Mom, I have an ear ache! Similar complaints at least once in his life heard any mother. And in almost all cases, the cause of the pain is otitis media. Otitis - it is nothing like an ear infection, occurring in either acute or chronic. During the disease in the middle ear cavity in a patient person accumulates pus. Most often it is the children suffer from otitis media, and usually quite small, have not reached school age.
This fact is explained by anatomical structure of the middle ear in children. The younger the baby, the shorter his auditory tube, which, inter alia, also almost completely straight, with no bends. Due to such structure, the penetration of the ear infection occurs without a problem. As the child's predisposition to otitis rapidly decreases. However, according to statistics, about 80% of all children under three years of age, at least once in his life had been ill with otitis.
The causes of otitis
Mostly ear infection is the result of the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms. In almost all cases of otitis media develops as a consequence of colds and acute respiratory diseases. Slightly less common causes of diseases such as ear injury or severely allergic reaction occurring. And now in more detail about each of them:
- Acute respiratory infections These diseases affecting the nasal mucosa, provoking blockage of Eustachian tube opening. As a result of this blockage is a violation of the natural process, such as ventilation and drainage of the tympanum.
- Penetration of infection into the middle ear. As a rule, the infection penetrates into the cavity of the middle ear through the auditory tube, all at the same ARI.
- Adenoids, tonsillitis, purulent sinusitis, nasal tumor.
- A malfunction of the immune system.
- Sudden changes in pressure, such as during takeoff and landing aircraft.
Symptoms of otitis
Symptoms of otitis media are typical, so for the doctor, the diagnosis is not so difficult. The only case where the only sign of otitis media is unwarranted anxiety and a strong cry - a disease of a child under one year of age. In this case, the doctor performs the next test - the external opening of the auditory canal the doctor gently presses his forefinger. In that case, if the result of this action baby crying and anxiety increases, the physician has reason to believe that the child is acute otitis media.
In children, the older are the following symptoms of otitis media:
- A very intense, "shooting" pain in the ear.
- Hearing loss, sometimes very significant.
- Severe headaches and dizziness.
- Increased body temperature, sometimes up to 30 - 40 degrees.
In the case of a child-like symptoms, parents should as soon as possible to seek help from a doctor - an otolaryngologist.
Doctors are three types of flow otitis acute, protracted and chronic. The most commonly found in children acute form of otitis media. With proper treatment of acute otitis stage lasts for two - three days. After this manifestation of otitis media are on the decline, and after about five days the child is almost completely healthy.
In the same case, if the disease has not been seen in a timely manner, and accordingly, the treatment of the child has not received or received, but wrong, may increase the duration of otitis media. The disease spills over a protracted form. During a protracted form of the symptoms of otitis media may occur during the week, and only some 10 days comes a full recovery.
Finally, the third form of otitis - chronic. In the chronic form of the disease symptoms of otitis media appear and disappear again. By the development of chronic otitis media causes a lack of adequate treatment, or excessively weakened immune system of the child. If your child has a chronic otitis media, the treatment should be strongly integrated.
Complications of otitis
As a rule, otitis media, although it takes is hard enough for a child, special complications for overall health does not entail. But still sometimes there are exceptions to this rule:
- The development of diseases such as encephalitis and meningitis.
- Inflammation of the mastoid.
As a rule, to suspect that otitis entailed a particular complication may be on rapidly raise the temperature and deterioration of general condition of the child. In addition, parents should be guarded in case suppuration of the ear is not terminated for more than two weeks - this may be symptomatic complications.
Treatment of otitis
As mentioned above, otitis media in any case not allowed to leave without proper attention, and even more so of treatment. However, treatment of folk remedies is also not optimal. Treatment should be given only the child's physician. The treatment regimen in each case is selected strictly individually: the doctor takes into account the severity of the disease, the shape of its course, the presence of some - any concomitant diseases, as well as the individual characteristics of the child's body. However, in all cases, it is true that the sooner will start the right treatment, more effective it will be and the less there is a risk of complications.
In general, treatment of otitis scheme is as follows:
- Reducing the intensity of pain
The first thing to do - is to reduce the intensity of pain. And this is no accident - their intensity is so high that virtually deprives a child of peace - he can not sleep, refuses to eat. In order to relieve the pain, the doctor may prescribe any child paracetamol-containing preparations intended for children. In addition, there are a large number of special drops for the ears. The doctor will choose the ones that suit your child.
In addition, very effectively helps to eliminate even the most intense pain a special wrap. To make it, you need to purchase a pharmacy sterile gauze, glycerol and 3% boric acid solution. Glycerol and boric acid should be thoroughly mixed, and to make small gauze swab. This tampon must be carefully moistened in the resulting solution, and placed in the child's ear canal.
Also very effective hot compress. For him, you will have to put in a little effort. Because cotton is necessary to sew a small bag, about the size of a matchbox. After that, a large common table salt must be heated in a skillet. Place the salt in a bag and ready to cool to a temperature that will not cause discomfort to the child.
Put the bag on the sore ear, the top cover with a layer of cotton wool and bandage fix. Leave the compress on the ear of the baby until the salt is completely cool. Such packs have no contraindications, no side effects, so they can be performed as often as necessary.
In order to reduce and, after all, and remove excessive swelling auditory tube, making the outflow of pus from the middle ear will be completely unobstructed, the doctor prescribes a child vasoconstrictor nose drops. That is exactly what will be used drops, and in what dosage, doctor decides the child.
And if a child has developed otitis amid varying allergic reaction to eliminate the increased mucosal edema auditory tube it is advisable to use antihistamines. The doctor, on the basis of an objective evaluation of the child's condition, select the appropriate antihistamine. Do not try to do it yourself, as incorrectly selected drug can significantly degrade not only for otitis media, and the general condition of the child.
If your child is faced with otitis media, do not be afraid and panic. Timely access to a doctor and the right treatment will help your crumbs on his feet very, very fast!