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Ear infections

Description

An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of ear infections.


Alternative Names

Otitis media


Prognosis

Ear infections in infants less than 3 months old may indicate more serious infections, such as meningitis. But a reassuring 2002 study reported that only 4% of infants with an ear infection had a bacterial infection. Still, any sign of infection in a baby requires prompt medical attention.

Hearing Loss and Its Consequences

Evidence strongly suggests that severe cases of recurrent acute otitis media and persistent otitis media with effusion (OME) impair hearing. The effect of long-term hearing problems may have the following effects:

However, results from a 2007 New England Journal of Medicine study strongly indicate that chronic middle ear effusion poses no danger for developmental delays. Researchers evaluated children who had either prompt insertion of ear tubes to drain fluid when they were younger than age 3, or delayed insertion of tubes many months later. When the children were tested at ages 9 – 11, the researchers found no differences in speech and language, auditory processing, attention, behavior, social skills, and academic achievement. As the majority of chronic ear effusion cases eventually clear up on their own, many experts now recommend against surgical intervention for most children.

Physical and Structural Injuries in the Face and Ears

Serious complications or permanent physical injuries from ear infections are very uncommon, but may include:

Mastoiditis

Before the introduction of antibiotics, mastoiditis (an infection in the bones located in the skull), was a serious, albeit rare, complication of otitis media. This condition is difficult to treat and requires intravenous antibiotics and drainage procedures. Surgery may be required.

If pain and fever persist in spite of antibiotic treatment of otitis media, the doctor should check for mastoiditis. Most cases of mastoiditis are generally not associated with ear infections.

Mastoiditis
If an infection of the mastoid air cells cannot be controlled with antibiotics, surgery may be needed.

Other Possible Complications

Impaired Balance. Some studies have indicated that children with chronic OME have problems with motor development and balance.

Facial Paralysis. Very rarely, a child may develop facial paralysis, which is temporary and relieved by drainage surgery.


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