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Ear inflammation is a very common condition in infants and children. Parents can easily recognize the signs in a child on their own at home. The disease is most common in children aged six months to 3 years. But its possibility cannot be ruled out at an older age.

The type of otitis directly depends on which part of the auditory organ is affected by the disease.

There are three types in total:

1. External: appears as a result of injury to the outer part of the ear.
2. Moderate: most often the result of viral or infectious diseases of the respiratory tract. At the same time it is amazed.
3. Internal: occurs mainly as a complication of otitis media. It is very rare, but is considered the most dangerous.

The external form of the disease manifests itself on visible to the eye parts of the auditory organ. In this case, external otitis may be:

• diffuse (damage with the formation of purulent masses)
• purulent limited (boils, pimples and other suppurations on the auricle)

Otitis media accounts for more than 90% of all cases of the disease. With it, the middle ear becomes inflamed, namely the tympanic cavity, which includes 3 sound ossicles.

Usually occurs as a result of the transfer of infection from the nasal cavity, but can appear as a result of injury or enter hematogenously.

It is divided into:

• acute, caused by a viral or bacterial infection and is accompanied by the formation of pus
• exudative, occurs as a result of blockage of the auditory tube
• chronic, ongoing long time, in this case a small amount of pus is formed and hearing deteriorates

Video. Otitis in children: causes and treatment.

Acute otitis is usually a consequence of a purulent form of damage to the middle ear or an infectious disease general. Most heavy look inflammation, in some cases only surgical treatment can help with it.The course of any type can be chronic or acute.

Causes

Most often, the cause of otitis media in a child is various colds. This occurs due to the structural features of the auditory tube in young children.

They have it very short, but at the same time wide. Because of this, mucus during or another acute respiratory disease can easily penetrate the middle part of the hearing organ and cause its inflammation. This is also facilitated by the lying position of the baby, who does not yet know how to sit.

Diseases or also often provoke otitis media. The cause may also be improper nose blowing, hypothermia and weakened immunity.

Signs

The disease is characterized by an acute onset. The baby may suddenly rise above 39 degrees. He becomes irritable, is constantly capricious or cries, sleeps restlessly, and refuses to eat. The child often turns his head, rubs it against the pillow, and tries to reach his sore ear with his hands.

In children under one year of age, a severe form of the disease may be accompanied by throwing back the head, sometimes vomiting, and loose stools. No leakage of pus from the ear is observed.

Children over 3 years old can already describe it independently. The child has complaints about:

• painful sensations in the ear, radiating to the temple area
• feeling, feeling of pressure
• hearing impairment
• noise in the ear

At the same time, the temperature rises sharply, the child becomes lethargic, experiences weakness, sleeps poorly, and loses appetite.

Treatment

The entire range of measures necessary for treatment of a child must be prescribed by a doctor. Attempts to get rid of the disease on your own lead to the loss of precious time and can only worsen the situation.

Treatment begins with the use of nasal drops that have a vasoconstrictor effect:, and others. An antiseptic solution (for example, boric acid) is instilled directly into the ear. For treatment, drugs such as Otinum, Garazon, Sofradex and others are used. Paracetamol is recommended as a pain reliever. In almost every case, the patient is prescribed antibacterial agents, for example, Amoxicillin, Flemoxin or Biseptol.

Treatment should not be started without consulting a pediatrician or otolaryngologist.

But there are times when it is not possible to immediately show the child to a doctor. Then, before visiting the clinic, you can drop drops with a vasoconstrictor effect (Naphthyzin) into his nose, and Otinum, which has an effect, into the sore ear.

The diseased hearing organ must be kept warm. A scarf, headscarf, scarf or hat is suitable for this purpose. In this case, you cannot use heating pads or, with purulent otitis media, this can lead to serious complications.

Complications and consequences

Complications of inflammatory ear disease in a child do not arise just like that. Most often this happens as a result of late otitis media, untimely or incorrect treatment.

Most often, hearing is impaired, the child suffers, and complete deafness is possible. If treatment is delayed, the disease can develop into labyrinthitis (internal otitis) or take a chronic form.

The consequence of incorrect or delayed treatment of otitis in a child may be the development of paralysis.

More severe consequences occur in cases where the infection penetrates deep into the skull to the meninges - meningitis, encephalitis, sepsis.

Otitis is not one of the dangerous diseases. Its complications and probable complications are much worse. Therefore, it is important not only to start treatment as early as possible, but also to continue it until complete recovery. The disappearance of signs of the disease does not mean complete recovery. On average, otitis lasts about a month.

It should be remembered that otitis media is very serious. It should be treated only under the supervision of a specialist. You cannot try to get rid of this disease on your own using folk remedies and methods.

Most likely, this will only worsen the situation or lead to a chronic course of the disease.

If you suspect otitis or after diagnosing it, it is strictly prohibited:

• warm the sore ear by any means or means
• at high temperatures, resort to compresses, especially those that have a warming effect
• if there is pus, try to remove it with a cotton swab or other objects
• ask the child to blow his nose from both nostrils at once
• pour various alcohol tinctures into the patient’s ears
• pierce purulent formations on your own
• use antibacterial drugs and other medications without a doctor’s prescription.

Prevention

Ear inflammation in a healthy child primarily involves strengthening his immune system.

It is also very important to support normal level air humidity in the children's room.To do this, you need to systematically ventilate it and carry out wet cleaning as necessary.

If the air is very dry, you can use special humidifiers.

If a child is already suffering from a cold, then to prevent otitis media you need to:

• give your baby plenty of fluids to drink
• bring down high body temperature in a timely manner
• rinse the child’s nose (sold in a pharmacy, for example)
• teach him how to blow his nose correctly
• keep the room temperature within 18-20 degrees

Otitis is a disease in which literally every minute counts. Any delay may result in life-threatening consequences. Therefore, at the first suspicion of otitis media in a child, you should immediately show him to the doctor.

