Otitis Media
Otitis media is an infection or inflammation of the middle ear. This inflammation often begins when infections that cause sore throats, colds, or other respiratory or breathing problems spread to the middle ear. These can be viral or bacterial infections. It can affect people of any age, although it occurs most often in very young children.
To work properly, the middle ear needs to be full of air. The Eustachian tube connects each ear to the back of the throat and when they open they allow air to move into the middle ear. Children often develop colds and ear infections. If the Eustachian tube becomes infected and clogged it may prevent the air in the middle ear from circulating. Bacteria already inside the ear become trapped and begin to multiply.
Symptoms and treatment
Otitis media is often difficult to detect because most children affected by this disorder do not yet have the ability to explain what is bothering them. Signs can be unusual irritability, fever, fluid from the ears, earache, loss of balance and unresponsiveness to quiet sounds.
Many cases get better without any treatment. In other cases antibiotics is needed. If the fluid does not drain form the ear and the condition also brings a loss of hearing, minor surgery might be the solution. The fluid is removed by penetrating the eardrum so that the fluid can be drained out. A tiny ventilation tube is placed in the hole to help keep air circulating and preventing the fluid from building up again. The tube will either fall out spontaneously or will have to be surgically removed after a period of 6-18 months. Hearing should be fully restored once the fluid is removed and problems with ear infections should decrease.
TympoVent is Atos Medical’s range of ventilation tubes.