Signs of otitis in a newborn baby: causes and clinical picture, examination and treatment

Therapy methods

After an accurate diagnosis is made, the doctor prescribes adequate treatment for otitis media for a breastfeeding baby. The following means are used:

Antibacterial drugs . They are used in cases where the disease is bacterial in nature. They are effective even when otitis media is bilateral. The duration of antibiotic use is from 5 to 7 days. Amoxiclav, Flemoxin, Ceftriaxone are prescribed. More often they are used in the form of injection solutions.
Ear drops . They help stop the spread of germs and have an analgesic effect. Otinum and Otipax are considered the most effective and safe for children. They are dripped three drops three times a day. Warm the product in your hands before use. The duration of such therapy is about 10 days.
Vasoconstrictor nasal drops . They help make breathing easier for babies. It is recommended to use them before feeding and at night. Such medications cannot be used for longer than 7 days. Sanorin, Tizin, Galazolin are prescribed.
Antipyretic medications . Indicated when body temperature rises to above 38 degrees. It is allowed to give the child Panadol, Nurofen.
Antihistamines . Used if the cause of otitis in a one-year-old child is an allergic reaction. Suprastin, Cetrin, Zodak are shown.

When should otitis media be treated with antibiotics? — Dr. Komarovsky

You can use medications only after consulting a specialist. He will determine the dosage and duration of medication use. Treatment for ear inflammation is carried out at home. Hospitalization is carried out only if dangerous complications develop, for example, meningitis.

Treatment of otitis in children under 1 year of age with folk remedies is carried out with extreme caution. They can provoke allergic reactions.

Otitis media in children: advice from an otolaryngologist

11.12.2020

Otitis media , according to the latest international trends, is a pathology of the auditory tube. Continuation of the infection that occurs in the nasopharynx, as a rule, already enters the middle ear . Normally, the nasopharynx is connected to the middle ear using the auditory tube; in children, this tube is very short, and infection can enter from the nasopharynx through it when children blow strongly through their nose or through the migration of microorganisms.

The occurrence of otitis in children most often begins with a virus, and then some bacterial flora is added. Modern therapy for otitis media very clearly sets the line between where to immediately use antibiotics and where to observe. Taking into account the trends in the world that antibiotics are not prescribed simply and in order to keep strains of microorganisms resistant to antibiotics under control, antibacterial therapy

According to statistics, up to 80% of otitis media end without antibiotics. And only 20% need antibiotic therapy immediately.

The use of antibiotics is categorical in two cases: the child is under 2 years of age and the severity of the disease (temperature more than 38°C, severe pain, etc.). In such cases, an antibiotic is prescribed immediately. By agreement of the parties and provided that the child can be shown to a doctor , the process of prescribing antibiotics is postponed for about a day or two.

If, for example, the child becomes worse within a day or the condition has not changed, only then antibiotics are prescribed. As a rule, vasoconstrictor drops in the nose , anti-inflammatory drugs that suppress inflammation in the nasopharynx and middle ear , anti-inflammatory drops in the ear , which relieve pain and have an anti-inflammatory effect on the eardrum.

Main symptoms

Young children rub their ears and do not allow them to touch them. The fact is that in childhood, a full-fledged external auditory canal is not formed, so when pressing on the tragus, very severe pain occurs, which is no longer the case in adults. The temperature can be either critical (under 38°C) or low-grade. Temperature is the body’s ability to respond in one form or another to an infection. Some people's body reacts hyper-reactively, there may be a high temperature, while others, on the contrary, are hypo-reactive.

Who is at risk?

These are children who have chronic problems with the nasopharynx: adenoiditis, constant runny nose . In these children, otitis occurs more often.

In order to clearly understand whether otitis media , you need to do a blood . And so, in principle, the most important thing is to examine the child.

What complications can there be if left untreated or undertreated?

These are intracranial complications: brain , mastoiditis, which can even lead to death. A rupture of the eardrum may occur. Although it is believed that this is not a categorical complication, it is better not to lead to it. Even in cases where there is already a protrusion due to purulent otitis media , it is better to open it, remove the compression, and then the membrane will heal better.

Prevention

You need to keep your nose in order. If you have a runny nose, you should always use saline nasal . The first thing parents should know is not to use vasoconstrictor drops for a very long time and monitor the condition of the nasopharynx.

How to alleviate a child’s condition at home?

Give pain medication according to the child's age. You can put medicines in your ear to numb the eardrum. You should absolutely not heat it, because there are different stages of otitis media . In some cases, heating is strictly prohibited. The use of folk remedies for acute otitis media is inappropriate.

You need to watch how the child “blows out” his nose . You should teach how to blow your nose : first one nostril is blown out, and then the other. If a child does not know how to blow, most often the child himself inflates his ear infection . Strong blowing provokes infection through the auditory tube into the middle ear . You can use aspirators, they come in different types. When using an aspirator, you must first thin the mucus with saline sprays and then remove it from the nasal passages. For younger children, parents should supervise this.