Children and their parents encounter such a disease as otitis media quite often. Medical statistics say that every child has suffered from ear inflammation at least once in their life, and before the age of three, more than 80% of children have already suffered from this disease. In every eighth child, otitis media is chronic. The famous children's doctor Evgeniy Komarovsky talks about why children's ears become inflamed and how to treat this condition.

About the disease

Otitis media in children can be of three types. Depending on the location of the inflammatory process, the disease can be external, middle or internal. The inflammatory process can be concentrated or diffuse, affecting the eardrum and other structures of the ear. Based on the duration of the disease, otitis is divided into acute and chronic. And the presence or absence of pus divides otitis into two types - catarrhal (without pus) and exudative (with pus).

Inflammation can be caused by bacteria, viruses and allergens. They enter the auditory tube through improper nose blowing, sneezing, and sniffing, which accompany any respiratory infection.

Therefore, it is obvious that otitis media itself is rare; much more often it is a complication of a viral infection. External most often manifests itself as boils in the area of ​​the auricle; this is a completely independent disease that is caused by microbes. Allergic otitis is a type of reaction of the child's body to a protein antigen; it is extremely rarely purulent, but is accompanied by severe swelling. If the inflammation is localized only in the auditory tube, it is called tubootitis.

Some children get otitis rarely, others often. This, according to Evgeny Komarovsky, depends not only on the immunity of this particular child, but also on the anatomical features of the structure of this particular ear.

In children with a short auditory tube, otitis occurs more often. With age, the pipe “catches up” in length and diameter to the norm, taking on more horizontal position, and frequent otitis becomes rare or disappears altogether.

Symptoms

External otitis is difficult not to notice - the auricle turns red, sometimes visually without special medical instruments (otoscope and mirror) you can see a boil or abscess, the child develops throbbing pain, characteristic of all abscesses. Hearing may deteriorate somewhat only at the moment when the abscess ruptures and pus enters the auditory tube.

Otitis media manifests itself as “shooting” in the ear, the pain intensifies and then subsides for a short time. There may be a slight decrease in hearing, headache, lack of appetite, dizziness, vestibular disorders, elevated body temperature. A child who, due to his age, can already speak, is quite capable of telling what worries him. A baby who has not yet learned to speak will often touch his ear, rub it, and cry.

The most difficult thing to diagnose at home is otitis media in an infant. But there are signs that will help parents figure out what exactly is bothering the baby:

• During sucking, the baby's anxiety increases.
• If you press on the tragus (the protruding cartilage near the ear canal), the pain will intensify and the baby will cry more.
• If you hold the baby close to you while feeding the sore ear, it will feel a little easier.

If there is any suspicion of otitis media in an infant, even if the illness is not accompanied by fever or fluid discharge from the ears, you should definitely show the baby to a doctor.

Internal otitis in the vast majority of cases is also not an independent disease, but occurs in case of improper treatment of otitis media, an advanced form of this disease, and also as a complication of meningitis. It can manifest itself a couple of weeks after suffering a viral illness with severe sudden dizziness. There is often noise in the affected ear and hearing loss. For diagnosis, you definitely need a doctor who will prescribe an MRI of the brain and pure-tone audiometry.

Treatment according to Komarovsky

Evgeniy Komarovsky warns mothers and fathers that otitis media for a child cannot be treated using folk remedies and alternative medicine, because the complications of the disease can be very severe - from the transition of an acute form to a chronic one, and then the child will be plagued by frequent otitis media, until the onset of deafness, facial paresis nerve, meningitis, etc. Therefore, instilling heated oil with aloe or walnut juice is a real parental crime.

With purulent otitis media, you should absolutely not warm anything up, make warming or alcohol compresses, or instill warm oil, as caring grandmothers and traditional healers may advise. Such heat will only worsen the inflammatory exudative purulent process.

For treatment of acute (suddenly occurring) otitis in a child, Evgeniy Komarovsky recommends starting treatment by instilling vasoconstrictor drops into the nose. They not only reduce the lumen of blood vessels in the nasal mucosa, but also relieve swelling in the area of ​​the auditory tube. “Nazivin”, “Nazivin Sensitive” (if the baby is an infant), “Nazol baby” are suitable for this.

The main thing to remember is that these drops are not used for more than five days, since they cause persistent drug addiction, and you need to choose children’s drops at the pharmacy, the dosage of the active substance in which is lower than in similar adult preparations.

Vasoconstrictor drops are relevant only at the very initial stage of acute otitis, when there is a chance to prevent its further development.

If the chance remains unrealized or the attempt was unsuccessful, you should immediately contact an otolaryngologist, who will determine the type of disease and, upon examination, find out whether the eardrum is damaged. If it is intact, you can use ear drops; if it is damaged, which happens quite often, then nothing should be dripped into the ear.

If pus is flowing from the ear, then Komarovsky urges you to abandon self-medication and not drip anything before going to the doctor. Suppuration with a large share

This probably indicates a perforation (rupture) of the eardrum, through which pus enters the outer ear. If there is perforation, do not drip near the ear so that the medicine does not get on the auditory nerve, auditory ossicles and cause deafness. If otitis media is accompanied by an increase in temperature, then it is reasonable to use antipyretic drugs and painkillers. To reduce high fever, it is advisable to give Paracetamol or Ibuprofen to children. Both of these medications provide a moderate analgesic effect. Doctors often prescribe a drug such as Erespal.

It can be taken by children over two years of age in syrup form. This medicine is not given to children in tablet form.

Are antibiotics needed?

