Ear Infections

Otitis media (ear infection) is an infection or inflammation of the middle ear. This inflammation often begins with infections that cause sore throats, colds, or other respiratory or breathing problems spread to the middle ear. These can be viral or bacterial infections.

Although otitis media is primarily a disease of infants and young children, it can also affect adults.

Ear Infections in Children

  • Seventy-five percent of children experience at least one episode of otitis media by their third birthday.
  • Almost half of these children will have three or more ear infections during their first 3 years.

One factor that makes children more susceptible to otitis media is that adenoids in children are larger than they are in adults (see enlarged adenoids). Adenoids are composed largely of cells (lymphocytes) that help fight infections. They are positioned in the back of the upper part of the throat near the eustachian tubes. Enlarged adenoids can, because of their size, interfere with the eustachian tube opening. In addition, adenoids may themselves become infected, and the infection may spread into the eustachian tubes.

Common Symptoms of Ear Infections

  • Unusual Irritability

  • Difficulty sleeping

  • Tugging or pulling at one or both ears

  • Fever

  • Fluid draining from the ear

  • Loss of balance

  • Unresponsiveness to quiet sounds or other signs of hearing difficulty, such as sitting too close to the television, or being inattentive.

Early recognition and treatment of ear infections can help to prevent complications, such as temporary or permanent hearing loss. If you suspect your child has an ear infection, seek medical attention promptly.

Treatment Options For Ear Infections

Adenoidectomy

An adenoidectomy, a surgical procedure to remove the adenoids, may be recommended for patients with enlarged adenoids (see “symptoms of enlarged adenoids“), those forced to breath through mouth, or snoring. These adenoids are soft tissues located at the back of the nose above the throat, playing a crucial role in the immune system particularly during early childhood. However, when they become enlarged, they can cause health issues such as difficulty breathing, recurrent ear infections, or persistent sinusitis.

Mastoidectomy

Located behind the ear, the mastoid bone connects to the middle ear and contains many air-filled spaces when healthy. Ear infections or disease in the ear or elsewhere can cause those spaces to fill with fluid, mucus or excess tissue (such as a cholesteatoma, a benign tumor that may grow out of a healing perforated ear drum and cause hearing damage).

When non-surgical interventions like antibiotics or professional ear cleaning fail to effectively address these conditions, a surgical procedure called a mastoidectomy may be recommended. In a mastoidectomy, the surgeon removes the diseased portion of the mastoid bone or the cholesteatoma, and this procedure can significantly improve the patient’s condition.

Complications from surgery are rare but may include drainage from the ear, infection, temporary dizziness or loss of taste on one side of the tongue, hearing loss and, rarely, nerve injury to the side of the face operated upon.

It’s important to discuss these potential risks and benefits with your ENT provider when considering a mastoidectomy. In many cases, the surgery provides considerable relief from symptoms and prevents further complications related to untreated ear conditions.

Myringotomy/Tympanoplasty

Tympanoplasty, a surgical procedure to repair a damaged or perforated eardrum, may be recommended for patients suffering from chronic ear infections or presenting symptoms of hearing loss. It involves the use of a graft (typically taken from the patient’s own tissues) to close the perforation and improve hearing.

Myringotomy with the insertion of ear tubes is an optional treatment for inflammation of the middle ear. During a myringotomy, an incision is made into the ear drum, or tympanic membrane. The fluid in the ear canal is suctioned out, and a small tube is put in place to allow future drainage in the event of an infection.

Myringotomy is the most frequently performed ear operation and the second-most common surgical procedure in children younger than two. It is performed to drain fluid from the ear, restore lost hearing, relieve pain and prevent infections. During a myringotomy, an opening is made in the eardrum to drain excess fluid. The surgeon may then insert a tube that will remain in place for a few months. After surgery, drainage should stop and the hole in the eardrum should heal on its own. However, a small percentage of patients require a second procedure.