It is necessary to monitor the child’s condition, the condition of the nasopharynx, seek help from a doctor and not self-medicate.

Published in Otorhinolaryngology Premium Clinic

Causes of otitis media in children

The main causes of otitis media in children under one year of age are:

colds, infection in the nasopharynx (otitis media is a secondary complication of this infection);
domestic trauma (careless cleaning of a child’s ears with cotton swabs, etc.);
getting milk or artificial formula into the middle ear;
the presence of adenoids, which, as they grow, can partially or completely close the passage to the middle ear; Read more about adenoids→
allergic reaction;
hereditary predisposition to frequent otitis (features of the structure of the ear in family members);
congenital anomalies of the bronchopulmonary system;
weak immune defense;
high pressure on the eardrum (may occur when flying on an airplane, etc.).

Advertising -> Advertising -> There are also objective reasons that explain the development of otitis media in a child: In infants, more often than in adults, mucus forms in the nasal cavity. In addition, babies cry every day; during crying, secretions are instantly produced by the nasal mucosa and most of them end up in the middle ear. When bacterial microflora attaches, an inflammatory process develops with the further formation of pus. Infants regurgitate leftover food almost every time after feeding. They, like mucus from the nasal cavity, also enter the Eustachian tube, the fluid in which accumulates freely and quickly due to its anatomical narrowness and underdevelopment, which is due to the baby’s age. And lastly, again due to age, infants do not know how to blow their nose. Accumulated mucus becomes a source of inflammation and discomfort. It is important for parents to learn how to properly and regularly clean the child’s nasal cavity from the first days of life.

Ear pain in a child

Ear pain in a child can occur for a number of reasons.

The main ones:

Cold-like pain. Perhaps the child was in a draft, or was outside without a hat in windy weather.
A foreign object gets into the ear. This could be an insect crawling into the ear, particles of dust or fur, a piece of cotton wool, particles of hair that got into the ear when cutting, etc.
Injury to the auditory canal. Most often this happens when you carelessly clean your ears. A cotton swab or match wrapped in a piece of cotton wool can scratch the skin of the ear canal.
Getting a lot of water into the ear. This can happen while swimming or swimming in a pool. Water getting into the ear can cause the layer of earwax (which lines the ear canal, protecting it from infections) to liquefy and lead to otitis externa (or, as it is also called, “swimmer’s ear”). In this case, the skin, unprotected by a layer of sulfur, becomes very susceptible to infections. One of the main signs of otitis externa is the appearance of a rash on the skin of the external auditory canal.
Failure to comply with hygiene rules. The development of sensitivity of the ear canal can also be provoked by neglect of hygienic cleaning of the ears. In this case, earwax, which has accumulated in excess quantities in the ear canal, dries out. Particles of dry sulfur cause peeling of the skin lining the ear canal.
Consequences of a blow to the ear. A child can get such an injury when falling, playing or fighting. In this case, the ear will hurt.
Changes in atmospheric pressure (for example, during takeoff and landing, during air travel), diving to depths (diving, diving).
Referring pain. In this case, the pain radiates to the ear due to pain in the jaw, teeth, tongue, or inflammation of the tonsils)
Middle ear infection (otitis media).

Otitis media can be a consequence of colds of the upper respiratory tract, inflammation of the tonsils, and allergic reactions. Otitis media occurs due to swelling of the Eustachian tube. In this case, the pain intensifies when blowing your nose, swallowing and chewing.

In children under 1-2 years of age, swelling can also occur if the child drinks from a bottle while lying on his back.

Swelling and blockage of the eustachian tube leads to increased pressure in the middle ear and fluid accumulation. This inflammation can affect the eardrum and even cause it to rupture. The main symptoms of otitis media are: severe pain, a sensation of noise or ringing in the ear, a feeling of heaviness in the ear.

Possible symptoms: fever, pain with slight pressure on the ear, increased irritability, or, conversely, apathy, weakness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. In infants, symptoms may include loud crying, restlessness, touching the ear, or rubbing the head against the pillow. When the eardrum ruptures, a little blood is released from the external auditory canal, followed by a yellowish or greenish purulent discharge.

?Caution! If you experience ear pain, consult a doctor immediately! An advanced disease can have the most dire consequences, from partial hearing loss to the development of meningitis.

Ways to alleviate the condition before contacting a specialist.

Sit the child down or, if we are talking about an infant, raise the baby’s head by placing a thick pillow under it.
Suggest chewing gum for a few minutes. This method is often used during air travel, but can also work outside of it. Chewing relieves pressure in the middle ear and may relieve pain.
Give your child a pain reliever. Ibuprofen or paracetamol are suitable for this. ?Warning. Aspirin is contraindicated for children under 12 years of age!
Use vasoconstrictor drops. A few drops of vasoconstrictors placed in the nose will remove excess mucus blocking the Eustachian tube and relieve pressure in the ear. In addition, the effect of the drug can promote the outflow of pus. In this case, the pus will drain down the pipe into the throat.
Alcohol compress.