Otitis media, accompanied by pain and “shooting” in the ear, can be caused by both bacteria (against which antibiotics are effective) and viruses (against which antibacterial drugs are completely ineffective).

Evgeniy Komarovsky advises waiting about 2 days before starting active treatment. If there is no improvement on day 2-3, this is a signal to prescribe antibiotics to the child.

It is allowed not to wait two days if the child’s otitis media is severe, with high fever, very severe pain, and if the child is not yet 2 years old, the doctor will most likely prescribe antibiotics right away. For children under two years of age, it is very important whether they have otitis media - one-sided or two-sided.

When treating external otitis, antibiotics are rarely required; treatment with antiseptics is usually sufficient. Internal otitis requires symptomatic treatment; antibiotics for labyrinthitis are also prescribed extremely rarely.

In any case, a doctor should decide to prescribe antibiotics for inflammation of the hearing organs after conducting appropriate studies, including bacterial culture from the ear to determine the type of pathogen. If such a culture shows the presence of certain bacteria, the doctor will prescribe the antibiotic that is most effective against specific microbes.

The method of using antibiotics for ear inflammation, according to Evgeniy Komarovsky, is prescribed individually.

If the eardrum is intact, the doctor may recommend drops with antibiotics, but most often they prescribe antimicrobial drugs in tablets, and this is quite enough. There is no need to inject medications into your child. For treatment to be effective, it is important that the drug accumulates in the problematic sore spot, and therefore for otitis media, antibiotics are taken for a long time and in increased doses. The minimum course is 10 days. If the child is under two years old and if he attends kindergarten

, the course is not reduced. If the baby is over 2 years old and does not go to kindergarten, then the doctor may prescribe antibiotics for only 5-7 days. It is very important to follow the timing and dosage to reduce the risk of recurrent otitis.

Otitis media and deafness

Children who have undergone successful treatment for otitis media continue to have reduced hearing for some time. It recovers on its own within 1-3 months from the end of treatment.

Surgery

Typically, surgery is not required for otitis media. The exception is when a child with severe and prolonged pain and suppuration in the ear cavity does not rupture the eardrum. Its strength is individual for each child; in some, otitis flows from the ear already in the initial stage, in others, perforation does not occur. Then there is a risk of purulent masses breaking out anywhere, including the brain. If there is such a threat, doctors make a small incision on the eardrum to ensure the drainage of pus.

Evgeniy Komarovsky reassures that a ruptured eardrum and its incision are not dangerous for a child. Usually it recovers quickly, leaving only a small scar, which in no way subsequently affects a person’s hearing.

Otitis of the middle, inner ear is very difficult for small children. Parents try in every way to alleviate the condition of the babies, but often do not understand the reason for the tears and screams. Let's figure it out together.

Otitis is a dangerous condition for newborn toddlers and older children. pathological conditions associated with inflammation of the middle, inner and outer ear. The disease is accompanied by severe pain, suppuration from the ear, runny nose, and fever.

From this article you will learn

Causes

Otitis externa is provoked by:

• ear injuries;

The infection enters the bloodstream through cuts and open wounds. Children often inflict them on themselves while cleaning their ears with foreign objects.

• water that got into the ear while swimming in a dirty pond;
• excessive hygiene;

Sera is the protector of children's ears. Thorough cleaning of sinks from “accumulations of dirt” opens the door to infections and harmful bacteria.

• E. coli, staphylococci, fungi.

The most common causes of otitis media are:

• chronic diseases of the nasopharynx;

These are a runny nose, sinusitis, adenoids, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis. The Eustachian tube in newborns and preschoolers is shorter than in adults, and there are no complex bends in it. It is much easier for pathogenic bacteria to reach the middle ear.

• hypothermia, overheating;
• ARVI, colds;
• decreased immunity;
• allergic rhinitis;
• incorrectly selected position for feeding infants.

The baby should not lie head down on his back. In this case, milk flows into the ear, deep into the nasopharynx. Food debris gets stuck near the eardrum and causes inflammation.

Children suffer from internal otitis due to:

• acute otitis media of the middle ear, if medical assistance is not provided;
• meningitis, the infection penetrates the lining of the brain.

Inner ear infections need to be treated urgently! If left unattended, the child faces death or disability.

Classification and symptoms

According to the location of the source of inflammation

The tissues of the auditory canal and auricle become infected and affected.

Pathological processes occur in the middle ear cavity.

1. internal (labyrinthitis);

The rarest type of ear disease, the infection affects the structures of the inner ear, the vestibular apparatus.

By distribution

1. bilateral (double);

If both ears are affected.

1. unilateral (left-sided or right-sided);

One of the ears is infected.

The following manifestations are common to all types of inflammation:

• Ear ache;
• hearing loss;
• Heat;
• vomiting, diarrhea, nausea;
• loss of appetite;
• irritability;
• lethargy.

In infants and preschoolers, middle ear infection is most common. Otitis media is divided into several types, based on the accompanying symptoms.

By type of pathology

• Purulent.

The ear cavity fills with pus. The sac of exudate presses on the eardrum, ruptures it, and comes out through the auditory tube. Inflammation is accompanied by pain, hyperthermia, and lethargy.

• Catarrhal.

Shooting in the ear, redness of the internal cavity, decreased hearing, pain, dry cough. There is no pus or other discharge. Sometimes the behind-the-ear lymph node becomes inflamed.

• Serous.

The presence of fluid inside the ear cavity, which remains after previous otitis. Occurs in 35% of babies. This leads to hearing and speech impairment. Therapy for serous otitis involves pumping out stagnant fluid using a tube and shunting the eardrums.

• Bullous.

Rarely occurs in children. Triggered by the influenza virus. The blood carries infectious bacteria throughout the body, they stop at the ear area, attaching various cocci and nonspecific infections. In a child, the lymph nodes in the ear canal become inflamed and rashes form various sizes. The bullous type provokes a purulent type of pathology.

