Otitis

General ear infection is an inflammation or infection of the middle ear. The infection often begins when a cold causes swelling and close the tube connection between the middle ear and neck tube called the Eustachian tube. Fluid that normally flows in case of cold accumulates in the middle ear. Bacteria and viruses grow in the middle ear and cause ear infection. This condition occurs most often in young children, because in their case, Eustachian tube is shorter and lighter than it can block the big kids or adults.

There are two types of otitis media :

- Acute otitis media is an infection of the middle ear. In the infection occurs pain . occasionally fever is present.

- Otitis media with effusion is an accumulation of secretions in the middle ear without infection. The child may show no symptoms of disease, but secretion can cause hearing loss and a feeling of blocked ears.

Causes

Middle ear infection is caused by bacteria and viruses.

When cold, sinus or throat infections in the presence or in a spurt of Allergy, Eustachian tube that connects the middle ear and neck may jam. This situation prevents mucus from the middle ear. These secretions are a favorable environment for the development of the bacteria and viruses that cause middle ear infection.

Bacterial infections account for about 65-75% of all ear infections. The most commonly encountered bacteria are Streptococcus pneumoniae , Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis.

Viral infections - viruses and they can cause ear infections. The most common virus is respiratory syncytial virus followed by influenza viruses.

In an inflammation caused by an upper respiratory tract infection or allergic manifestation is blocked Eustachian tube and the air can not reach the middle ear. This creates a vacuum and suction secretions from a middle ear infection or allergy to. Then inflammation prevents secretion to evacuate. Middle ear infection occurs when bacteria grow in these secretions.

Inflammation and accumulation of secretions may occur without infection and cause a feeling of blocked ears. This form is called otitis media with effusion.

Symptoms

Symptoms of ear infection  usually appear 2-7 days after a cold or upper respiratory tract infection. Symptoms of an ear infection may include:

- Ear pain (pain from one medium to severe). Infants usually pull or tug the ear when it hurts. When secretion accumulates in the middle ear eardrum may break. Once eardrum ruptured, leaking secretion and pain usually ceases. Rupture the eardrum heals in a few weeks by itself

- Fever

- Secretion leaking from the ear is thin and yellow. If secretion contains blood that shows that the eardrum has ruptured

- Decreased appetite, vomiting, irritability

- Trouble sleeping

- It is possible hearing loss.

Symptoms accumulation of secretion include:

- Popping, ringing or fullness or pressure in the ear. kids often have complexity describing symptoms. Children rub their ears in an attempt to ease suffering

- Hearing loss.

Ear infections are common during childhood disorders, affecting three out of four children by the age of 3 years. The medical term for inflammation of the ear is otitis media.

Although otitis worried parents and children cause unpleasant symptoms, most cases heal on their own within a few days. Moreover, the incidence of otitis media in children of school age is very low.

Otitis media is a middle ear infection that mainly affects infants and young children aged between 3 months and 3 years. Studies show that by the age of one year, over 60% of children had at least one middle ear infection. Although otitis media can occur at any age, it is rare in children less than 4 years or in adults.

Causes

The middle ear communicates with the pharynx through a duct called the Eustachian tube. Viruses and bacteria that are normally present in the pharynx sometimes get in the middle ear through the duct, leading to the development of infections.

Otitis media occur mainly in winter, as upper respiratory tract infections are more common in this season.

The child is more prone to ear infections because:

The Eustachian tube is shorter than in adults, allowing bacteria and viruses to penetrate more easily into the middle ear. This conduct is also narrow, so it can block more easily.

adenoids -Structure aspect of glands located behind nazale- pits are large in children and can block the Eustachian tube opening.

the immune system is not fully developed than the age of 7 years. Therefore, children are more prone to infection.

Otitis often occurs after a cold and is more common in boys than in girls.

Some factors increase the risk of otitis media in children:

- Raising children in the community

- Exposure to secondhand smoke

- Respiratory diseases

- Contact with a sister or a brother touched a cold or an ear infection.