Ear inflammation is rarely a disease on its own. Most often, otitis media is a complication of ARVI, another pathology of the ENT organs. In this regard, it is not surprising that ear inflammation is widespread precisely among children, who are several times more likely to suffer from respiratory diseases than adults. In addition, the very structure of the child's ear is a predisposing factor for the appearance of stagnation in it and the development of otitis media.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of otitis media are ear pain and hearing impairment. The rest of the signs depend on the localization of the process, its nature, severity, and the state of the tympanic membrane. The division of otitis media into external, middle and internal and is due to the localization of the lesion. At the same time, otitis media is not an independent disease, but complicates the inflammation of the middle ear.
As for otitis externa, the most common form of which is a furuncle located in the area of the external auditory canal or auricle, its diagnosis is not difficult, and this pathology is rare for newborns.
The main symptom of otitis externa in infants is redness of the skin and the presence of infiltration in this area.
A local increase in temperature in the pathological focus is also characteristic. Depending on the degree of development of the disease, additional signs of otitis media in an infant in this case: malaise, fever, moodiness, poor appetite, restless sleep.
It is important to be able to recognize otitis media, because untimely and incorrect treatment can lead to the development of serious complications that are life-threatening. Considering that the main symptoms of otitis media in a child are pain and hearing impairment, the diagnosis of otitis media is not difficult. Pointing to the painful organ, it is not difficult for parents to navigate in the need to consult an otolaryngologist. A doctor who has special tools in his arsenal will easily clarify the diagnosis and prescribe the correct treatment.
Much more complicated is the situation with how to determine otitis media in infants. Due to the patient's age, one cannot count on the interpretation of complaints; parents and doctors should pay attention to indirect signs of otitis media in a newborn. The most common symptoms of otitis media in infants are as follows:
- constant crying;
- irritability;
- sudden cry;
- sleep disturbance;
- the desire to touch the affected ear with a hand;
- refusal to eat
These symptoms of otitis media in infants, especially if they appeared some time after the development of other signs of acute respiratory viral infections, force us to make an assumption about the development of ear inflammation in the child. Since the structure of the organ of hearing in children is characterized by some peculiarities, and otitis media can develop much faster than in adults, otorrhea (suppuration) is an extremely important but optional sign of the disease.
Otorrhea indicates the development of acute purulent otitis media.
Symptoms of otitis media in a newborn, such as perforation of the tympanic membrane and suppuration, force the correction of treatment and the use of antibiotics. Otitis media in infants is also manifested by an increased body temperature, which can vary from subfebrile values to 39 degrees.
Inspection results
An objective symptom of otitis media in infants is a test with pressure on the tragus.
If a child has middle ear inflammation, pressure on the tragus causes increased pain and, as a result, a sharp cry of the patient.
This symptom is a permanent symptom and contributes to the differential diagnosis with other conditions accompanied by irritability, crying, screaming, such as intestinal colic.
Close observation of the child reveals the fact that refusal to eat is due to increased pain during sucking movements. This is due to the fact that during feeding, the auditory tube closes, and the pressure in the inflamed middle ear increases. Consequently, the pain increases. Outwardly, a similar state looks like that the child takes food, and then refuses it with crying or screaming. In the case of a lack of appetite or abdominal pain, the child refuses to feed from the very beginning.
The value of otoscopy
The most reliable way to recognize otitis media in infants is to carry out an otoscopy. Such examination of the tympanic membrane with the help of a special instrument is an important part of the diagnosis, which allows the specialist not only to clarify the disease, but also to determine the nature of the inflammation, to find out the condition of the tympanic membrane. The conducted diagnostic study is necessary to prescribe the correct treatment. Otoscopy allows you to clarify catarrhal or purulent otitis media.
In the absence of exudate, therapeutic measures are limited to the use of local treatment in the form of drops in the nose and ear.
The presence of purulent exudate indicates the attachment of a bacterial pathogen and makes it necessary to carry out antibiotic therapy.
The integrity of the tympanic membrane is extremely important. This is due to the fact that many ear drops in their composition have ototoxic components, that is, chemical compounds that have a destructive effect on the structures of the tympanic cavity or the auditory nerve. Penetrating an injured eardrum, even after a single use, they can cause hearing loss or permanent hearing loss. In this regard, the role of a specialist and otoscopy in the diagnosis of the disease is enormous.
First aid
Unprofessional actions and incorrect use of drugs can aggravate the course of the disease or lead to irreversible consequences. The actions of parents in providing first aid to a child before consulting an ENT doctor are as follows:
- instillation of vasoconstrictor drops into the nose;
- the use of drugs with an analgesic effect;
- closing the external auditory canal with a cotton swab;
- instillation of ear drops is excluded before consulting an otolaryngologist and clarifying the diagnosis.
The use of nasal vasoconstrictor drops is due to the mechanism of development of otitis media due to impaired patency of the Eustachian tube. The narrowing of its lumen, which occurs as a result of the development of inflammation and edema in it, leads to a violation of the drainage function and stagnation in the middle ear. And this is the reason for the development of otitis media. In this regard, it is logical to use drugs that can reduce the edema of the auditory tube and improve its patency. The most popular drugs used for this purpose are nasal drops sanorin, naphthyzin, galazolin.
Given the symptoms of otitis media in infants, the treatment of the disease includes the use of drugs with
analgesic effect. The most popular drug in this regard is paracetamol, which, in addition to this property, also has antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects. Its presence in the form of tablets, suppositories, syrup allows you to choose the most convenient form in each case. In addition, due to its safety, it is this drug that is recommended by WHO for use in children.
With regard to the use of warming procedures for children, the opinions of experts agree.
Due to the imperfect system of thermoregulation and immunity, it is undesirable to carry out thermal procedures for up to 5 years.
A cotton swab is placed in the ear for pain relief. Any touch to an inflamed ear is accompanied by increased pain. Closing the external auditory canal with cotton wool, there is some isolation and rest of the affected organ, which is also accompanied by a decrease in pain.
Without the results of an objective examination, ear drops are not prescribed for otitis media. Even the instillation of such popular boric alcohol can lead to irreparable consequences in the presence of a perforated eardrum, since it contains toxic ethyl alcohol in the composition. Local treatment should be carried out under the direct supervision of a specialist and only with those drugs recommended by the doctor.
Clarification of the diagnosis of any disease in a newborn child is more difficult than in older children, who are more confident in expressing their complaints. The symptoms of otitis media in an infant may be subtle and atypical. In all cases, when there is anxiety, irritability of the child, poor sleep, refusal to eat, consultation with an ENT doctor is indicated.