Otitis media cannot be transmitted as an independent disease. Bacteria and viruses that cause inflammation in the ear are contagious. These are influenza, adenoviruses, cocci.

Acute otitis media

If your health condition small child worsens rapidly, he complains of pain in the ear, the temperature rises to 38°C, then we're talking about about the acute form of otitis media. The development of the disease occurs according to the following scenario:

1. Severe pain and hyperthermia occur.
2. Symptoms appear quickly and progress. A newborn or one-year-old baby cannot report pain, so it cries, pulls its ear, and scratches its head in the area of ​​the hearing organs.
3. Pus is visible in the ear. After 2–3 days, the eardrum ruptures, and exudate gradually pours out of the auricle. The baby feels better, the pain goes away, the fever subsides.
4. If the pus does not come out on its own, the doctor helps the exudative sac break through by making a small puncture.
5. The membrane heals, the pus comes out of the shell completely. The pain goes away completely. The small child begins to hear clearly, the general somatic condition of the baby and sleep are restored.

Acute otitis media is often caused by an untreated runny nose or improper nose blowing. Teach your baby to open his mouth when blowing his nose. This way, pathogenic bacteria will not be able to get from the nasopharynx into the ear through snot.

Diagnostics

To recognize otitis media in time childhood, it is very important to get an appointment with a specialist. Only an otolaryngologist can accurately diagnose the type of disease using an external examination and laboratory tests.

The doctor prescribes:

• otoscopy;

This is an instrumental examination of the eardrum. Using a special device, the doctor sees tissue thickening, hyperemia, suppuration, and perforation.

• X-ray of the temporal bones;

Evaluated visual state bones, pneumatization of cavities.

• CT scan of the temporal bones;

Prescribed in unclear cases.

• audiometry;

Necessary for examining children with a chronic form of otitis, decreased hearing due to frequent inflammation.

• assessing the patency of the Eustachian tube;
• examination by a neurologist;

If complications are suspected (meningitis, encephalopathy).

Important! Examination of children with chronic forms of otitis is best carried out in a hospital. This will allow you to undergo a comprehensive diagnosis, identify causes and possible complications faster.

How not to cause harm

The only thing that can harm a baby with otitis media is self-medication. Parents should absolutely not do the following:

1. independently diagnose the disease;
2. prescribe treatment without consulting a doctor;

Using drops and taking antibiotics can harm the baby. Medicines are prescribed only by a doctor, based on the type of otitis media, age and general health of the baby.

1. warm the ear, legs, head;

Inflammation increases under the influence of heat.

1. interrupt therapy after symptoms disappear;

The course of antimicrobial drugs lasts at least 10 days, instillations and rinsing are done until the membrane heals and all the pus comes out of the ear. Stopping treatment before complete recovery risks recurrent otitis media.

A competently prescribed course of medications and physical procedures after a detailed examination guarantees complete recovery from the disease, even at home, on an outpatient basis, without placing the child in a hospital.

First aid for otitis media

Sometimes objective reasons prevent parents from bringing their baby to the hospital immediately after detecting the first signs of inflammation and calling an ambulance. In this case, the child needs to provide first aid at home or on the road:

1. neutralize pain;

Use anti-inflammatory drugs that will relieve pain and lower the temperature. These are Ibuprofen, paracetamol, Ibuklin Junior. Choose candles, syrups for infants, tablets for older children.

Use the medicine "Otipax" if the eardrum is not damaged and pus does not flow from the ear. An analogue of Otipax is the cheaper Otirelax. The medications include phenazone and lidocaine. They relieve inflammation and pain. For infants, 2 drops are instilled into each ear, for children from two years old - 3-4.

Important! Don't delay visiting the clinic. Untreated, chronic otitis is dangerous for preschoolers with many complications.

How to instill drops correctly

The main way to treat otitis media in children is to instill vasoconstrictor, anti-inflammatory drops into the ear. This seemingly simple procedure must be done correctly. Follow the recommendations:

• Warm the jar of medicine to 24–25°C, for infants – to 36°C.

The bottle can be placed under hot water, pour the contents into a warm spoon, and from there put it into a pipette.

Take the baby in your arms, keeping his body in a lateral position for 8–10 minutes. Don't let the droplets leak out.

Compresses on the ear

According to Dr. Komarovsky, a compress on the ear is not effective method treatment of inflammation, but does not provide negative impact on the child's condition. It is used only to reassure grandmothers who do not see how and when their beloved grandson is being treated, and a bandage made of folded gauze is used as an alibi for a caring mother.

But not all pediatricians agree with the point of view of the famous video doctor, therefore they advise parents to use compresses to reduce pain and warm the ear in case of catarrhal disease, that is, in the absence of purulent discharge from the ear canal.

Parents need:

You can keep the compress for 4 hours. It is better to do it at night so that the baby does not rip off the bandage.

Treatment of different types of otitis media

The treatment regimen for otitis media depends on its type and degree of neglect. The doctor makes appointments after an instrumental and laboratory examination of a small patient. In particularly difficult critical situations Hospitalization will be required, in other cases it is enough to treat the child at home with the help of medications and folk remedies.

Treatment of external otitis

It is a standard set of measures:

1. The child receives anti-inflammatory medications. These are drops or ointments that are applied to the surface of the ear. The boil is warmed up with vodka compresses.
2. After the rod is formed, the surgeon opens the abscess. The wound is washed with Miramistin, hydrogen peroxide, and Chlorhexidine. A medicated bandage with antimicrobial ointment (“Levomycetin”) is applied.
3. At home, lotions with wound-healing creams are applied to the affected areas. These are “Levomekol”, “Bepanten”.
4. To relieve hyperthermia and pain, Nurofen and Ibuklin are used.
5. In case of lymphadenitis, the bacterial nature of the inflammation, a course of antibiotics will be required. Flemoxin Solutab, Amoxicillin, and Sumamed are considered effective.
6. For fungal otitis media, the child is prescribed oral antifungal medications and ointments. “Candibiotic” - antifungal ear drops are approved for use by children over 6 years of age, but are prohibited for children with allergies and diathesis.

