Go to:
Symptoms and courseInflammatory problems of the middle ear are one of the most common inflammatory diseases of childhood. Many years of observation and practice by medical specialists indicate that the highest incidence occurs between the ages of 6 and 24 months. Approximately 25 per cent of paediatric visits, for children under one year of age, result in a diagnosis related to inflammation of the middle ear, with about 20 per cent of children experiencing recurrent inflammation. The incidence decreases as the child grows older[1]
Symptoms and course disorders of ventilation and outflow from the middle ear
Diseases associated with inflammation of the middle ear can include those resulting from disorders of ventilation and outflow from the middle ear. One of these is exudative otitis media, which results from the accumulation of sterile exudate in the tympanic cavity with preservation of the tympanic membrane. The fluid accumulation is due to impaired patency of the auditory trumpet. It often follows otitis media treated with antibiotics without paracentesis (i.e. incision of the tympanic membrane). Hypertrophy of the pharyngeal tonsil is also an important contributing factor.
The main symptoms are hearing loss, an overflowing sensation in the ear and moderate pain. Fever in typical exudative otitis media is absent. After an examination to determine the level of fluid, treatment is undertaken. Conservative treatment in the form of antibiotics may be recommended and should not last longer than three months. The next step may be surgical treatment such as paracentesis with insertion of a drain for a period of several months, adenotomy (i.e. removal of the third tonsil), surgery of the nasal septum or blowing of the ear trumpets using the Valsalva or Politzer method."[2]