? Caution: the compress should not be used at elevated temperatures! For a compress, you need to dilute alcohol with water in a 1:1 ratio. It is important that the liquids are not cold. Then you need to prepare the first layer of compress: moisten gauze or clean cloth with the prepared liquid and place it around the sore ear. You can also make a hole for the ear in the fabric. For the second layer, you need to cover the first layer of the compress with polyethylene (you can take wax paper). The third layer consists of cotton wool, which is laid out on the previous 2 layers. The compress needs to be fixed with a scarf or scarf.

?Caution: if pain and fever persist for two days, you need to see a doctor again!

We invite you to a consultation with a pediatric otolaryngologist in Novosibirsk. Entrust your health to professionals. We are waiting for you at the reception!

Symptoms. How to recognize otitis media in a baby?

Ear inflammation manifests itself clearly, and, what is most interesting, the disease develops suddenly: that is, a few hours ago the baby was healthy and cheerful, but now he has a fever, and he reacts to everything by crying.

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The symptoms of otitis in an infant are almost impossible to confuse with another disease, since they are specific:

Consequences of otitis in children - causes and types of inflammation, therapy

in the evening, the baby’s temperature rises to 40 degrees, he screams loudly and turns his head; the sucking reflex increases the pain, so the child flatly refuses the breast or bottle; vomiting may begin, which is not related to indigestion or food poisoning; there are signs of a cold illness, prolonged runny nose; the child often breathes through the mouth.

If parents cannot observe the signs of otitis media in their infant for a long time, then soon discharge may be noticed near the auricle. These are traces of pus and they mean that purulent otitis has opened with a rupture of the eardrum.

Parents' task: if fluid appears from the ear cavity, immediately call an ambulance and go to the hospital.

In fact, the symptoms of otitis in an infant are difficult to miss and ignore, although sometimes a specific form of the disease occurs - catarrhal otitis, which usually occurs without any symptoms.

But in general, the signs of otitis in an infant appear in a complex. In order not to confuse them with colic and other diseases, doctors advise pressing on the cartilage of the auricle - if the baby starts crying sharply, then his ear is really inflamed.

Causes

In addition to the causes of the disease, doctors also identify factors that significantly increase the likelihood of its development. If they are present, the development of pathology is especially likely. The causes of purulent otitis media in children include:

viral infections;
inflammatory diseases of the pharynx;
inflammatory diseases of the nose;
physiological properties of the child’s ear - unlike adults, in children the auditory tube is shorter and narrower, which makes the penetration of bacteria more likely;
inflammation of the adenoids;
traumatic ear injury.

Signs of pathology do not change depending on the reasons for their appearance.

Reasons that significantly increase the likelihood of developing inflammation and suppuration include:

severe hypothermia;
vitamin deficiency - manifests itself especially violently at the end of winter and beginning of spring;
long-term therapy with antibiotics;
frequent entry of water into the ear;
improper ear hygiene;
strong emotional outburst;
pronounced decrease in immunity.

Sometimes, also if a child is prone to allergies, purulent inflammation of the ear appears because of this against the background of constant irritation of the mucous membranes of the pharynx and nose. This phenomenon is not common, but it does occur.

First aid

What treatment methods for otitis media are indicated during pregnancy?

Every parent should remember how otitis media manifests itself. When you notice the first signs, you need to call an ambulance. If this cannot be done immediately, it is necessary to provide first aid to the baby. It consists of the following procedures:

Clear your nasal passages of accumulated mucus. To do this, it is better to use a syringe. To prevent the resulting mucus from being too thick, let the child drink more in small portions. Provide a flow of fresh air in the apartment. You cannot open a window where a child is lying. It is better to do this in the next room. Take the child in your arms and place his healthy ear to your chest so that he is in a semi-sitting position. Lull and calm the baby in every possible way. If you have otitis media in a child under one year of age, it is important to keep the ears warm. To do this, put a hat or cap on the baby. If the body temperature is very high, you can give the child an antipyretic. Nurofen or Ibuprofen will do.

Correct diagnosis

Only an ENT specialist can make an accurate diagnosis. For this purpose, a medical examination of the baby is carried out. It includes the following procedures:

General blood analysis . The level of leukocytes is determined, as well as the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). These indicators help determine the presence of an inflammatory process in the body. A study of purulent discharge from the ear is being carried out . The presence of the pathogen in the selected sample and its characteristics are determined. A sensitivity test to antibacterial drugs is performed. Examination using an otoscope . The doctor examines the ear using a special device with a light bulb at the end. It illuminates the ear canal, allowing you to examine its structure and condition. After examination, it is possible to establish the form of otitis media, the presence of fluid, and the development of complications. Audiogram . This study allows us to determine the degree of hearing damage in severe forms of the disease. Diagnostics is painful, so it is practically not used on infants. It is used for older children.

5 rules for treating purulent otitis in children, as well as a number of tips from a pediatrician

Based on the results of the research, the doctor develops a treatment program for otitis media in infants. Parents need to strictly follow all the specialist’s recommendations and not change therapeutic methods without permission.