Treatment of acute otitis media

Consists of the following steps:

1. taking antibiotics;

The doctor prescribes antimicrobial medications if the baby has a fever for more than 3 days, there are signs of severe intoxication, the pain syndrome greatly worries the patient, does not allow him to sleep or eat, the disease is diagnosed in the baby before he is one year old.

Antibiotics are prescribed in tablet form, injections, and suspensions. Non-toxic, safe medications are used to treat children. This is Azithromycin, third-fourth generation antibiotics - Cefotaxime, Cefepime.

To treat pneumococcal infection, the causative agent of otitis, a broad-spectrum antibiotic, Suprax, is used. It is safe for children from one month old. The dosage of the drug is calculated strictly according to the instructions.

1. drops in the ears;

Otipax, Albucid, Otofa, Polidexa, Dioxidin are used. All drugs have a combined effect. Relieves pain and blocks inflammation.

Catarrhal otitis is treated with drops for at least 7 days, in rare cases 10.

Polidexa goes well with GCS therapy with Dexamethasone to improve the anti-inflammatory effect.

The hormonal component is included in Sofradex drops. Relief of the condition after their use occurs within 2–3 days.

1. treatment of rhinitis;

A runny nose must be relieved immediately. It is a provocateur of inflammation. The following drops are suitable for children: “Protargol”, “Isofra”, “Nazivin”. Nasal flow is well stopped by homeopathic medicines: “Allium Cepa”, “Apis”. Spray “Tizin” and “Nazol” are suitable for preschoolers.

1. carrying out physical procedures;

Inhalation with essential oils through a nebulizer, ultraviolet radiation. Physiotherapy is used to treat infectious and viral forms of otitis, which are provoked by colds and other diseases of the ENT departments. Laser, vapors do not have a direct effect on the ear, so they are considered safe methods treatment.

1. halotherapy;

Staying in a salt cave is necessary at the stage of recovery, as a preventive measure for chronic otitis media, in the presence of frequent cough and runny nose. The duration of the course is 12–14 sessions.

1. electrophoresis;

Physiotherapy helps to introduce zinc sulfate, an antibiotic, into the tissues of the ear structure. Children's body receives local treatment, minimally protected from side effects.

Therapy for labyrinthitis

1. It can only be treated in a hospital.
2. Antibiotics, antiseptics, vitamins, and anti-inflammatory medications are used.
3. When fluid stagnates in the middle ear, surgical intervention is resorted to.
4. If complications arise (meningitis, sepsis, circulatory disorders), symptomatic treatment is carried out based on clinical picture pathology.

Treatment of otitis in advanced form is delayed in a large percentage of cases for a long time. Parents need to protect their children from complications and seek medical care on initial stage infection.

Possible complications

The consequences of otitis media include the following pathological conditions:

• hearing impairment;

Prolonged hearing loss leads to speech delays and nervousness in the baby. In rare situations, pus can only be removed surgically.

• rupture of the eardrum;

The logical conclusion of otitis, a breakthrough helps the pus to come out. After the lumen appears, the child feels better, and the wound heals after a couple of days.

• mastoiditis;

This is an inflammation of the tissues of the temporal bone, more precisely, the mastoid process, which is located behind the ear. Usually this cavity is filled with air. After otitis media it becomes inflamed and red. The child will complain of migraines, vertigo, nausea, and fainting.

ethnoscience

Caring grandmothers know how to treat otitis media in a child at home, relieve pain using folk methods and natural remedies. Let's give just a small list.

1. Instillation of boric alcohol, hydrogen peroxide.

Warm the solution, drop 2 drops into each ear. Place a piece of cotton wool on top. Boric acid will warm. Do not use this method if your eardrum has ruptured.

1. Compress with salt.

Take a grain of regular salt and heat it in a frying pan or in the microwave. Place it in a sock and apply it to the sore ear. Keep for 30 minutes. The baby's pain will go away and he will fall asleep.

1. Lotion with camphor oil.

Soak a cotton swab with camphor oil and place it in your ear. Put a hat or warm headband on your baby's head. You need to remove the tampon after 2-3 hours.

1. Turunda with calendula tincture, propolis.

Gauze flagella are moistened in alcohol tincture Calendula flowers are placed in the ear for 2-3 hours. The procedure will help with headaches and ear pain. The baby will stop feeling bad.

1. Propolis drops.

Pharmacy propolis is instilled into the ear canal, 2 drops each. After the procedure, the baby lies on his side for 15–30 minutes. Then the other ear is treated. The course of treatment lasts as long as it takes for complete recovery.

1. Furacilin alcohol.

Used to treat external inflammation. The solution is used to treat rashes on the lobe and inside the auricle. Furacilin helps relieve itching and redness.

Important! Traditional methods Treatments are aimed at warming the ear cavity. Therapists speak out against such drugs, considering them dangerous to the baby’s health and capable of causing the progression of the disease.

Answer to frequently asked questions

A child has pus flowing from his ear

Yellow or green discharge from the ear is an alarming symptom for parents. It is better to treat the patient in a hospital. In this case, it is dangerous to drip vasoconstrictor drops intended for the treatment of otitis media; you can only help the baby with painkillers to alleviate his condition until the doctor arrives.

