Ear Infection

Ear infection is more common in children, but can occur at any age. The main symptoms are earache and feeling unwell. Painkillers are the main treatment. Antibiotics are not usually needed but are prescribed in some cases. The infection usually clears within a few days.

What is an ear infection?
An ear infection (otitis media) means the 'middle' ear is infected. This is the eardrum and the small space behind the eardrum.

How does an ear infection occur?
The small space behind the eardrum in the middle ear is normally filled with air. It is connected to the back of the throat by a tiny channel called the Eustachian tube.
The middle ear space sometimes becomes filled with mucus (fluid), often during a cold. The mucus may then become infected by bacteria or viruses. Children with glue ear who have mucus behind their eardrum for several weeks are more prone to ear infections.

What are the symptoms of an ear infection?

• Earache
  
• Dulled hearing may develop for a few days
  
• Fever (high temperature)
• Children may feel sick or vomit, and can be generally ill
  
• Young babies cannot point to their pain. One of the causes of a hot, irritable, crying baby is an ear infection
  
• Sometimes the eardrum perforates (bursts). This lets out infected mucus, and the ear becomes runny for a few days. As the pain is due to a tense eardrum, a burst eardrum often relieves the pain. A perforated eardrum usually heals quickly after the infection clears.
• Sometimes earache can actually be referred pain caused by dental problems (e.g. tooth abscess)
  

What is the treatment for an ear infection?
Most bouts of ear infection will clear on their own within 3 days. The immune system can usually clear bacteria or viruses causing ear infections. Give painkillers regularly until the pain eases. For example, paracetamol or ibuprofen (for children: Calpol, Disprol, etc) . These medicines will also lower a raised temperature.

Antibiotics are not advised in most cases. They may be prescribed if the infection is severe, or is getting worse after 2 to 3 days. When an ear infection first develops a doctor may advise a wait and see approach for 2 to 3 days to see if the infection clears without the need for antibiotics. Antibiotics may cause side-effects such as diarrhoea. If antibiotics are prescribed, you should still give the painkiller as well until the pain eases.

See a doctor if a child becomes more ill, or does not improve over 2 to 3 days.

Are there any complications from ear infections?
Some mucus may remain behind the eardrum after the infection is over. This may cause dulled hearing for a while. This usually clears within a week or so, and hearing then returns to normal. Sometimes the mucus does not clear properly and 'glue ear' may develop. Hearing may then remain dulled. See a doctor if dulled hearing persists after an ear infection has gone.

Source: Adapted with permission from a © document supplied by EMIS and PIP