An ear infection (Otitis media) is an infection of the middle ear.
Human ear contains three parts, that is outer, middle and inner ear. Middle ear is a small cavity between tympanic membrane and the opening of the inner ear portions. This cavity is prone for infection. Infection can be a bacteria or a virus.
These infections can have 2 types,
1) Acute
2) Chronic
When the infection is not treated it can lead to chronic otitis media.
Mostly otitis media (ear infection) can be seen in children because still their structures are growing and are exposed to recurrent cold.
The main reason for otitis media is because the block of connection between middle ear and throat (Eustachian tube). It’s function is to drain those middle ear fluids and ventilate the middle ear.
In children eustachian tubes narrow and flatten so it has more chances to get infected due to the developmental process.
Sometimes otitis media can occur with fluids (otitis media with effusion) without a infection. When the fluids are inside the middle ear cavity, it will perpetrate the tympanic membrane and come out to ear canal.
A proper antibiotic can prevent the bacterial infection which causes the otitis media.
If it’s not treated it will lead to difficulty in hearing for both adults and children due to the fluids. When it comes to children below two years, it can affect the speech and language learning process of the child due to hearing difficulty .
If you or your child is having above signs, it is better to consult a ENT doctor, they will help if any surgery should be done to remove the fluids, an Audiologist will help to find out the hearing level and comment on middle ear conditions whilst a Speech language pathologist will help to find out the language development of the child.