What are ear infections (otitis media)?
What causes an ear infection?
What are the common symptoms of an ear infection?
What are the effects of an ear infection?
Who gets ear infections and how common are they?
What are the risk factors for ear infections?
What should I do if my child is suffering from symptoms of an ear infection?
How is an ear infection treated?
Is an ear infection preventable?
What are ear infections (otitis media)?
An ear infection, medically called otitis media, is a build-up of fluid in the middle ear, which is the space between the eardrum and the inner ear. The middle ear is usually filled with air, but sometimes, for example during a cold it gets filled with fluid or mucus. If the mucus gets infected with bacteria it causes an ear infection. Otitis media is a common illness among children.
What causes an ear infection?
An ear infection (otitis media) is usually caused by the common cold. The infection spreads from the nose or throat through the Eustachian tube, which is a tube that passes between the throat and the middle ear. Otitis media can affect adults, but the condition more commonly occurs in children.
What are the common symptoms of an ear infection?
Signs to look for in babies include irritability, difficulty sleeping, fever and fluid (usually green in colour) draining from the ear. Young children may also tug or pull on one or both ears, and show signs of unresponsiveness to quiet sounds.
What are the effects of an ear infection?
An ear infection causes severe ear pain and in some cases, if left untreated, it can result in serious complications. The infection can travel to the surrounding parts of the head, including the brain. Most cases, especially those caused by viruses, get better without treatment. However an untreated bacterial ear infection can also lead to permanent hearing loss, which can in turn result in speech and language disabilities.
Who gets ear infections and how common are they?
Children are much more likely to suffer from otitis media than adults as their immune systems are still developing. Also, the inside of the ear is not fully developed at a young age, and so is more prone to infection.
Before pneumococcal vaccination was introduced into the national childhood immunisation programme in 2006, approximately three-quarters of children aged 3-years and younger had at least one episode of acute otitis media, and more than one third had recurrent infections.
What are the risk factors in children for ear infections?
It is common for children to have two or more bouts of ear infection throughout childhood. Young children are more likely to suffer from otitis media than adults, as their immune system is still developing. Passive smoking can increase the risk of children developing ear infections. Parents of babies should consider stopping the use of a dummy when the baby is about 6-12 months old, as it may help reduce the risk of ear infection.
What should I do if my child is suffering from symptoms of an ear infection?
If you suspect that your child has an ear infection, go to see your doctor. A doctor is able to diagnose it based on the symptoms, and by examining the child’s eardrum with an auroscope, an instrument that allows the doctor to see inside the ear more easily.
How is an ear infection treated?
A lot of the time, an ear infection gets better within a few days without any treatment. However, in cases where treatment is needed, over-the-counter pain killers like paracetamol or ibuprofen can be used to control the pain and fever. Antibiotics are not advised in most cases unless the infection is not settling within 2-3 days.
Is an ear infection preventable?
Since September 2006, all infants are offered a pneumococcal vaccination as part of the routine childhood immunisation schedule. The vaccine protects against one of the most common types of otitis media, caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae. Since pneumocoocal vaccine introduction, there has been a fall in the number of cases of invasive pneumococcal disease in children aged 5 and under.