What causes ear infections?
What are symptoms of ear disease?
How are ear infections treated?
How quickly does the ear heal?
What if medicine does not cure the ear problem?
Do ear infections cause permanent damage?
What can be done to prevent ear infections?
Is there a special University clinic for children with ear problems?
The Otitis Media Research Center
Glossary
Ear infections are one of the most common health problems in children. The medical term for this disease is otitis media . It is the number one reason children need antibiotic medicine.
Ear infections usually develop after a cold. The infection spreads from the nose and throat to the middle ear through the eustachian tube (see diagram). Normally, this tube maintains atmospheric air pressure in the middle ear. It also drains fluid produced in the middle ear to the nose and throat.
During a cold the tube becomes plugged, causing a vacuum in the middle ear. As air pressure in the ear decreases, your child may feel ear fullness or have hearing difficulty. Ear pain develops as fluid builds up in the middle ear and becomes infected with bacteria from the nose and throat.
Most children will get at least one ear infection by three years of age. Some will get many ear infections. Your child is more likely to suffer from recurring ear infections if he or she:
Children under two years of age tend to develop ear infections more than older children or adults. In young children, the eustachian tube is straighter and shorter than in older children and becomes plugged more easily. Young children also are exposed to many viruses and bacteria causing cold and throat infections. They are more susceptible to these infections as their bodies are just beginning to develop resistance to these germs.
What are symptoms of ear disease?
Ear pain, fussiness, fever, or ear drainage are the most common symptoms of an ear infection. Infants may pull or rub at their ears. Ear infections should be suspected if a child seems to be getting sicker as a cold progresses. Sometimes parents notice their child has difficulty hearing. Older children complain of noises in their ear or difficulty hearing the teacher at school. Children may not be aware of this hearing loss. Parents may notice that their child sits closer to the TV or turns up the volume, talks loudly, or says what? a lot. Children with hearing difficulty may lack concentration in activities at home or school.
Teething, outer ear infections, and sore throat also can cause ear pain. It is best to notify your doctor if your child has any type of ear problem, since each problem is treated differently. If ear problems occur in the middle of the night, use of a non-aspirin fever lowering medicine will often relieve the pain until the morning, when your child can be examined by the doctor.
How are ear infections treated?
Your doctor diagnoses ear problems by looking at the ear drum through an otoscope. The doctor will look for swelling or redness of the ear drum or evidence of middle ear fluid to decide how to treat the infection. Sometimes a machine called a tympanometer is used to measure the middle ear air pressure. Children with ear infections are usually given an antibiotic. Ear drops may be used if there is drainage. Your child s ears should be checked by your doctor after treatment to be sure that the infection and ear fluid are gone, and hearing is normal.
Repeated ear infections are often prevented with a single daily, bedtime does of antibiotic for several months with frequent follow-up examinations by the doctor during this time.
How quickly does the ear heal?
Most children improve within a few days after starting treatment, but ear fluid may last for several weeks. Some children have repeated ear infections. Others may continue to have a build-up of middle ear fluid for many months after the infection is treated. After 12 weeks of continuous fluid, the chance is less than one in ten that the fluid will clear on its own. Because children with fluid build-up may have no obvious symptoms, it is important to have your child s ears checked after treatment.
What if medicine does not cure the ear problem?
Children who continue to develop ear infections, have continued hearing loss, or have persistent middle ear fluid may be referred to an ear surgeon. The surgeon may suggest putting tubes in the ear drums. These small, plastic or metal tubes usually reduce ear infections and build-up of fluid, and improve hearing. The tubes usually remain in place 6 to 12 months. Some children need to have the tubes replaced after they are expelled from the ear drum.
While tubes help most children, in others the tubes do not stop ear infections. These children often need specialized treatment. Researchers at the Otitis Media Research Center are discovering ways to determine which children are most likely to have continued problems after tube treatment.
Do ear infections cause permanent damage?
Most ear infections heal with no long-term hearing loss. However, children with repeated infections or persistent ear fluid may have continued hearing difficulty. This drop in hearing may affect a child s speech and language development, and the school performance of an older child.
What can be done to prevent ear infections?
Ideally, ear infections should be prevented early in life. Unfortunately, there is often nothing parents can do to prevent them. The Research Center is testing new vaccines to prevent ear infections. These vaccines may be available for public use in just a few years.
Is there a special University clinic for children with ear problems?
The Children's Ear and Hearing Clinic is staffed by specialist doctors in children's infections, ear surgery, and hearing. Children receive a complete ear examination including hearing tests and examination of the ear drum with a special microscope. Parents can watch the ear examination on a television. Specialized x-ray and laboratory tests may be ordered, and medical or surgical treatment is provided if necessary. Results of testing are discussed with you and your child s doctor.
Appointments may be made by calling (612) 625-7400.
The Otitis Media Research Center
Since 1974, doctors and researchers at the University of Minnesota have worked together to better understand the causes of ear infections and to develop better treatments for this common childhood disease. Research includes the examination and treatment of patients with ear infections, laboratory tests of middle ear fluids, and experiments in small laboratory animals with otitis media. A number of important discoveries have led to a better understanding of ear infections. Vaccines that prevent ear infections are also being tested.
We look forward to the day that your child and all children can be spared the pain, discomfort, and potential hearing loss this common, often silent, disease can produce.
Children's Ear and Hearing Clinic
Otitis Media Research Center
University of Minnesota
MMC 396
516 Delaware St SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
(612) 625-7400
1-800-688-5252
External auditory canal is the passage leading to the ear drum. Doctors look at the ear drum with an otoscope placed in the ear canal.
Middle ear is just behind the ear drum. It is normally filled with air, and contains three small bones that transmit sound from the ear drum to the inner ear.
Inner ear controls balance and sends sound to the brain.
Ear drum is a thin piece of skin that separates the ear canal from the middle ear and vibrates when sound enters the ear canal.
Eustachian tube is a small passage that allows air and germs to enter the middle ear from the throat.
Otitis media is a disease that causes swelling of tissues lining the middle ear cavity with build-up of fluid in the cavity and decreased hearing.
Acute otitis media, commonly called an ear infection, usually is associated with fever, fussiness, ear pain, and ear drum redness.
Bacteria and viruses are germs, some of which cause otitis media. These germs are so small they can only bee seen with a microscope.
Antibiotics are medicines that destroy or weaken harmful bacteria. Amoxicillin, Bactrim, Septra, Ceclor, Pediazole, Augmentin, Suprax, Cefzil, and Ceftin are examples of antibiotics used to treat otitis media.
Tympanostomy tube is a small plastic or metal tube that is surgically placed in the ear drum to allow air to enter the middle ear.