Otitis Media or Middle Ear Infection – Caring for kids

Infection of the ear is common among children known as Otitis Media. This is basically infection of the middle ear. In newborns the Eustachian tube (connecting the throat with the middle ear) is very small. Therefore, while the newborn is taking milk, some of the milk enters through the middle ear cavity. It gets collected there and infection sets in. It is a very painful condition. It is known as Otitis Media.  It also occurs in slightly older children. The child is generally crying and unable to express himself. The child keeps on touching the ear, and if an older child says that the ear is hurting. There is fever, as well as heaviness in the ear. The hearing is affected for some time. If the condition worsens, pus gets collected behind the ear drum (tympanic membrane). As more pus gets collected, it bursts through the ear drum and there will be pussy discharge.

 According to Dr Mubina Agboatwalla a child specialist in Karachi, if the condition is not treated the pussy discharge continues to occur. The pain decreases when the pus discharge comes out, but the ear drum is damaged with a hole. If the hole is small it gets treated spontaneously, but larger holes need to be treated by surgical tympanoplasty. If left untreated, the pus in the ear spreads to the mastoid bone and the child develops mastoiditis. Otitis media should be immediately treated. Antibiotics need to be given, antiallergics accompanied by steam inhalation. Pain killers are very important. It generally takes a week for the condition to subside.