Otitis is an inflammation of the ear, very common and rather benign in adults and children. But it is painful. Otitis externa, serous, purulent, average… There are several types. Symptoms, is it contagious, what treatment?
An otitis is inflammation of the ear, very common in children, a little less in adults. There are different types of ear infections depending on the inflamed part: external otitis which designates an inflammation of the external auditory canal, otitis media which means inflammation of the middle ear and eardrum… How do you get otitis in the ear? How to recognize it? With what symptoms? Which is the duration of an otitis ? How to cure an ear infection very quickly? Can otitis heal on its own?
Definition: what is otitis?
Otitis is an infection and a ear inflammation. Otitis can occur alone or accompany another disease, such as nasopharyngitis or angina. Otitis can affect one or both ears.
Otitis in babies and children
Ear infections are very common, especially in children 6 months to 3 years old. Otitis is the second most common infectious disease after nasopharyngitis. The most common childhood ear infection affects the middle ear. To limit the risk of an ear infection in a baby, it is recommended:
- Avoid exposing the child to loud noises
- Not to put on headphones and earphones, especially before the age of 2
- To teach the child to blow one nostril at a time.
- Avoid putting the baby to bed with a bottle: the liquid can stagnate in the ear canals and cause the multiplication of bacteria which may migrate into the middle ear and avoid exposure to allergens.
Otitis in adults
Otitis can also affect adults. It can affect different parts of the ear: inner, middle or outer ear. In adults, more than half of ear infections are caused by bacteria. Air travel, train travel, diving or swimming lead to variations in pressure that favor the appearance of otitis. A plug of earwax may also be responsible. It is then an external otitis. In all cases, a medical consultation with an ENT specialist necessary in order to set up an appropriate treatment.
Is otitis contagious?
Ear infection itself is not contagious. But if it is linked to nasopharyngitis, it can be contagious.
What is otitis externa?
A otitis externa means inflammation of the external auditory canal. Two main causes are responsible for inflammation:
→ repeated contact of the duct with objects (for example when cleaning the ears)
→ the presence of water in the pipe (for example after a bath).
External otitis causes pain, itching and discharge from the ear. In otitis externa, pain when pulling on the ear is quite characteristic. Treatment is with antibiotic, antiseptic or antifungal ear drops.
What is acute otitis media?
In this case, the infection or inflammation is localized in the middle ear and especially the eardrum. It can be either acute or chronic as in seromucous otitis. Usually mild, it heals spontaneously without sequelae. Acute otitis media (AOM) is an inflammation of the ear canal caused by an infection that mainly affects children before the age of 6. This infection is often associated with nasopharyngitis (cold), immature immune defenses or dysfunction of the Eustachian tube (tube that connects the ear to the back of the nose). In children, digestive signs such as diarrhea or vomiting may be present. The disease causes hearing loss, fever, pain and secondary bacterial infection in most cases. Antibiotic therapy (taking antibiotics) is the basic treatment. Paracentesis may also be indicated (surgical perforation of the eardrum).
What is serous otitis?
Relatively common in children 1 to 8 years old, serous otitis (localized inflammation in the middle ear) is painless and so harder to diagnose. On the other hand, the child does feel something. And for good reason : he hears less well and has a feeling of clogged ears. Again, he does not necessarily have all the words to tell you. If he often touches his ears, if he is slow to speak properly, if he has speech difficulties, if he makes you repeat… It could be because of an undiagnosed serous otitis, which is often the consequence of repeated ear infections. It is also the first cause of defective hearing in children. You must quickly consult an ENT who will offer diagnostic care and treatment. In adults, it usually accompanies a respiratory infection. To treat this type of ear infection, it is advisable to consult a doctor
What is viral (or flu) otitis?
