Middle ear infections, also referred to as otitis media, are the most common type of ear infection. Keep reading to learn more!

Otitis Media

The word “otitis” comes from Ancient Greek for “inflammation of the ear”, while the term “media” is Latin for “middle”. Otitis media, a middle ear infection, is most common in children as their eustachian tubes are easily clogged, but adults can also experience these infections. They can be very painful and cause a variety of symptoms, but they are usually pretty easy to cure.

Causes of Middle Ear Infections

Middle ear infections usually develop when bacteria or viruses invade the middle ear. A lot of times, a middle ear infection will result from another illness like a cold, flu, or allergy which all cause congestion and swelling of the nasal passages, throat, and eustachian tubes.

Your body’s eustachian tubes are a major factor when it comes to developing a middle ear infection. They consist of a pair of narrow tubes that run from each middle ear to high in the back of the throat, behind the nasal passages. When eustachian tubes become swollen, fluids can build up in the middle ear. This doesn’t mean an infection right away, but if the fluid sits there, bacteria will develop and a middle ear infection will evolve.

Middle ear infections are not contagious, but the virus or bacteria causing them are. There are certain factors that make you more susceptible to middle ear infections. These risk factors include:

• Age: As stated, infants and young children (between the ages of 6 months and 2 years) are more prone to ear infections.
• Illness: Any bacterial, viral, or sinus infection, as well as seasonal allergies increases your risk for an ear infection. Chronic illnesses like autoimmune diseases or chronic respiratory diseases like asthma or cystic fibrosis can also increase your probability of developing an ear infection.
• Poor Air Quality: Secondhand smoke and air pollution can increase the chances of an ear infection.

Middle ear infections can be either acute, an isolated case that lasts a short period of time, or chronic, an infection that lasts more than a few weeks and returns frequently. Depending on the type of middle ear infection, symptoms can vary.

Symptoms of Middle Ear Infections

The symptoms of a middle ear infection can differ depending on the severity of the infection and whether the infection is acute or chronic. Acute infections tend to be more sudden and painful than chronic infections. However, acute middle ear infections do not persist as long as chronic middle ear infections do.

Some common symptoms of both acute and chronic middle ear infections include:

• Ear pain (often worsens when lying down)
• Pressure in the ear, or a feeling of fullness
• Temporary hearing loss or hearing difficulties
• Fluid drainage from the ear (in severe cases)
• Fever (especially true in children)
• Difficulty sleeping due to ear pain

Middle ear infections can be disruptive to your everyday life and should be checked by a doctor in order to get on the path to recovery.

Diagnosing Middle Ear Infections

A doctor will diagnose a middle ear infection after examining the ear using an otoscope, a handheld device with a light that allows the doctor to check for inflammation, fluid buildup, and other signs of infection. Your doctor may perform other tests if there is doubt about your diagnosis, or if you haven’t responded to treatment.

Treatment of Middle Ear Infections

Prior to the 1940s, ear infections were much more serious as antibiotics were not readily available to treat them. An infection in the middle ear during that time could easily travel throughout the sinus cavity and reach the brain causing severe infection and even death. Once antibiotics became available to treat middle ear infections, there were fewer chronic infections and fewer deaths tied to ear infections. 

Antibiotics

Luckily antibiotics are in plentiful supply and are used commonly to treat middle ear infections. You should finish your prescribed antibiotics until they are gone, even if your symptoms improve.

Pain Relieving Medicine

Your doctor may recommend an OTC (over-the-counter) pain reliever like ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help reduce pain and fever. Pain relieving ear drops could also be prescribed.

Surgical Treatment for Recurring Ear Infections

For those who experience frequent or chronic middle ear infections, your doctor may recommend a tympanostomy, otherwise known as ear tubes. This quick procedure (usually about 10 minutes) includes a doctor inserting a small plastic or metal tube into a tiny incision in the eardrum. The tubes stay in for 12-18 months and either fall out on their own, or are removed by your doctor.

If you are experiencing ear pain, it is important to get checked by a hearing care professional or a doctor, like those at Hearing Solution Centers, to identify the issue. Middle ear infections can be painful, but are relatively easy to cure.

If you think you may have a middle ear infection, reach out to the team at Hearing Solution Centers for help!