"Mom, my ears hurt so much": unfortunately it is not uncommon for children to suffer from otitis, an ear infection that can be viral or bacterial in origin. After colds and respiratory tract infections, otitis media is the most common disease in children, particularly in the first three years of life. After six years, the disease regresses. As for the season, otitis is more common from January to March.
The main cause: the cold
The trigger is almost always a cold. In fact, cold viruses not only spread in the nasal mucosa, but can also penetrate the Eustachian tube.
The two Eustachian tubes form the link between the throat, nose and left and right middle ear. Through these channels, air flows into the eardrum case and the pressure in the middle ear aligns with that of the air outside. If one of the horns is blocked, this mechanism no longer works. The flow of air into the middle ear is interrupted and the air present is reabsorbed, thus causing a reduction in pressure.
Both factors, ie the closure of the Eustachian tube and the decrease in pressure in the middle ear, cause an accumulation of mucus in the eardrum case. This is dangerous, as the liquid is an ideal habitat for microbes, which often transform "normal" middle ear otitis into purulent inflammation.
Why does it often happen to children?
On the one hand why their immune systems are not yet fully mature, on the other hand why in children, the eustachian tubes are shorter and flatter than in adults; this means that viruses and bacteria present in the throat and nose area reach the middle ear more easily. From school age, this problem occurs much more rarely.
Some children are more at risk than others. Here because:
- They have a particular shape of the Eustachian tubes: either they are very short and wide and favor the transmission of microbes, or they are particularly narrow and cause the accumulation of mucus in the middle ear.
- Immune defenses are weak, by congenital or acquired condition: the immune system of some children reacts more slowly and less incisively to the action of pathogens.
- They suffer from an allergy: the spread of viruses and bacteria is particularly favored by the strong irritation of the mucous membranes of children with asthma or allergic colds.
- They have an enlarged pharyngeal tonsil: in some children it is a congenital condition, in others the consequence of infections.
What are the main warning signs of otitis for parents?
- The child always touches his ear, rubs it, pulls it.
- He starts screaming or crying louder when he is put down on his back. On the contrary, he feels better when he is picked up or seated.
- Fluid leaks from the ear (because the eardrum membrane has risen under the pressure of the purulent mucus).
In all these cases it could be an episode of acute otitis media.
What to do if there are signs of ear infection?
The first thing to do is to consult the pediatrician
- If the child is less than a year old, has very poor general conditions, or is leaking pus, the doctor usually prescribes an antibiotic right away.
- In all other cases, we usually try to wait a couple of days to see how the situation evolves. Only after this period does the pediatrician decide whether the antibiotic is needed or not.
The administration of a drug capable of relieving pain (paracetamol or ibuprofen) is also generally indicated.
What does the doctor see by looking in the ear?
When looking inside the ears with the otoscope, the pediatrician - or otolaryngologist - specifically checks the ear canal, looking for pale or redness (a sign of inflammation) and the eardrum membrane.
In a healthy baby, this membrane is a delicate, light-colored skin with a slight indentation in the center. It is so smooth that it reflects the light used for the exam. In the child with otitis, the eardrum membrane faces outward and appears yellowish-red in color.
If too much mucus and pus accumulates in the middle ear, it can even burst. In this case, a yellowish liquid, sometimes mixed with blood, leaks out of the laceration and pours into the ear canal.
What to do in case of otitis: treatments and remedies
Otitis, a middle ear infection that can accompany or follow a cold, can be very painful for the baby. Pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be given to relieve pain.
There are also medicines in drops to insert into the ear, but be careful: you don't have to never put drops in the ear without the doctor's consent. In fact, if there is a perforation of the eardrum membrane, detectable only with the otoscope, the drops can cause further damage by coming into contact with the structures of the middle ear.
Sometimes, otitis clears up on its own within a few days. Other times it is necessary to use an antibiotic (the first choice is amoxicillin): it is the doctor who decides when to use it, based on various considerations.
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The possible complications of otitis
In the vast majority of cases, otitis is a very annoying infection, but without consequences. Sometimes there may be a temporary reduction in hearing: if this lasts more than a few weeks, it is advisable to consult an otolaryngologist.
In very rare cases it can have more serious consequences, such as inflammation of the meninges, mastoiditis (infection of a bone located behind the ear), deafness, which can occur if the infection is very strong and is not recognized and therefore treated in time.
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Onion wraps are a traditional home remedy for earache
Many people claim to benefit from this remedy, which would reduce inflammation while relieving pain. It must be said, however, that, according to a document produced by the service of the American National Library of Medicine that deals with evidence of efficacy, at the moment there is not enough scientific data to say whether the remedy really works or not.
Can otitis be prevented?
Guidelines of the Del Paesena Society of Pediatrician
- Prefer breastfeeding, exclusive for at least three months. According to the 2022 Emilia Quick Guide to otitis, breastfeeding should be exclusive for at least six months.
- Limit the use of the pacifier.
- Avoid exposure to secondhand smoke.
- Promote a frequent hand washing, even in communities such as daycare centers and preschools.
The guidelines also point out that pneumococcal vaccination appears to reduce the risk of experiencing a first episode of acute otitis media. In this sense, it would be a positive "side effect" of vaccination. At the moment, however, there is no evidence that the flu vaccination can also help against ear infections.
Sources for this article: PubMedHealth article on treatments for acute otitis media; Guidelines of the Del Paesena Society of Pediatrician (SIP) on acute otitis media; Emilia Quick Guide of the city 2022 on acute otitis media in the pediatric age; Article in the Notebooks of the Cultural Association of Pediatricians.
Updated on 29.10.2022
TAG:- otitis
- cold
- 1-2 children years
