Ear condition

Ear Infections

What is an ear infection (otitis media)?

An ear infection is an infection of the middle ear, the area behind the eardrum. This infection is called otitis media. The area can get infected when germs from the nose and throat are trapped there. Ear infections happen mostly to young children. They’re the most common kind of ear infection in children.

What causes them?

Middle ear infections are caused by bacteria and viruses. A small tube (eustachian tube) connects your ear to your throat. A cold can cause this tube to swell, blocking it and trapping fluid inside your ear. This makes it a perfect place for germs to grow and cause an infection.

What are the symptoms?

The main symptom is an earache. It can be mild or may hurt a lot. Babies and young children may be fussy. They may pull at their ears and cry. They may have trouble sleeping. They may also have a fever.

How are they diagnosed?

Your doctor will ask about symptoms. Then your doctor will look into your ears. A special tool with a light lets the doctor see if the eardrum is infected and if there is fluid behind it. This exam is rarely uncomfortable. There may be tests, such as hearing tests.

How can you prevent them in children?

There are many ways to help prevent ear infections. For example, don’t smoke around children. Encourage them to wash their hands. Make sure your child doesn’t go to sleep while sucking on a bottle. And have your child immunized.

The middle ear is a space behind the eardrum that contains a group of tiny vibrating bones and one end of the eustachian tube. Most ear infections form in the middle ear. The eustachian tube carries fluid from the middle ear to the throat. Sometimes during a cold, the eustachian tube becomes swollen and fluid is trapped in the middle ear. Bacteria or viruses can grow in this fluid and form an ear infection.
An ear exam can find problems in the ear canal, eardrum, and the middle ear. During an ear exam, a tool called an otoscope is used to look at the outer ear canal and eardrum. The otoscope has a light, a magnifying lens, and a funnel-shaped viewing piece with a narrow, pointed end called a speculum.

How are ear infections treated?

Most ear infections go away on their own. You can treat them at home with an over-the-counter pain reliever like acetaminophen (such as Tylenol), a warm washcloth on the ear, and rest. Your doctor may give you eardrops that can help with pain.

Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than 20.

Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. Antibiotics are recommended for children under 6 months old and for children at high risk for complications. But ear infections often get better without them. Talk with your doctor. Whether you use antibiotics will depend on how bad the infection is. For children, it also will depend on the child’s age.

Follow up with your doctor if your symptoms don’t get better. Sometimes children need to follow up if they are younger than 6 months old or if their infection is severe.

Minor surgery to put tubes in the ears may help for repeat infections or hearing problems.