Why does this occur? dangerous symptom, is explained simply. The purulent sac, which is located in the middle ear cavity during otitis media, will definitely burst. Its contents should flow out through the nose. If the outflow of mucus is hindered by rhinitis and ducts clogged with snot, then the pus finds its way out in the ear canal, rupturing the eardrum. In this case, the ear may shoot and become very painful.

Why does a child get a puncture?

The rupture of the eardrum during otitis in most children occurs independently due to the pressure of pus in the middle ear. Pus, sometimes ichor, will come out of the ear canal. There is no significant bleeding observed. There is no need to be afraid, the gap will heal in a couple of days, and the baby will feel better. The pain will go away, the temperature will subside.

It is necessary to pierce the eardrum if the tissue is strong, does not yield to the pressure of the bag with pathogenic mucus, and pus accumulates in the middle ear cavity, leaving the little patient with terrible pain. The doctor examines the ear with a lamp, presses on the membrane, and simultaneously pierces it. This treatment procedure is safe for the baby. It will alleviate his condition and help remove pus from the ear cavity. The ear should only be cut in a hospital or clinic.

Prevention of disease

Prevention of chronic otitis media and acute forms of the disease requires the adoption of certain measures by parents:

• Do not go outside with your baby in windy weather without a hat.
• You can't wash your baby in cold water, swim in bodies of water that have not been inspected by sanitary services.
• Prevent ear injury when cleaning and playing.
• Teach your baby to blow his nose correctly while opening his mouth.
• Treat ENT diseases in a timely manner.
• Give your frequently ill child the Prevenar vaccine. It will protect the baby from otitis, laryngitis, and other bacterial infections upper respiratory tract.
• Do not self-medicate.
• If your little one has frequent otitis media, learn about new treatment methods, disease prevention from a pediatrician, and read the relevant literature.

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Inflammation of the middle ear in children is a common ailment at an early age. At the same time, the baby cannot always clearly explain what actually hurts him. Already with the first symptoms related to otitis and similar inflammations, you need to go to an otolaryngologist, because the chronic form of the inflammatory process can no longer be cured.

Otitis in children - symptoms

You can diagnose possible otitis media in a child based on his complaints and external signs. The initial stage of the disease is expressed by symptoms similar to all causes: a feeling of fluid in the ear, shooting or clicking pain, hearing loss. This alone is a reason to urgently go to the hospital. The further condition will worsen, and the symptoms of this disease in children will manifest themselves in the following:

1. Acute periodic pain in the ear, reflected in the jaw and throat. In this case, the effect has a wave-like character, which is practically not relieved by painkillers.
2. Discharge of pus and mucus from the ear. This is the first sign that the eardrum has perforated under the pressure of the exudate. In this situation, the pain decreases or disappears completely, but an open wound with suppuration forms.
3. High temperature, which is briefly reduced with medication.
4. Significant hearing loss, the appearance of additional “effects”: muffled voices, echo, regular shift frequency of perception.

Symptoms of otitis media in infants are much more difficult to identify. In this case, parents should carefully monitor the baby’s mood and behavior, changes in his mood and the following signs:

1. Long position of the head on a certain side in the bed (the child will try to put the sore ear on the pillow).
2. High body temperature.
3. The baby refuses to feed from one breast. The reason for this choice of position is an attempt to place the large ear more comfortably.
4. Painful reaction when pressing on the protrusion of the auricle (tragus).

Otitis media

Ear inflammation is divided into three diseases according to localization: internal otitis (labyrinthitis), external and middle. Otitis media in a child is divided into acute and chronic. The last type of disease is divided into serous or purulent. There may be several reasons for the inflammatory process and subsequent otitis media:

1. Inflammation localized in the nasopharynx. The Eustachian tube works as a channel that spreads infection.
2. Hypothermia or overheating of the body on the street or at home.
3. For children age breastfeeding– incorrect position of the child (lying on his back). In this case, mother's milk can enter through the nasopharynx.
4. Problems with adenoids and their treatment.
5. Low immunity. This problem often appears with artificial feeding.

Otitis externa

A quarter of all cases of ear disease are otitis externa in children. Due to the localization of the disease, it is highly treatable. But this happens if the diagnosis is determined correctly and treatment is started. The reasons for the onset of inflammation are the most commonplace: improper ear hygiene, damage to the integument of the auricle. The results of the disease can be completely different:

• boil formation;
• purulent external otitis;
• inflammation of cartilage tissue - perichondritis;
• fungal infections - otomycosis;
• eczema on the skin.

Purulent

One of the common inflammatory processes is suppuration in the tympanic cavity. A simple runny nose is enough for the disease to occur. Since the baby spends a long time lying on his back, the secretory fluid of the nasal mucosa freely passes through the Eustachian tube into the ear canals. Parents need to monitor the cleanliness of the nasal passages and rinse in a timely manner. The symptoms of the disease were described above. In severe cases of acute purulent otitis, children experience bradycardia, clouded consciousness, and vomiting.

Exudative

A severe type of ear inflammation that is difficult to cure. The reason lies in the fact that the disease is often detected in late stages. It is characterized by impaired ventilation of the middle ear and accumulation of exudate. By the time exudative otitis media is diagnosed in a child, the accumulated fluid already consists of pus and mucus. The causes of the development of the disease are respiratory infections, cleft palate, passive smoking, and poor nasopharyngeal toilet.

Catarrhal

A very common disease among children, which is caused by incomplete formation of the auditory canal. Catarrhal otitis in a child almost always precedes the development of a purulent variation of the disease. The causes of the disease are no different from other types of otitis (except external): ARVI, runny nose, accumulation of foreign fluid in the ear. Similar symptoms of two diagnoses can cause incorrect treatment, so you should contact an otolaryngologist rather than indulge in self-medication.

