What are the symptoms?

The most common types of otitis are acute otitis media; otitis externa (swimmer’s ear), when the ear is infected from fluid and mucus that is stuck in the ear, causing pain; and otitis media with effusion (serous otitis media), which occurs after an infection when fluid or mucus remains in the ear and prevents you from being able to fight off new infections.

Causes of otitis externa (swimmer’s ear)

If you swim, bathe, or wash your ears often, too much fluid can enter your ears, which gets rid of earwax and promotes germ growth. This can also happen when the ear canal skin is injured from introducing an object into it. Skin conditions and bacteria from hair products can also cause this infection.

When you have a cold, the middle ear can produce fluid just like the nose does, and a canal called the Eustachian tube, which normally drains fluid from the middle ear, can get inflamed. This causes bacteria or viruses to infect the tube lining.

If the Eustachian tube is blocked, the ear cannot drain fluid. If bacteria grow in the fluid in the middle ear, the effusion can turn into a middle ear infection (acute otitis). This increases the pressure behind the eardrum and causes a lot of pain. It may need to be treated with antibiotics.

If the Eustachian tube is blocked, the ear cannot drain fluid. If bacteria grow in the fluid in the middle ear, the effusion can turn into a middle ear infection (acute otitis). This increases the pressure behind the eardrum and causes a lot of pain. It may need to be treated with antibiotics.

Causes of otitis media with effusion

Otitis may be more common in children than in adults. This is because children’s Eustachian tubes are shorter and narrower than those of adults. It is estimated that most children will have at least one ear infection before age 3.

The children most likely to have otitis are children who are close to people who smoke, have had previous ear infections, have a family history of ear infections, go to daycare, were born prematurely or underweight, have frequent colds, bring their bottles to bed, are male, or use a pacifier.

Treatment

If the doctor thinks that the infection is caused by bacteria, they may prescribe an antibiotic (remember that antibiotics don’t work for infections caused by viruses). It is very important to follow the medication instructions to prevent any risks. Pain medicines like acetaminophen and ibuprofen can relieve pain and reduce fever.

Never give aspirin to your child. Aspirin has been associated with Reye syndrome, a serious illness that can cause death. Other pain relief solutions are a warm (not hot) heat pack held on the ear, and eardrops, which can be prescribed by a doctor.

Tips for getting better quickly

Otitis externa (swimmer’s ear) is not difficult to treat, but the ear must be kept as dry as possible for seven to 10 days. Use a cotton ball to protect the ear while you bathe, don’t swim or play water sports, and don’t put anything in your ear, except your prescribed medications. Scratching and scrubbing can make this condition worse.

How to prevent otitis

Some children seem to get a lot of ear infections. If your child has had three infections in six months, or four in one year, the doctor may suggest taking a low-dose antibiotic every day, usually in winter, when these infections are more common.

To prevent swimmer’s ear, don’t put anything in the ear canal (cotton swabs, fingers, clips, liquids, or sprays), don’t touch your earwax (if you think that it’s affecting your hearing, talk to your doctor), and keep your ears as dry as possible (you can use a towel to dry them well after you shower).

Sources:

American Academy of Family Physicians; National Library of Medicine; National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.