Earaches in children: Are children more prone to middle ear infections?

Earaches are a common problem in children. The most frequent cause of earaches is infections.

If the infection is in the canal from the ear opening to the eardrum, it is diagnosed as an outer ear infection; if it is behind the eardrum in the deeper parts, it is diagnosed as a middle ear infection (acute otitis media).

ARE CHILDREN MORE PRONE TO MIDDLE EAR INFECTIONS?

• A middle ear infection occurs when microorganisms in the nose and nasopharynx pass into the middle ear cavity through the Eustachian tube.
• In children, the Eustachian tube is more horizontal and shorter than in adults, which is why they are more susceptible to middle ear infections.
• In children who do not have a perforated eardrum and have an intact eardrum, water entering the outer ear canal does not cause a middle ear infection; the infection forms in the middle ear cavity, which is deeper than the eardrum, and it is almost always caused by the nose and nasopharynx.

IS A MIDDLE EAR INFECTION CONTAGIOUS?

• A middle ear infection is not transmitted to another person as a middle ear infection; however, if the child also has symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection such as a runny nose, cough, or sneezing, they can transmit it to another individual as an upper respiratory tract infection.
• Since infections like the common cold, flu, and sinusitis are more common in the winter months, the frequency of middle ear infections also increases.

IS AN OUTER EAR INFECTION PAINFUL?

• Outer ear infections usually occur in the summer months due to swimming in the sea or pools.
• It is transmitted due to irritation in the outer ear canal or by contact with infected secretions from another individual who has an ear infection.
• An outer ear infection can be contagious; if cotton swabs, earphones, dropper tips, or even the child's own hand that has touched the infected ear then touches the other ear, it can carry the infection.
• An outer ear infection is quite painful, and the intensity of the pain increases significantly when touching the cartilage at the entrance of the ear canal; the child will not let anyone touch their ear and cannot lie on that side.

HOW DO YOU TREAT EARACHES IN CHILDREN?

• Ear infections are treated with antibiotic syrups or drops, depending on the location of the infection. As the antibiotic begins to treat the infection, the pain decreases, but this takes a few days. For this reason, painkiller syrups are given to a child with an earache to try to reduce their pain in the early stages.
• In cases of severe pain due to an outer ear infection, local anesthetic ear drops can be used as an additional measure.
• In middle ear infections, the pain can sometimes become even more severe due to increased pressure that causes the eardrum to bulge outward.
• In cases where the pressure increases further, tears occur in the eardrum and the inflammatory fluid in the middle ear drains out; with the rupture of the eardrum and the relief of pressure, the child's pain may suddenly subside.
• In a child who has an earache and subsequently develops discharge in the outer ear canal, the child's ear should be protected from water until they see a doctor and have an ear examination.