Double sided

Correct diagnosis of this form of the disease will help to avoid decreased or total hearing loss in at a young age. The peculiarities of the structure and process of formation of the hearing aid in children provoke the fact that 90% of children under one year of age suffer from bilateral inflammation of the ears. Bilateral otitis in a child is dangerous because it is sometimes characterized only by a slight decrease in hearing sensitivity. Already with this symptom you need to go to the hospital.

In an infant

It is most difficult to identify any disease in young children, when they cannot yet show what hurts them and how. Otitis media in an infant is fraught with subsequent complications leading to actual complete deafness. A timely visit to the doctor will help to quickly and correctly cure the disease. Therefore, parents should carefully monitor his behavior, changes in his mood and the following signs:

1. Long position of the head in the crib on one side (the baby will try to put the sore ear on the pillow).
2. Unmotivated crying constant worry.
3. Heat.
4. The baby refuses to feed from one breast. The reason is the same as when lying on a pillow.
5. Painful reaction when pressing on the protrusion of the auricle.

Treatment of otitis media in children

Otitis in children - symptoms and treatment for different types are similar, but the main differences lie in the cause of the disease. Standard therapy takes 1-2 weeks, but there are ways to compensate for pain and improve hearing. Treatment of otitis in children is supported by clearing the nasal passages to ensure normal breathing. The baby’s head should not be cold, and walking outside with the child is allowed after the temperature has returned to normal and the ear pain has resolved. Constant hygienic cleaning of the ear canal from secretions is mandatory.

Treatment of otitis media

With a timely visit to the doctor, treatment of otitis media in children occurs quickly and without consequences. For most diagnoses, conservative treatment with antibiotics (tablets or injections) is used. Vasoconstrictor nasal drops are used to normalize the patency of the Eustachian tube. Purulent discharge is removed with disinfectants such as chlorhexidine. Next, antiseptics are used - Tsipromed, Normax, Sofradex. On the recommendation of a doctor, thermal physiotherapy (warming, blue lamp) can be performed.

Treatment of external otitis

Depending on the type of disease, the doctor will prescribe the appropriate treatment. Independent use medicines(even if the parents know what kind of disease it is) can lead to aggravation of the situation. Treatment of external otitis in children must occur in stages and with a set of selected medications in order to achieve a full recovery.

• analgesics to relieve pain - paracetamol, ibuprofen;
• neomycin, ofloxacin to reduce the inflammatory process (over time they are replaced with ointments or creams to avoid the development of recurrent otitis);
• Boils are treated with antibiotics.

Treatment of otitis media with antibiotics

It is worth remembering that the use of potent drugs should only be prescribed by a doctor. Self-treatment Otitis in children with antibiotics can lead to a worsening of the condition and the development of third-party diseases. The most effective pharmaceuticals today, including for staphylococcal otitis media:

• Sofradex;
• Ceftriaxone (Unasin, Hemomycin);
• Ceftazidime;
• Cefaclor;
• Cephalosporins;
• Cefuroxime;
• Roxithromycin;
• Clarithromycin;
• Amoxicillin (Azitral, Azithromycin, Amikacin, aminoglycosides, Amoxiclav, Ampiksid);
• Flemoxin solutab, Sollux.

Otitis in a child - treatment at home

If ear inflammation in children goes away without indications for hospitalization, then home rest and maintenance the right conditions will help you get better as quickly as possible. To do this, ensure bed rest and maintain dry heat in the room. Treatment of otitis in children at home is possible in the absence of high constant temperature, mild pain symptoms and good general condition child.

Treatment of otitis media with folk remedies

Folk experience in medicine correct use can make the treatment process more effective. In this case, the characteristics of the child, individual intolerance and recommendations of specialists must be taken into account. Treatment of otitis media folk remedies quite acceptable at home. Here are some proven recipes to combat inflammation:

1. Warm compress on the ear. Heat a mixture of vodka (alcohol) and water in a one-to-one ratio to about 40 degrees. Moisten a piece of gauze in it and place it on the ear area (the auricle should remain free). Cover the top with wax paper or plastic wrap. The next layer is cotton wool. Bandage the compress to the head and cover the bandage with a non-synthetic scarf or scarf. Leave for 30-60 minutes (You can also use heated salt or soda, wrapped in a cloth for warming).
2. You can use turundas or water-based instillation, medicinal herbs, camphor alcohol, camphor oil, boric alcohol and honey. Before the procedure, the solution needs to be warmed up slightly to avoid hypothermia of the inflamed area.
3. For external otitis, you can put crushed aloe or Kalanchoe leaves on a gauze cloth into your ear.
4. Prevention of a runny nose due to otitis is carried out using oxacillin.

Despite the popularity of iodine in the treatment of ear diseases, it is highly not recommended for use in children's treatment. Iodine solutions are aggressive and can cause secondary inflammation of the skin and mucous membranes even in minimal concentrations. Traditional methods of treatment should be used only with the approval of a specialist and under his supervision.

Video

Or inflammation of the middle ear is one of the most common diseases in young children. It is usually accompanied by strong pain syndrome, so it is poorly tolerated by children.

The disease requires quick adoption correct treatment measures, as it can have a detrimental effect on the child’s health, cause hearing problems and a number of complications.

Inflammation of the middle ear in children, the symptoms of which may hardly appear outwardly, is accompanied by an acute inflammatory process and the formation of purulent discharge due to infection.

In most cases, young children get sick, since their body is still forming and developing, their immunity is still weak, and they are very susceptible to various infections and inflammations. Most often, middle ear inflammation begins suddenly, sometimes at night.

The child begins to scream from severe pain in the ear, it is impossible to calm him down, he breaks out and cries, tries to close the sore ear and does not allow him to touch it, turns his head. In a small child, otitis media manifests itself not only as severe pain in the ear.

