Middle Ear Infection
Channel NewsAsia – Dr Eng Soh Ping
19 Jul 2010
If your child is experiencing difficulty in sleeping, unusually irritable or constantly seemed to be tugging or pulling one or both ears, you may want to bring him to see a doctor. This is because the child may have otitis media or inflammation of the middle ear.
Otitis media is a common problem, with 75% of the children experiencing at least one episode of middle ear infection in their childhood years. Dr Eng who was interviewed at this session highlighted that 6-12 months old children are especially prone to middle ear infection.
The middle ear is the space that connects the outer ear and inner ear. It is filled with air and connects to the back of the nose through a tube, called the eustachian tube. Thus, this explains that if a child has a bad flu or bad sinus infection, the infection can tract all the way up to the middle ear causing otitis media.
Symptoms that are found in children suffering from otitis media are often dramatic pictures of severe pain, fever and even hearing loss.
At the interview, Mrs Rakhee Shory shared her experience of her son’s severe middle ear infection and how he was treated by Dr Eng.
In the beginning, Mrs Shory thought that her son had a normal ear infection due to the clogged up ear wax. She consulted a doctor in the public hospital where they provided ear solution to help loosen and remove the ear wax.
The pain in the ear subsided after using the ear drops, but subsequently returned after a few days with persistent fever and ear discharge that look similar to ear wax. Little Shory also complained of ear pain and was constantly crying due to the unbearable pain. Mrs Shory got worried and brought little Shory to see Dr Eng where he performed a ear surgery for him.
Post operation, little Shory had to take medication and attend weekly follow-up appointments where Dr Eng would clean up the ears. This is because bacteria causing the infection do not go away easily. Hence, maintaining ear cleanliness is top priority to prevent the return of the agonizing episode. Subsequently, appointments tapered off to once fortnightly when little Shory was better.
Dr Eng explained that treatment for middle ear infection differs based on its severity. Infections discovered in the earlier stage can be cured with oral antibiotics that aim to relief pus built-up. If pus cannot be relieved, ear surgery involving insertion of ventilation tubes is usually performed to air the ears.
Dr Eng also added that the recovery period for each patient differs. Usually, children will recover in a couple of weeks to a month’s time.
Despite having the condition commonly found in young children, Dr Eng did not exclude this condition in adults. Some adults may also suffer from middle ear infection and the symptoms presented are less dramatic, partly due to stronger immune system and better developed Eustachian tube in the grown-ups. Common presentations in adults are hearing loss and fluids built behind the ear.
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