Ear inflammation, or otitis media, is one of the most unpleasant diseases for a child. This disorder can develop at any age, but most often the disease is diagnosed in the first year of life. By the end of early childhood, almost every child has a history of at least one episode of the disease.
In childhood, the inflammatory process develops more often due to the structural features of the ear - the auditory tube, with the help of which the nasopharynx and the ear cavity are connected, is wide and short, as a result of which pathogens easily penetrate the ear canal.
Acute otitis media in children often develops against the background of colds, improper feeding (penetration of food elements into the nasal cavity and auditory tube), hypothermia or overheating of the body.
Children with allergic reactions are also more likely to develop otitis media because swollen adenoids block the auditory tube.
Symptoms
Acute otitis media in a child is characterized by sudden development. Symptoms of the inflammatory process are intense pain in the ear, hearing loss, restless sleep, irritability, lack of appetite, temperature values can rise up to 40 ºС.
During this period, pus accumulates in the ear cavity, then the tympanic membrane is perforated and purulent masses come out. At this stage of the disease, painful sensations become less pronounced, temperature indicators slightly decrease, symptoms of intoxication of the body disappear, but hearing impairment persists.
Then the body temperature returns to normal, the discharge from the ear cavity stops, the perforation of the tympanic membrane is scarred, and hearing is restored.
Treatment principles
It will not be possible to cope with the disease in 2-3 days. The duration of therapy for otitis media can be 2-3 weeks. You should not self-medicate, therapeutic measures must necessarily take place under the supervision of a specialist.
Treatment of acute otitis media in a child should be aimed at restoring the patency of the auditory tube. For this purpose, vasoconstrictor nasal drops (Nazivin, Tizin) are used. In the absence of effect, blowing the ears through the nose is performed. The procedure is carried out from 3-4 years old, at an older age, catheterization of the auditory tube is performed.
If there is a pronounced pain syndrome, the body temperature rises to 39-40 ºС, antibiotics are used to treat otitis media.
Also, antibacterial drugs are mandatory used to treat otitis media in children under 2 years of age.
For children of early and preschool age, antibacterial agents are usually prescribed in the form of a suspension, for schoolchildren - in tablet form. Preference is given to antibiotics of the penicillin series (Augmenty, Ospamox), in the absence of an effect, macrolides are used (Azimed, Sumamed).
To reduce temperature indicators, antipyretic drugs are used - Panadol, Paracetamol, Nurofen.
Local treatment with ear drops (Otipax, Otinum) is practiced. There are important nuances to consider when using ear drops. Despite the fact that the instructions for some drugs contain information about the possibility of their use during the neonatal period, they can be used strictly as prescribed by a specialist. The composition of these funds may contain substances that have side effects (diarrhea, convulsions, vomiting), so they are used with extreme caution.
If the attending physician has prescribed ear drops, you should be aware that direct instillation of the medicine in the ear cavity can be dangerous, especially if the integrity of the eardrum is compromised (complete hearing loss is possible). In childhood, it is safer to insert cotton balls into the ear and drip drops on them 3-4 times a day (the drug must be at room temperature).
Treatment of acute otitis media in children can be carried out using alternative medicine recipes. One of the most effective remedies is onion juice. The onion should be grated, squeeze the juice from the resulting gruel and combine it with water in a 1: 2 ratio. Soak cotton turundas with the resulting product and put in the ear cavity for 15-20 minutes. Clove oil can be used in a similar way.
Warming compresses can be used at normal temperatures. In the early stages of the disease, dry heat is an effective pain reliever. For the compress, it is recommended to use a cloth bag with preheated salt or sand.
The procedure is carried out as follows: around the auricle is laid a sealing cotton roll (you can use a soft cloth), then a towel and a warm bag, everything is well wrapped on top. The duration of the procedure is 15 minutes, then you need to take a break for 30 minutes and repeat the heating.
A warming compress will not eliminate the inflammatory process, but it can reduce the severity of painful sensations and significantly improve the well-being of the child.
A warming alcohol compress can also be used. Before using it, the area around the ear must be lubricated with baby cream, this will protect the baby's delicate skin from burns. A gauze napkin is moistened in alcohol (previously diluted with water) and spread around the auricle, covered with polyethylene with a hole for the ear on top, the last layer is cotton wool, then everything is carefully bandaged. The procedure lasts on average 2-3 hours.
The compress should not be left overnight.
The warming procedure is performed 2 times a day.
Also, for the preparation of alcohol compresses and wetting cotton turundas, alcohol tincture of propolis (10%) can be used.
Preventive actions
The general strengthening of the body will help prevent the development of any inflammatory process. For the normal functioning of the immune system, a balanced diet, regular hardening procedures, moderate physical activity, and daily long walks in the fresh air are important.
Systematic hygiene procedures will help reduce the likelihood of developing otitis media. The child's ear cavity should be regularly cleaned of dirt with cotton swabs. However, you cannot use cotton swabs every day, as in the process of too active cleansing, earwax is removed, which protects the ear canals.
To prevent otitis media, it is necessary to treat the common cold in a timely manner. In infants, the nasal cavity should be cleaned of mucus using an aspirator. It is important for an older child to teach how to blow his nose correctly (in turn with each nostril) so that mucus containing pathogens does not penetrate through the auditory tube into the tympanic cavity and does not provoke the development of an inflammatory process.
If adenoid vegetation occurs, treatment is required. In the absence of the effect of the therapy, the question of removing the adenoids is resolved.
