Symptoms of acute otitis media are severe ear pain, often associated with hearing loss.
Video duration 35 minutes 38 seconds
The German Association of Otolaryngologists said that otitis media occurs when viruses or bacteria from the throat and nose cavity reach the middle ear, and usually this happens in severe colds because the throat and nasal cavity connect to the ear through the auditory canal.
The association added that the traditional cases of infection occur when suffering from colds, because one gets a viral infection, and then the mucous membrane in the auditory canal swells, and there an additional bacterial infection occurs; In this case, the middle ear does not have sufficient ventilation.
Symptoms of otitis media
Symptoms of acute otitis media are severe ear pain, often associated with hearing loss.
Viral infections can be treated by taking analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs, while in cases of bacterial infections, antibiotics are used, if symptoms do not improve following two to three days, in order to prevent complications.
The association warned that neglecting otitis media may have dire consequences. Inflammation may spread to the organ of balance and damage the facial nerve, or ‘mastoiditis’ that requires surgical intervention may develop.
When infection penetrates to the inner ear, this may lead to hearing loss, and it may even threaten the patient’s life if it reaches the brain.
Children are more susceptible
Children are more susceptible to acute infections of the middle ear, and sometimes these infections are due to enlarged tonsils.
Children with these infections can be identified by the appearance of specific signs, including the face that appears drowsy or sleepy, trying to keep the mouth open constantly and the sound of snoring during breathing. To prevent the recurrence of these infections, surgical intervention is often resorted to to remove the tonsils.
To avoid otitis media in the first place, it is recommended to use decongestant nasal drops when suffering from a cold, while warming the body well.
