Otitis Media- Ear Infection

Otitis media is infection of the middle part of the ear and is one of the most common medical ailments in children. The infection typically occurs in the middle part of the ear and is often accompanied by an upper respiratory tract infection. The reason this part of the ear frequently gets infected is because the middle ear is connected via a tube (Eustachian) to the upper part of the mouth.

Ear infections are associated with a lot of frustration, numerous visits to the ER and the family physicians and almost every visit is associated with a new antibiotic prescription. In the USA, more than 50% of all antibiotic prescriptions are written for ear infections. In the majority of cases, the ear infection will resolve without any sequelae. In rare cases, the infection may spread from the ears to the brain or to the adjacent bony structures around the ear.

The function of the Eustachian tube is to drain the normal fluid from the ear into the mouth. When the Eustachian tube gets blocked, the fluid accumulates, gets infected and causes pain. The fluid is very prone to getting infected from both bacteria and viruses. In some children, the tube is anatomically horizontally located and this also results in poor drainage of the ear.

Besides infections, allergies, smog, fumes, and environmental pollution can produce problems with the ear. Other people more prone to ear infections include babies who are bottle fed, children in day care centers, children in house holds where smoking is common, children who are immunocompromised or have other medical disorders like asthma or cystic fibrosis.

Some children develop only one ear infection during their lifetime but other unlucky ones may develop 2-6 ear infections in one year. Recurrent infections may be a sign that the Eustachian tube is not functioning well.

The diagnosis of an ear infection is not difficult. The physician uses a device called an otoscope. It is a lighted device with a magnifying glass. If an infection is present, one will see redness, fluid or pus behind the ear drum. There are also other ear tests that can be used to assess the severity of the problem.

For more on ear examining equipment, please visit www.medexsupply.com