Catarrhal otitis media in children often causes parents to worry about the baby’s health. And, unfortunately, most children suffer from it, since it is quite difficult to avoid the inflammatory process in the ears. Especially when a child has colds, which can cause complications.
Treatment of catarrhal otitis media in children is mandatory, otherwise serious complications may occur, including hearing loss.
Causes of the disease
Human ears have a complex device. There are three departments in them: external, middle and internal. In most cases of otitis media in children, inflammation begins in the middle ear.
The following factors can provoke the disease:
- change in pressure on the eardrum when diving into the water or traveling by plane;
- bacterial or viral infection, which is the most common cause of this disease.
With a cold or flu in the body, mucus forms, which, when blowing or sneezing, enters the Eustachian tube, which connects the auditory organ with the nasopharynx. As a result, the inflammatory process begins and catarrhal otitis media develops.
Children are more susceptible to this disease than adults because their hearing organs are still under development and have their own anatomical features. This is what facilitates the easy penetration of harmful microorganisms into the middle ear from the baby's nasopharynx.
Any diseases of the throat and nose can cause catarrhal otitis media. In addition, the weakened immune system of a child with various ailments is very vulnerable.
A variety of reasons can provoke the onset of the disease in children, especially with reduced immunity. This is the difference in atmospheric pressure, cold air, as well as foreign bodies entering the ear canal. This happens, as children can often pick in their ears with various objects, as well as stuff them there.
As for the main causes of the disease, they are reduced to the following list:
- reduced immunity;
- the habit of sniffing;
- hypothermia;
- in children under three years of age, embryonic tissue may be present in the ears, which, when bacteria enter the passages, promotes their reproduction;
- complications of infectious or chronic diseases of the nasopharynx: with tonsillitis, chronic tonsillitis, sinusitis, measles, flu, SARS, tuberculosis.
Most affected are otitis media. This is due to the fact that they are almost always in a horizontal position. Therefore, the liquid entering the nasopharynx does not leave from there naturally and partially flows into the middle ear.
This occurs with regurgitation, when a small portion of the contents of the stomach can enter the ear canal. It also affects the fact that the ear canal of the baby is too short and wide. The formation of the auditory organs of children occurs only by the age of five.
Symptoms of catarrhal otitis media in a child
When otitis media occurs, the following symptoms are observed:
- Pain. Unpleasant painful sensations, the intensity of which is growing rapidly. These pains can be given to the occipital and temporal zones, as well as to the teeth. They become more intense when coughing, swallowing, sneezing, or blowing their nose.
- General weakness. Malaise and lack of appetite.
- Redness and swelling of the auditory canal.
- Temperature. May be slightly increased. With the rapid development of the disease, it rises.
- Moodiness. The child becomes irritable and tearful. Very young children who do not know how to speak, begin to poke their ears, twist their heads, thereby trying to find a less painful position for sleep.
To verify the presence of catarrhal otitis media, you can put pressure on the tragus of the ear, and severe pain will immediately occur. This will be a clear sign of the disease.
Acute catarrhal otitis media in a child causes a shooting ear pain, which is one of the most unpleasant symptoms of the disease. In a small patient, acute malaise begins, severe fatigue. Temperature can rise significantly.
The disease is most severe for infants and babies up to one year old. If the child's temperature rises above 38.5, you must call an ambulance. After all, a very high fever can indicate a purulent process has begun, which causes severe intoxication of the body and can even provoke convulsions in the child.
At the very beginning of the disease, when it is not in acute form, the baby may complain that he hears his voice in the inflamed ear. This phenomenon is called autophony. Over time, such symptoms disappear, and instead of his voice, the patient begins to hear a loud noise, which occurs due to the filling of the ear canal with serous exudate.
Types of catarrhal otitis media
Acute catarrhal otitis media in a child is divided into several types, depending on where the inflammation is located.
By the nature of the development of the disease, it is divided into the following forms:
- spicy;
- subacute;
- chronic form.
The causes of each of the forms may be the same, but the symptoms differ in the intensity of the pain attacks, as well as the duration.
Duration
Duration of the course of various forms of the disease:
- The acute form of catarrhal otitis media is characterized by rapid development, as well as transformation into other species. This form of the disease is associated with a sharp deterioration in well-being and severe pain.
- Subacute otitis media can last about 3 months. The signs of this type of disease are much less pronounced than in the acute stage.
- The course of catarrhal otitis media in chronic form lasts more than 3 months. This form of the disease is characterized by the discharge of pus from the ear.
Treatment
Treatment of acute catarrhal otitis media in children requires a serious approach. It includes the use of drugs, the implementation of physical procedures and requires a lot of time.
When diagnosing the disease in infants, as well as babies over 2 years old, competent intensive care is required. Together with one of the parents, the baby is sent to the hospital for treatment.
In infants, nasal discharge in the form of mucus is removed with a thinly twisted cotton swab dipped in vegetable oil or with a pear. But in older children, the passages are freed with a salt solution, as well as sprays that are sold in the pharmacy.
During the entire period of treatment of catarrhal otitis media in children, the following recommendations are required:
- the child needs a plentiful warm drink;
- bed rest and rest are required;
- you can not wash your hair;
- it is necessary to avoid hypothermia.
What medications are used for catarrhal otitis media
Medicines are prescribed depending on the stage of the disease and the nature of its course. Most often, in the treatment of catarrhal otitis media in children, the following drugs are recommended:
- Anti-inflammatory drugs such as "Protargol".
- Painkillers and antipyretic drugs. It can be Paracetamol, Nurofen, Ibuprofen.
- Vasoconstrictor drops in the nose, which helps to reduce swelling of the ear canal. For example, such as Sanorin, Tizin and Nazivin.
- Ear drops that help relieve pain in the ear and help reduce the inflammatory process. It can be Tsipromed or Otipaks.
Most often, antibiotics are used in the treatment of the disease, but they are not required at the initial stage of otitis media.
Physiotherapeutic procedures
In addition to drug treatment for acute middle catarrhal otitis media in children, the doctor prescribes physiotherapeutic procedures. These include:
- Warming the ear with a Minin lamp. It helps to activate blood circulation, reduce swelling and reduce pain intensity.
- Ultrahigh-frequency inductotherapy (UHF). Such treatment helps to stop the development of the disease. It reduces swelling and restores mucosal tissue.
- Pneumatic massage of the ear. With this procedure, muscle stimulation occurs, which is responsible for the normal functioning of the auditory tube. Such treatment helps to avoid complications and contributes to a faster recovery. However, it can not be used in the presence of purulent discharge.
- UV irradiation.
- Laser Therapy
- Tux lamp. This device emits infrared rays, which have a beneficial effect on the course of the disease, giving an antiseptic effect and reducing pain.
Recommendations
After any of these procedures, it is forbidden to go outside and come into contact with cool air. The duration of the physiotherapeutic treatment of catarrhal otitis media in children is determined by the doctor.
It is better to take the child from the hospital in a car so as not to catch a cold again, given the weakened immunity of the patient.
Conclusion
Middle catarrhal otitis media in children is a rather serious disease, causing disastrous consequences up to hearing loss.
Therefore, it is necessary to start treatment of the child in time so that the disease does not have time to flow into another, more dangerous form, which can lead to irreversible consequences.
But it must be remembered that the use of drugs and folk remedies is prohibited without first consulting with your doctor.