Otitis media is an infection of the middle ear, most common in children. This is a benign disease, but if not treated properly, it will cause serious complications, especially affecting the child’s hearing and health. Besides treatment at the hospital, parents also need to know how to properly care for children with otitis media.
What is otitis media in children?
Ear infections middle ear is an infection in the ear, usually occurring when a virus or bacteria enters the middle ear (located behind the eardrum). Signs that a child has otitis media can appear filled with pus, and at the same time create pressure on the eardrum, causing sharp pain and affecting the ability to hear.
Otitis media includes acute otitis media (AOM) and otitis media with effusion (OME – also known as serous otitis media). Although these two conditions are closely related, acute otitis media and otitis media with effusion are two different diseases.
Acute otitis media
The disease is characterized by middle ear fluid retention along with the onset Acute signs and symptoms of the disease. Children’s manifestations of acute otitis media include ear pain in older and younger children, ear pulling or rubbing. Or other accompanying symptoms such as fever, hearing loss, tinnitus or poor feeding in young children
Otitis media with effusion
This is a condition that can occur in acute otitis media. Although the symptoms of acute otitis media disappear, and no infection occurs, there is still fluid inside.
When fluid remains in the ear, it will cause mild and temporary hearing loss and ear infections more easily. Another cause of the condition is blockage of the eustachian tube due to other causes.
Chronic otitis media
Chronic otitis media is a condition of continuous otitis media that lasts more than 3 months, and pus discharge through the eardrum appears even after treatment. However, if this condition persists, it can cause a perforated eardrum.
Main factors leading to the cause of ear infection
- Age factor: Newbornsand young children (6 months to 2 years old) are at greater risk of ear infections;
- Genetic factors: are also the cause that affects the likelihood of otitis media;
- Allergies: Allergens cause damage to the nasal passages and upper respiratory tract, which can enlarge the lymph nodes. Enlarged lymphoid tissue can block the eustachian tube, preventing fluid from draining from the ear. This will lead to fluid accumulation in the middle ear. This will cause pressure and pain, and may cause infection;
- Chronic illnesses: Children with chronic illnesses are more likely to get ear infections, especially children with immunodeficiencies and chronic respiratory diseases such as cystic fibrosis or asthma;
How to treat otitis media in children?
Acute otitis media is often divided into 3 stages: congestion – pus stasis and pus rupture. Therefore, depending on the condition of otitis media, the treatment is different, specifically:
- If otitis media is in the congestive stage, only medical treatment with systemic antibiotics is required;
- Bacteria that cause otitis media are mainly streptococcus, Haemophilus Influenzae, pneumococcus, etc. Antibiotics should be used in combination with anti-inflammatory, anti-edema, antipyretic, and pain-relieving drugs. At the same time combined with nose and throat treatment;
- If otitis media progresses to the purulent stage, tympanic membrane incision to drain pus can be considered in combination with other systemic treatments as in the congestive stage;
- If otitis media goes through the above two stages, the pus stagnant in the middle ear will break the thinnest part of the eardrum and flow out through the external ear canal. At this time, the eardrum is punctured. The doctor will advise about ear medicine.
How to treat otitis media in children?
In addition to treating otitis media in children with medicine, parents should take care of their children when they have otitis media with the following ways:
Clean the ears and nose and throat
When children have otitis media, you need to keep their sinuses clean.h and ear – nose – throat care, specifically:
- Ear cleaning: If the child’s ear is draining and needs to be cleaned. Use a cotton swab gently and do not wipe too deeply as it will damage your ears. Absolutely, do not use cotton plugs to block the pus, but let the pus drain out;
- Nose hygiene: Use physiological saline for children every day. If it’s cold, you need to warm the salt water before giving it so your child doesn’t catch a cold;
- Throat hygiene: Tongue cleaning and daily oral hygiene for children. In case of children over 6 years old, parents can train them to gargle with saline;
A reasonable and scientific diet
To take care of children with otitis media, it is necessary to Apply a reasonable and scientific diet. Furthermore, children with otitis media are often fussy because of physical discomfort. Therefore, you should eat a variety of nutritious foods or divide them into several meals a day.
In addition, let your child drink a lot of filtered water or fruit juices. For children under 6 months old, it is necessary to increase the daily amount of milk and give it to the child many times a day.
Follow the doctor’s instructions
Give the child full medication according to the doctor’s instructions, especially do not arbitrarily use over-the-counter drugs.
If your child has a fever, you need to apply a warm compress to help reduce the fever. Please dress your child in light, airy clothes in summer weather. In case your child has a fever, give him or her fever-reducing medicine when the fever is over 38 degrees Celsius.
Ways to prevent otitis media in children
Some positive lifestyle habits can help protect children from ear infections or ear fluid retention. Possible measures include:
- Please breastfeed your baby for at least 6 months. Because breast milk contains many antibodies that can help children fight diseases. Therefore, children should not be weaned early, but should breastfeed for at least the first 6 months;
- Avoid exposing your baby to cigarette smoke or e-cigarette smoke;
- It is necessary to avoid contact with many other children and at the same time prevent upper respiratory infections. This is also the cause of frequent ear infections;
- Keep children’s hygiene always clean such as hands, nose and throat;
- Use a cotton swab to clean the ear if the child’s ear is wet with water or you can use a cotton swab soaked in salt water to clean the ear. Then use a clean cotton swab and dry the ear to avoid water accumulation causing inflammation;
By grasping Clearly understanding the symptoms and proper treatment of otitis media in children will help children recover quickly and avoid dangerous complications when taking care of the disease at home. Parents should immediately notify the doctor for timely support. Dung
