Brief overview
- Description: Mucosal inflammation of the tympanic cavity in the ear, a middle ear infection is not contagious.
- Treatment: In case of middle ear infection, decongestant nasal sprays, painkillers, antibiotics if needed are used.
- Causes and risk factors: Usually, otitis media develops as a result of a cold.
- Course and prognosis: Usually otitis media heals within a few days without consequences.
- Symptoms: Earache, fever, dull hearing and general fatigue.
- Examinations and diagnosis: history, examination of the ear canal and eardrum with an otoscope.
- Prevention: decongestant nasal sprays to ventilate the ear during a cold.
What is otitis media?
There are different types of otitis media depending on the duration and frequency:
- Acute otitis media acuta: Is by definition a sudden onset inflammation with typical symptoms and findings on otoscopy.
- Recurrent otitis media: At least three inflammations of the middle ear within six months or at least four in one year.
- Chronic middle ear infection (otitis media chronica): inflammation persisting for at least two months. Discharge and rupture of the eardrum often occur concomitantly.
Is otitis media contagious?
- This is a question that parents in particular ask when their children’s playmates suffer from otitis media. However, there is no need to worry – otitis media is usually not contagious. Otitis media is usually contracted as a result of a cold.
Otitis media in a young child
Read more about inflammation in young children in the article Middle Ear Inflammation – Young Child.
Otitis media in adults
Middle ear infections also occur in adults. They are usually unable to work for the duration of the disease. So how long to stay at home with otitis media? As long as the symptoms and the feeling of illness persist, it is best to rest within your own four walls.
Air travel despite middle ear infection?
Flying despite middle ear infection is possible in principle. However, pressure equalization is sometimes more difficult due to the swelling of the eustachian tube. Especially the pressure fluctuations during take-off and landing therefore often cause pain. It is then advisable to use a decongestant nasal spray before takeoff and landing. This makes it easier to equalize the pressure. If you experience any discomfort, it is best to carry additional painkillers with you.
Sport with otitis media?
What to do in case of otitis media?
The treatment of otitis media is usually symptomatic. This means that the symptoms are combated and not directly the cause. This is partly because various pathogens trigger otitis media. Antibiotics are also not effective against viruses, and not every antibiotic works against every type of bacteria.
Painkillers
Initially, therefore, pain-relieving treatment is initiated for mild otitis media. For this purpose, painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen are given in tablet form or as a juice. In addition to the analgesic effect, these drugs reduce fever.
Decongestant nose drops and sprays
Decongestant nasal drops or sprays are also useful because they help to ventilate the middle ear better. In addition, fluid that has formed in the middle ear as a result of the inflammation flows out. Ear drops, on the other hand, do not help.
Antibiotics
Depending on the active ingredient, the treatment lasts about seven days. During this time, the symptoms usually improve. It is important that you take the antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor and do not stop the treatment prematurely.
Schüßler salts and homeopathy
Many people use homeopathy or Schüßler salts in the fight against otitis media.
For example, Aconitum or Ferrum phosphoricum are recommended as homeopathic remedies. Among the Schüßler salts, Ferrum phosphoricum is also considered helpful for otitis media, as is, for example, Natrium phosphoricum. In any case, consult with your doctor.
The concepts of homeopathy and Schüßler salts, as well as their specific efficacy, are controversial in science and have not been clearly proven by studies.
Home remedies
You can read more about this in the article Middle ear infection – home remedies.
Home remedies have their limits. If the symptoms persist, do not improve or even get worse, you should always consult a doctor.
Attention to otitis media in pregnancy: It is also important for expectant mothers to treat otitis media. However, not all medications used for otitis media may be allowed during pregnancy. Therefore, be sure to discuss this with your doctor!
Otitis media: causes and risk factors
The cause of otitis media is often a cold illness of the nasopharynx. Therefore, otitis media occurs more frequently between December and March. The pathogens enter the tympanic cavity in the middle ear via the connection between the pharynx and the middle ear – the Eustachian tube – and cause the inflammation there.
Viruses can reach the tympanic cavity via the blood and trigger a middle ear infection.
How long does otitis media last?
As a rule, otitis media heals without consequences. The duration of a middle ear infection, how long the affected person is ill and how long symptoms such as dull hearing, hearing loss or pain last, varies from individual to individual. After two to seven days, about 80 percent of patients are free of symptoms.
Sometimes, however, chronic otitis media develops or complications occur. The most common complication of otitis media is inflammation of the mastoid process (mastoiditis). It is part of the skull bone, is located right next to the middle ear, and like it, is filled with air. Mastoiditis often damages the bone and the inflammation sometimes spreads to the meninges or brain.
Middle ear infection: symptoms
Typical symptoms of otitis media include ear pain, dull hearing, dizziness and sometimes fever. Occasionally, otitis media radiates to other areas and jaw pain occurs. However, there are also cases in which otitis media passes completely without the typical symptoms such as pain.
Read more about the signs of otitis media in the article Otitis media – symptoms.
Otitis media: examinations and diagnosis
To diagnose otitis media, the doctor will first ask you in detail about your medical history (anamnesis). Among other things, he will ask you the following questions:
- How long have you had the symptoms?
- Have you had similar complaints in the past?
- Have you recently had a cold or the flu?
- Do you have difficulty hearing in one ear?
- Is there pus coming out of your ear?
How to prevent a middle ear infection
If you repeatedly suffer from middle ear infections, it is advisable to consult an ear, nose and throat specialist. He or she will determine the possible cause (for example, enlarged pharyngeal tonsils) and treat it. In addition, a so-called tympanostomy tube, which is inserted into the eardrum in the case of frequently recurring middle ear infections, ensures better ventilation of the middle ear.
To prevent a recurrence of middle ear infection, patients should take it easy for long enough and drink plenty of water or tea. It is also important to keep the home environment free of cigarette smoke.
Nose drops or nasal sprays improve ventilation of the middle ear during a cold and help prevent otitis media. However, do not use these remedies for more than a week, or the nasal mucosa will stop swelling without help.
