Duration of middle ear infection in infants | Inflammation of the middle ear in infants

Duration of middle ear infection in infants

Acute middle ear infection heals completely in most children within 7-14 days. In most cases, the symptoms decrease significantly after 2-3 days. If this is not the case, the treating pediatrician usually starts antibiotic therapy.

During an acute inflammation of the middle ear, the child should not go swimming, as further germs can reach the already inflamed ear via the water. The child should not go back into the water until the symptoms of the inflammation have completely subsided, i.e. usually not earlier than after one to two weeks. In individual cases, the treating pediatrician should be consulted as to when the child can go swimming again without danger.

Is otitis media contagious in children?

No, an inflammation of the middle ear is not contagious. Often, however, the trigger for middle ear infection is an infection of the respiratory tract. This is contagious.

However, it does not necessarily automatically lead to middle ear infection in another child. A child with middle ear infection usually has to stay at home for a few days because of the symptoms. However, there is no risk of infection, so this is not a reason for sick leave if the child is otherwise well again.

Consequences and complications

In most cases, the eardrum remains undamaged and the inflammation completely disappears. However, it can happen that an effusion remains in the middle ear, which then gives the child a permanent feeling of pressure and in rare cases can also lead to hearing loss and earaches. If a child is frequently affected by an inflammation of the middle ear, multiple ruptures of the eardrum can cause scarring and stiffness.

As a result, incoming sound waves can no longer be conducted completely to the inner ear and children’s hearing becomes worse. In rare cases, complications can also occur during middle ear infection. You should therefore always keep your child under close observation, pay attention to possible warning signals and, if necessary, see your doctor early.

On the one hand, this can lead to so-called mastoiditis. This is a bacterial infection of the air-filled cavities of the mastoid process in the temporal bone of the skull. These are lined with mucous membrane and can become noticeable by pressure pain, swelling and redness in the area behind the earlobe, fever, knocking in the ear or even ear discharge.

Mastoiditis must be treated with antibiotics to prevent the inflammation from spreading to the bone. If the pathogens continue to spread, meningitis, an inflammation of the meninges, can also occur. This is a very serious disease that can be life-threatening and requires immediate treatment.

Symptoms of meningitis include fever, headache, nausea, neck stiffness, loss of consciousness and photophobia. The symptoms can vary greatly in young children under the age of 2. For example, they may have a general weakness and be sensitive to touch, and shrill screaming or whimpering is also common.

In addition, there may be circulatory problems, for example an increased breathing and heart rate or shortness of breath. The child should be taken immediately to the emergency room of a hospital so that treatment can begin as soon as possible and no permanent damage can occur. In rare cases, middle ear inflammation can also lead to damage to the inner ear.

Invading bacteria release their toxins, which spread from the middle ear to the inner ear, where they cause “toxic labyrinthitis”. In this process, the sensory cells of the inner ear are damaged and the patients report hearing loss up to deafness as well as ringing in the ears, tinnitus. In some cases, dizziness and impaired balance may also occur, since the organ of equilibrium is located in the inner ear.

If you notice any of these symptoms in your child, you should visit your doctor at an early stage so that chronic damage can be prevented. Perforation of the eardrum, i.e. tearing of the eardrum, is not uncommon in middle ear infections.The secretion and pus accumulate in the middle ear and accumulate there because they cannot drain sufficiently through the auditory tube due to a swelling of the mucous membrane. If the pressure caused by this fluid in the middle ear becomes too strong, it is possible that the eardrum can no longer withstand it and tears.

As a result, the severe ear pain suddenly subsides significantly. The tear usually heals again without outside intervention. However, the eardrum should be checked by means of ear endoscopy to be able to assess the healing process. By the way, in children with very severe pain who do not respond adequately to painkillers, sometimes a small hole is deliberately cut in the eardrum to allow the secretion to drain off and thus reduce the pain. This is called paracentesis.