Symptoms of otitis media in children

Otitis media is one of the most common ear diseases. Its main symptoms include tinnitus, difficulty hearing, ear pain, etc. In severe cases, pus may even flow from the ear canal. Investigations have found that in recent years, more and more children have suffered from otitis media. What exactly causes this? What are the symptoms of otitis media in children? How to treat otitis media in children? Let's find the answers together now.

What causes otitis media in children? Doctors point out that colds, viral infections, fevers, etc. in children may cause otitis media. Therefore, as parents, we should pay attention to observe abnormal changes in our children, detect the presence of otitis media early, and go to the hospital for treatment in time.

What is otitis media?

Otitis media is caused by bacterial infection in the middle ear, so its full medical name is acute suppurative otitis media. If a child suffers from otitis media, the main symptoms are tinnitus, ear pain, hearing loss and pus in the ear canal. The entire clinical process can be roughly divided into four stages:

Symptoms of otitis media in children

(1) Early stage (medically known as Eustachian tube obstruction stage): Children may show symptoms such as lack of energy, loss of appetite, tinnitus, and ear discomfort (children cannot express themselves), but ear discomfort will affect the baby's play and sleep. During this period, doctors may find that the eardrum (medically called tympanic membrane) is sunken and there is fluid in the middle ear.

(2) Progressive stage (medically known as the pre-suppurative stage): manifested by high fever, body temperature can reach 39℃~40℃, crying and restlessness, hearing loss and ear pain in children, accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. These symptoms are similar to those of a cold or enteritis and are easily ignored or misdiagnosed. After examination, it can be found that the eardrum is congested and the auditory ossicles are red, swollen and bulging.

(3) Peak stage (medically known as the suppurative stage): Children have high fever and refuse to eat. In severe cases, they have a gray complexion, fluctuating tinnitus, hearing loss, and ear pain radiating to the surrounding areas. Examination may reveal a bulging eardrum and pus in the middle ear.

(4) Late stage (medically known as the dissipation stage): Generally, 4-5 days after the onset of the disease, the child's body temperature drops, the ear pain disappears, and the child can fall asleep, but the eardrum ruptures, pus flows out of the ear canal, and tinnitus and hearing loss still exist.

Special reminder: Not every baby with otitis media will have four clear stages, and it is often difficult to distinguish the specific stage of the disease, so young parents should not force it. The important thing is to be vigilant. The earlier the diagnosis and treatment are discovered, the better the effect.

Can a cold cause otitis media in babies?

The answer is yes. Children's otitis media is closely related to colds. There are two main reasons:

(1) Most common colds are initially caused by viral infections. Since babies have poor resistance, bacteria can easily take advantage of the situation and cause secondary bacterial infections, leading to otitis media. Common bacteria include pneumococcus, hemolytic streptococcus, Staphylococcus aureus, etc.

(2) There is an oblique tube between the ear and the pharynx, medically known as the Eustachian tube. The Eustachian tube of a baby is different from that of an adult. It is short, flat, and wide, and its direction is almost horizontal. This makes it easier for liquid in the nasopharynx to enter the middle ear through the Eustachian tube. Of course, bacterial infections after a cold can also easily enter the middle ear through the Eustachian tube and cause otitis media.

From this, it can be seen that the probability of children suffering from otitis media is relatively high, so parents are reminded to pay more attention to observe abnormal changes in their children in daily life. Once symptoms of otitis media are suspected in their children, they should be sent to the hospital immediately for examination and treatment as soon as possible. At the same time, we should help children develop the habit of protecting their ears.