Ear health is ENT health, so otitis media can be caused by respiratory germs. What causes this inflammation? And what is the treatment? And what is prevention like?

These and other questions we directed to Dr. Mohamed Atta Handous, an assistant professor at Weill Cornell College of Medicine, and a senior consultant, and holds the "American Board", and we transfer the answers provided by Al Jazeera Net through these points:

Colds

Otitis media is caused by inflammation or infection in otit, and can occur as a result of colds, sore throats or respiratory infections.

Age of injury of the child

The peak incidence of otitis media is between 6 and 12 months of age, decreases after the age of five, and approximately 80% of children suffer from otitis media during their lifetime.

Between 80 and 90% of all children will have otitis media with preschool effusion.

What causes otitis?

Middle ear infection may be viral, bacterial, or a concomitant infection. Often, an ear infection begins after a cold or other respiratory infection, and the bacteria or virus travel to the middle ear through the Eustachian tube.

Dr. Handous: Nearly 80% of children suffer from otitis media during their lifetime (Al Jazeera)

Symptoms of otitis media

In most cases, the symptoms of otitis media develop rapidly and disappear within a few days, and the main symptoms include:

  • Ear pain.
  • Fever.
  • Feeling sick and tired.
  • Lack of energy.
  • Minor hearing loss, if the middle ear is filled with fluid.
  • In some cases, the eardrum may perforate, the ear may run out of pus, and then the earache caused by fluid buildup in the eardrum will go away.

Symptoms of otitis media in young people

Because infants and young children aren't able to express their discomfort, it can be difficult to know what they are, and signs that a young child has an ear infection include:

  • Overheating.
  • Pull, pull or rub the baby's ear.
  • Irritability.
  • Malnutrition.
  • Insomnia at night.
  • Cough.
  • Runny nose.
  • Not responding to quiet sounds or other signs of hearing difficulty.
  • Loss of balance.

How does the injury occur?

The nose and throat are connected to the ears by the eustachian tube, and when opened, they allow air to enter the middle ear equivalent to the air pressure behind the eardrum, and prevent the normal drainage of fluid from the middle ear, causing fluid to accumulate behind the eardrum.

When this fluid cannot drain, it allows the growth of bacteria and viruses in the ear that can lead to acute otitis media, and eustachian tube deformity can be a cause or aggravating factor for otitis media.

Factors that increase the incidence

  • Being next to someone who smokes.
  • Family history of ear infections.
  • Weakened immune system.
  • Not breastfeeding.
  • The presence of cold.
  • Feeding in a lying position on the back.
  • Age: Infants and young children (ages 6 months to two years) are more likely to develop ear infections.
  • Allergies: Allergies cause inflammation (swelling) of the nasal passages and upper respiratory tract, which can lead to adenoid hypertrophy. Enlarged adenoids can block the eustachian tube, preventing ear fluid from draining, causing fluid to build up in the middle ear, and causing pressure, pain and possible infection.
  • Chronic diseases: People with chronic diseases are more likely to develop ear infections, especially patients with immunodeficiency and chronic respiratory diseases, such as cystic fibrosis and asthma.

Many children with middle ear infections have a stuffy nose (German)

Treatment of otitis media

Treatment for otitis media depends on age, severity and nature of the infection (whether it is a first-time infection, an ongoing infection, or a recurrent infection) and if fluid remains in the middle ear for a long period of time.

Your doctor will recommend medications to relieve pain and fever that you or your child have. If the ear infection is mild, depending on your child's age, your doctor may choose to wait a few days to see if the infection goes away on its own before prescribing an antibiotic.

Prevention of otitis media

Many children with middle ear infections suffer from a stuffy nose at the same time, and the most important way to prevent ear infections is to treat nasal congestion, and perhaps the best preventive measure is daily irrigation of the nose with saline solution to remove irritants and allergens from the nasopharynx, which is the back of the nose, where the opening of the eustachian tube is located.

Nasal irrigation removes mucus and expels pathogens and allergens. Pathogens include germs, such as bacteria and viruses. Allergens include pollen, mold, dirt, dust and pet dander.

Additional recommendations for the prevention of otitis media

  • Breastfeeding the baby if possible, as it helps fight infection.
  • Hand washing.
  • Encourage children to eat healthy foods.
  • Do not smoke around children.
  • Get vaccinated, as vaccines can prevent otitis media
  • Allergy treatment.

Dr. Handous is a specialist in general academic pediatrics at Sidra Medicine in Qatar, and is also the Chairman of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Vice Chair of Institutional Board Review at Sidra Medicine.