infections may also occur in adults, but are less common than in children.
Anything that causes inflammation or irritation of the Eustachian tubes causes them to accumulate more fluid in the middle ear behind the eardrum. These causes include:
* Allergies
* Colds and sinus infections
* Excess mucus and saliva produced during teething
* Infected or overgrown adenoids adenoidesagrandamiento
* Smoke snuff or other irritants
Ear infections are also more likely if a child spends a lot of time drinking from a glass or bottle to take sips while lying face up. Contrary to popular opinion, the fact that water in the ears does not cause an acute infection in them, unless the eardrum has a hole from a previous episode.
Ear infections occur most frequently during the winter. You can not catch an ear infection from someone else, but a cold may spread among children and cause some of them to get infections.
Risk factors for ear infections include the following:
* To attend kindergarten (especially those with more than 6 children)
* Changes in altitude or climate
* Cold weather
* Exposure to smoke
Genetic factors (susceptibility to infection may be inherited)
* Not being breastfed
* Use baby bottles
* Recent ear infection
* Recent illness of any type (lowers the body’s resistance to infection)
Symptoms
The clearest sign is often infants often irritability and inconsolable crying. Many infants and children Fever or have trouble sleeping. Parents often think that tugging on the ears is a symptom of ear infection, but through some studies have shown that the same percentage of children who are taken to the doctor tug on the ear if the ear is infected or not .
Symptoms in older children and adults include:
* Ear pain or earache
* Fullness in the ear
* General ill feeling
* Vomiting
* Diarrhea
* Hearing loss in the affected ear
It is possible that the child develops symptoms of a cold or ear infection may start shortly after having a cold.
Exams and Tests
Be asked if you had some ear infections in the past and if your child (or you, if the patient) had some symptoms of a cold or allergies recently.
The doctor will perform a physical examination including an assessment of the throat, sinuses, head, neck, lungs and ears. The doctor also examines the inner ear using an instrument called an otoscope. If infected, there may be areas of dullness or redness or there may be air bubbles or fluid behind the eardrum. This fluid may be bloody or be filled with pus. The doctor also looks for any sign of perforation (hole) in the eardrum.
A hearing may be recommended if there is a history of persistent ear infections (chronic and recurrent).
Treatment
Some ear infections will heal without problem on their own without antibiotics. Often, all you need is to treat the pain and let the body heal itself.
* Apply warm compresses or a bottle in the affected ear
* Use in the ears pain relief drops counter or ask your doctor about ear drops made to relieve pain
* Take-counter medications for pain and fever such as ibuprofen or paracetamol. DO NOT give aspirin (aspirin) to children.
All children younger than 6 months with fever or symptoms should be seen by the doctor. Children older than 6 months may be watched at home if they have:
* A fever over 102 ° F (38.8 º C)
* Pain or other serious symptoms
* Other medical problems
If no improvement or symptoms worsen, make an appointment with your doctor to determine whether antibiotics are needed.
ANTIBIOTICS
A virus or bacteria can cause ear infections. Antibiotics will not help an infection caused by a virus, so many doctors no longer prescribe antibiotics for every ear infection. However, all children under 6 months with an ear infection treated with antibiotics.
It is more likely that the doctor prescribe antibiotics if:
* The child is under two years old
* Fever
* Looks sick
* No improvement in 24 to 48 hours
Make sure you or your child take antibiotics every day and finish all the medicine, rather than stopping when the symptoms disappear. If antibiotics do not seem to be taking effect after 48 to 72 hours, consult your doctor. You may need to switch to a different antibiotic.
Amoxicillin is commonly the first choice. Other antibiotics that can be managed are azithromycin or clarithromycin, cefdinir, cefuroxime, cefpodoxime, clavulanate / amoxicillin (Augmentin), clindamycin, or ceftriaxone.
Side effects of antibiotics include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Also allergic reactions may occur but are rare.
Some children who have repeated infections, which seem to disappear in between may receive a daily dose of antibiotics to prevent new infections small.
SURGERY
If an infection does not go away with normal medical treatment or a child have many ear infections over a short period of time, your doctor may recommend the placement of tympanostomy tubes.
* In this procedure, is inserted into the eardrum a tiny tube, leaving open a small hole that allows air to get in so fluids can drain through the eustachian tube more easily. The tympanostomy tube insertion is performed under general anesthesia generalanestesia.
* Usually the tubes fall out by themselves, otherwise, the doctor can remove in the office.
If adenoids are enlarged, surgical removal may be considered, especially if you continue to have ear infections. Removing tonsils does not seem to help with ear infections.
Forecast
Ear infections are treatable, but can recur in the future and can be very painful. If you or your child is prescribed an antibiotic, it is important to finish all the medicine as directed.
Possible complications
Generally, an ear infection is a simple condition without complications. Most children will have minor, temporary hearing loss during and right after an ear infection. This is due to fluid lingering in the ear.
The fluid behind the eardrum can remain even after the infection has cleared.
View: otitis media with effusion half exudative otitis
Other potential complications of otitis media include:
* Eardrum broken or torn or punctured Perforated Eardrum
* Chronic, recurrent oídoInfecciones chronic, recurrent ear
* AdenoidesAgrandamiento Enlarged adenoids or the tonsils
* MastoiditisMastoiditis (an infection of the bones around the skull)
* MeningitisMeningitis (an infection of the brain)
* Formation of an abscess or a cyst (called cholesteatoma) from chronic infections and recurrent ear
* Delayed language development or speech in a child who suffers lasting hearing loss from multiple, recurrent ear infections
Call your healthcare provider
Call your doctor if:
* The pain, fever or irritability do not improve within 24 to 48 hours.
* At first, the child seems sicker than just an ear infection.
* Your child has high fever or severe pain.
* Severe pain suddenly stops, which may indicate a ruptured eardrum.
* The symptoms worsen.
* New symptoms appear, especially severe headache, dizziness, swelling around the ear, or twitching of the muscles of the face.
If it is a child younger than 6 months, tell your doctor immediately if the fever, even if not present any other symptoms.
Prevention
You can reduce the risk of ear infections your child by implementing the following:
* Wash hands and toys frequently.
* If possible, choose a nursery that has a class with 6 or fewer children, as this can reduce children’s risk of catching a cold or similar infection and this in turn leads to fewer ear infections.
* Avoid using bottles.
* Feed your child as this makes it much less prone to ear infections. But if you feed the baby a bottle, hold it upright, seated position.
* Do not expose the child to secondhand smoke of snuff.
* Make certain that the child’s immunizations are current. The pneumococcal vaccine prevents infections from the bacteria that most commonly causes acute ear infections and many respiratory infections.
* Avoid excessive use of antibiotics, as this can lead to this resistance to them.
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