The younger the child, the more difficult it is to determine the cause of his anxiety.

He may refuse to breastfeed or give up a bottle if it hurts him to suck, and the baby’s sleep and activity are disturbed, he becomes lethargic, whiny and irritable, he doesn’t play, he just cries. In children, the body temperature often rises, nausea appears and bowel movements are upset.

More information about otitis media can be found in the video:

An older child may already complain of pain in the ear, but often it is also difficult to examine the sore spot, since the disease causes him severe pain. But there are also situations when the disease develops with mild pain, so parents may not notice the disease, especially if the child does not complain. Traces of the disease sometimes appear after the spontaneous opening of the abscess - parents notice leaking pus on the baby’s ear or traces of it on the pillow.

Danger signs and possible complications

Otitis is a serious disease that requires prompt treatment

The human skull consists of the facial region of light and porous bones; infection through them can penetrate to any organs located in this area, including the brain. Since all the senses are connected in one way or another, a severe infection can spread from the middle ear to any of them. Although it occurs in children with no symptoms, the disease generally progresses violently, producing large amounts of pus.

If it penetrates beyond the middle ear into the internal parts of the hearing aid, it can lead to hearing problems, complete or partial loss. When the vestibular apparatus is infected, the patient may experience problems with balance and orientation in space.

There is also a threat of the disease becoming chronic, which can lead to various unpleasant consequences for the body, because it contains a source of constantly existing infection.

Proximity to the ear of large and very important nerve endings can cause inflammation and even paresis (paralysis) of the facial nerve.

Another dire consequence inflammation of the middle ear is meningitis, or inflammation of the meninges. Due to the thinness and porosity of the skull bones, especially in young children, the presence of a strong inflammatory process and infection in the immediate vicinity of the brain is a direct threat to the possibility of such a dangerous disease.

There is a special air chamber in the area behind the ear. If the infection gets into it, a disease called mastoiditis will develop. Its insidiousness is that it can appear some time after the symptoms of otitis media disappear.

Safe treatment

If inflammation of the middle ear is detected in children, the symptoms of which indicate the initial stage of the disease before autopsy, then the child must be shown to a doctor and strictly follow all his instructions. Treatment is carried out at home; children are hospitalized very rarely, only for health reasons.

Usually the doctor prescribes special drops such as Otinum, which are carefully instilled into the ear exclusively while warm. Cold drops will cause severe pain reaction and can worsen the course of the disease. If the abscess has already opened, nothing should be dripped into the ears, as this can lead to various hearing impairments. When otitis media opens, a dry turunda is placed in the sore ear, which must be changed frequently.

The following means and methods are used to treat inflammation of the middle ear:

• Antipyretics help lower body temperature, so a sick child feels relief after taking them. Children's medications with paracetamol also have an analgesic effect.
• The child needs to clear his nasal passages, as the presence of mucus can worsen his condition.
• In case of purulent inflammation, the doctor will prescribe medications that should be given to the baby strictly as prescribed. Selecting and using such drugs on your own can be very dangerous, since some types of antibiotics themselves have an ototoxic, that is, damaging effect on hearing. In addition, children under a certain age can only be given very limited quantity such drugs. Only the doctor chooses antibiotics, and he also determines the duration of treatment and dosage of the drug. You can’t change these data yourself either - untreated otitis will affect your health and can become a chronic problem, and too long and massive use of antibiotics has a detrimental effect on the beneficial intestinal microflora. As a result, dysbiosis may develop, which threatens the baby with many problems with digestion and general health in the future.
• For inflamed ears, dry ones are made from a large piece of cotton wool, wrapped in gauze and secured with a scarf bandage (“bunny ears”). Dry heat has a beneficial effect on the healing process.
• Inflammation of the middle ear is also heated with a blue lamp, treated with a Biotron device, or heated with cloth bags containing heated rock salt.
• The baby needs to be provided with bed rest, rest, light high-calorie food (preferably liquid or semi-liquid if it hurts to chew and swallow), and plenty of vitamin drinks.
• It is necessary to ensure that the child is not in a draft, does not overheat or become hypothermic.

On average, treatment of middle ear inflammation takes from 7 to 14 days. Acute stage usually takes 3-4 days, the rest of the time is necessary to restore the integrity of the eardrum.

Prevention

Preventive measures - The best way prevent illness

In order to avoid inflammation of the middle ear in children, the symptoms of which are extremely unpleasant and painful, it is worth taking care of the prevention of the disease. It consists of the following actions:

1. Dressing a child correctly is based on the weather, not the time of year.
2. Protecting your baby from overheating or hypothermia. If he has a cold, you need to quickly take action by warming his ears with a blue lamp even before symptoms of the disease appear.
3. Parents need to ensure that the baby does not play in drafts.
4. If it is severe, measures must be taken to eliminate it as quickly as possible, since an infection from the nasopharynx can easily penetrate into the middle ear. In young children, inflammation of the middle ear most often occurs precisely because it is not cured in time or has become chronic.
5. In addition to a runny nose, the causes of otitis may be severe inflammatory processes in the throat, especially purulent ones. The most common reason in this case is that the source of severe infection is located as close as possible to the ear. The infection can be spread anywhere by the flow of blood and lymph. Once in the ear, it can cause severe purulent otitis media.
6. When feeding an infant, it should be held upright so that milk, water or formula does not enter the ear through the nasopharynx.
7. Proper ear cleaning is also important, especially after swimming. To do this, you need to use ordinary cotton swabs, wipe your ear dry, do not use cotton swabs and, especially, various improvised devices that can easily damage the eardrum or cause infection.

Caring for the health of your baby’s ears and prompt and high-quality treatment for otitis media will help preserve his hearing. perfect condition even with inflammation of the middle ear that often occurs in childhood.