A child who cries at night and constantly grips his ear. An adult with sudden ear pain, fever and an oppressive feeling in the head. Chances are we are talking about a middle ear infection. But what exactly is it? And more importantly, what can you do about it?
In this blog we explain in an easy-to-understand way what a middle ear infection is, how to recognize it, what can cause it and what you can do to prevent it. And yes, of course we also talk about the importance of good hearing protection and swimming plugs.
The middle ear: where is it located?
Your ear consists of three parts: the outer ear (what you can see and feel), the middle ear (behind the eardrum), and the inner ear (where the cochlea and auditory nerve are located).
The middle ear is an air-filled space containing the ossicles – hammer, anvil and stirrup – that transmit vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear. It is connected to your nasopharynx through the Eustachian tube, which provides pressure regulation.
What happens in a middle ear infection?
In a middle ear infection – or otitis media – the middle ear becomes inflamed, usually from a virus or bacteria. The Eustachian tube becomes blocked, preventing mucus, pus or fluid from draining properly. This creates pressure, causing that familiar earache.
Inflammation can be acute (sudden, severe) or chronic (long-term or recurrent). Sometimes the eardrum ruptures because of the pressure, which sounds painful, but it often relieves symptoms immediately because the pressure goes away.
How do you recognize a middle ear infection?
Symptoms may vary from person to person, but common signs include:
- Sudden, stabbing earache
- Fever
- Poorer hearing in the affected ear
- Feeling of pressure or fullness in the ear
- Children who pull their ear or are weepy
- Balance problems
- Sometimes: fluid or pus oozing out of the ear (in cases of eardrum perforation)
In babies and young children, the signs are often more subtle: crying, poor drinking, poor sleep or an unexplained fever. Middle ear infections are much more common in children than in adults because their Eustachian tube is even shorter and narrower.
How does it arise?
The cause is usually a cold or respiratory infection. These cause swelling and blockage of the Eustachian tube. Bacteria or viruses are then given free rein in the fluid that accumulates in the middle ear.
Other causes or risk factors include:
- Swimming without proper hearing protection (we’ll get to that in a moment)
- Smoking or second-hand smoke
- Allergies
- Reflux (in babies)
- Large throat or nasal tonsils
- Weakened immune system
Is a middle ear infection contagious?
Not the infection itself, but rather the cold or viral infection that precedes it. That means children can easily infect each other in daycare or school – with a cold that can later lead to a middle ear infection.
What can you do about it?
In most cases, a middle ear infection heals on its own within a few days to a week. But that doesn’t make it any less annoying. Fortunately, there are ways to relieve the pain and symptoms:
- Pain relief with paracetamol or ibuprofen
- Warmth (e.g., a warm washcloth against the ear)
- Sufficient drinking, especially in children
- Nasal spray to improve passage of the Eustachian tube
In some cases, the doctor prescribes antibiotics, but this is usually done only if the symptoms are severe, long-lasting or recurrent.
When to see the doctor?
Contact your doctor if:
- The pain or fever does not subside after three days
- There is fluid or pus coming out of the ear
- Your child is under six months old and you suspect an ear infection
- Your child has frequent ear infections
- There is hearing loss
What if it keeps coming back?
In children with frequent recurrent middle ear infections, it is sometimes chosen to place tubes in the eardrum. These allow the fluid to drain properly and reduce the pressure in the middle ear. Often the tubes disappear on their own over time.
What does swimming have to do with it?
Water left in the ear can irritate the ear canal or cause infections. Especially in children with tubes, it is important to keep water out as much as possible. And yes – swimming plugs are ideal for that.
Swim plugs made to measure seal perfectly, are comfortable and allow your child to continue swimming safely without ear problems every time. They come in a variety of colors and can even be decorated with glitter and pictures – success guaranteed.
At Horend Goed, you can drop by on Wednesday afternoons (2:00 pm to 5:00 pm) and Saturdays (all day) without an appointment during swim cap walk-in. Our specialists will be there to measure your custom-made swim plugs.
No time? Then universal swim caps or a swimming headband are a good temporary solution, such as for vacation or swimming lessons.
Can you also prevent it?
Not always, but you can do a lot to reduce the risk:
- Keep children’s noses clean (rinsing with saline helps)
- Provide plenty of fresh air
- Prevent passive smoking
- For children with tubes, always use swim caps
- Do not clean ears with cotton swabs (preferably a Bebird, if you want to see something AND stay safe)
In conclusion
A middle ear infection is incredibly annoying, especially in young children. But fortunately, it is usually harmless and easily treatable. However, it is important to be alert to it – especially if it occurs more often, or if there is hearing loss.
Want to know more about swim caps or hearing protection for children? Or are you curious about how to prevent hearing problems caused by water? Feel free to contact us – we are happy to help. Also for earaches, information and tips for the whole family.
Your ears deserve attention. Even when you are still small.
