Otitis in children: symptoms and treatment of earache in case of infection
Otitis in children is more common than people think: if a child feels pain due to earache, in many cases it could be acute otitis media or otitis externa, depending on the symptoms and the area of the ear. involved.
Otitis is nothing more than an "ear infection", an inflammation that can present itself in different forms and that in 75% of cases affects children before the age of 10 and can even occur in a few months old baby.
Otitis in children can affect the external ear (pinna and ear canal), or the middle ear, that is the cavity behind the eardrum and which communicates with the upper airways. If the earache is caused by an "inflammation of the external ear" we will then speak of otitis externa, if of the "middle ear of a" otitis media.
Let's find out together the differences between these possible types of otitis in children, the symptoms with which it occurs, the pain it entails, the causes and methods of diagnosis and treatment.
Otitis externa in children: causes, symptoms and treatment
Otitis externa in children, as we have anticipated, is an acute inflammation of the external auditory canal which, in general, does not even affect the eardrum. This ear infection is usually caused by an infection: the pain is generally caused by the presence of bacteria or fungi, if it has been taken in humid environments such as swimming pools.
The symptoms of otitis externa in children are an initial itch, followed by muffling of the sounds and, finally, pain in the ear. The child feels the earache increase when the auricle is touched. Fluids or blood can escape from the external ear canal, while in other cases the skin in the area behind the auricle may become red. Fever is present. only rarely.
If you believe that your child may suffer from otitis externa, contact his pediatrician immediately: the doctor will check with an otoscope and establish the right diagnosis. Generally otitis externa is treated with topical applications of cortisone-based drops (to be inserted directly into the ear) and an antibiotic that can cure the current infection.
If the therapy is followed correctly, 7-10 days will be enough for otitis externa in children to heal. Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent it, other than to take good care of hygiene, especially when you go to humid places such as swimming pools.
Acute otitis media in children: what are the symptoms, treatments and ways to prevent it
Acute otitis media, on the other hand, is an "inflammation of the middle ear, very frequent in the winter months. In fact, it is usually caused by a" bacterial invasion: otitis media occurs when the inflammation of the nasal mucosa due to colds blocks the eustachian tube, the small canal that connects the ear to the upper airways.
The blockage of the Eustachian tube does not allow the ventilation of the middle ear, causing pressure variations in the eardrum and a consequent severe pain. In addition, there is an accumulation of fluid in the ear which traps bacteria, causing a " actual infection.
Acute otitis media is more common in children between the ages of six months and two years, but can also occur later. The eustachian tubes of young children are shorter and more horizontal: for this reason they are more likely to come to get stuck!
The symptoms of acute otitis media in children are fever, earache, crying and a tendency to touch the ears, leaking of fluid from the ear. If there is a real perforation of the eardrum, it will come out. from the ear a yellowish and purulent liquid: we will then speak of "acute purulent otitis media". Don't panic: the eardrum will heal itself within a few weeks!
Also in this case, only your doctor will be able to proceed with the right diagnosis and with the most suitable treatment. Otitis media is generally treated with antipyretics and painkillers and, in some cases, with antibiotic therapy.
In this case you can help the child to prevent the "onset of" otitis by preventing him from contact with colds (especially if he is less than one year old), taking good care of his hygiene and that of his toys, preferring (if possible) the " breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life (breast milk is full of antibodies to the baby) and avoiding or reducing the use of the pacifier.
Acute recurrent otitis media in children: what to do and what not to do
When otitis media occurs continuously in children, we must speak of "acute recurrent otitis media", also called "chronic otitis." In these cases, antibiotic therapy will be necessary, often assisted by more powerful drugs.
In case of recurrent acute otitis media, care must be taken not to give the child antibiotics or other drugs - either by mouth or locally - between one episode of otitis and the next. It is not even necessary to perform surgery as is sometimes believed.
The disease will tend to disappear by itself slowly, becoming less and less frequent as the child grows, almost always without any consequences on the ear. Nothing so dramatic, then!
For more scientific information on the subject, you can consult the website of the Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital.