Viral otitis is inflammation of the ear caused by a virus. It is also called otitis flu (because it usually starts after a flu) or sero-haemorrhagic bullous myringitis. Most viral ear infections are acute otitis media. The main symptom is a sharp pain in the ear, which is explained by the formation of “bubbles” filled with fluid on the eardrum. Treatment usually involves popping these bubbles and taking anti-inflammatories and painkillers. The most common complication of viral otitis is partial hearing loss.
What are the symptoms of an ear infection?
Symptoms of acute otitis media are quite characteristic:
- Sharp pain in the ear
- A clogged ear sensation
- Hearing loss
- Usually associated with a cold, a moderate fever (38 or 38.5°C) and sometimes a discharge from the ear.
- In children, digestive signs such as diarrhea or vomiting
- In otitis externa, pain when pulling on the ear is quite characteristic. The child often has a runny nose for a few days before the onset of otitis, when nasopharyngitis precedes otitis. Sudden, violent, throbbing and throbbing pain in the affected ear is felt, accompanied by buzzing and a feeling of a blocked ear.
- In case of perforation of the eardrum: discharge of pus or blood from the ear may appear. The child usually touches his ear in this kind of case and may have difficulty hearing. Crying, fatigue, fever, headache, sore throat and difficulty sleeping may accompany the infectious episode caused by otitis.
What is the cause of recurrent ear infections?
The multiplication of ear infections can cause hearing problems. Untreated, they can also cause hearing loss. Chronic otitis can lead to permanent hearing loss. Consult your doctor when the child complains of one or both ears in order to consider treatment to avoid the risk of deafness occurring. Middle ear infections are the most common cause of short-term hearing loss. Children at risk of hearing loss.
Does otitis exist without fever?
Although ear infections generally cause fever, ear infections without fever exist, most often it isear infections of viral origin. This can cause concern in very young children, who are still unable to explain that they have an earache. In the absence of fever, other symptoms may alert: a change in mood, vomiting, diarrhea or discharge from the ear. It is best to consult if in doubt. The pediatrician will prescribe what will relieve the child’s pain and prevent possible complications.
The diagnosis of otitis requires an examination of the ear, otoscopy, using an otoscope. Generally, no additional examination is necessary for the diagnosis, the appearance of the eardrum and the external auditory canal are sufficient.
What treatment to cure an otitis? Can she heal on her own?
→ The treatment of acute otitis media is essentially symptomatic. It aims to relieve pain, contain fever and treat infection. Analgesics thus have a double effect, both on fever but also on pain, and are associated with antibiotics in case of suspicion of bacterial origin. In parallel, clearing of the ear canal with saline or decongestants in older children is indicated.
→ In case of very painful otitis or complications, or if these are repeated too often, a paracentesis with installation of trans-tympanic aerators, or diabolos, through the eardrum limits recurrences. This treatment is particularly indicated for the management of serous otitis. It is important to consult your doctor first. Cleaning the nose can limit the duration of the infection.
→ Paracentesis, or placement of trans-tympanic aerators commonly called diabolosmakes it possible to prevent the occurrence of a new episode of otitis after multiple inflammations or complications.
→ The use of cotton swabs is not recommended as it may cause irritation of the ear canal, trauma or perforation of the eardrum.
→ It is advisable not to smoke and to avoid passive smoking as much as possible.
Is flying bad for ear infections?
It’s onlyon landing that problems can arise, especially when you have a cold. Indeed, at this time, the air pressure drops in the ear and rises in the nose. Since the nasal cavities are already congested from the common cold, the ears become clogged and can become painful. This can go so far as to cause barotraumatic otitis. To help the child, it is necessary to make him drink in order to make his Eustachian tubes work (they open) so that they bring in the air to restore the balance of the pressures between the ears and the nose. At any rate, even if your child is prone to ear infections, that’s not reason enough not to fly. “Barotraumatic otitis is painful at the time but it is not serious and above all it happens very rarely. Moreover, if the child has an otitis when he takes the plane, his ear then contains a little liquid and therefore the decompression is less strong.“, says Professor Michel Mondain, President of the French Association of Pediatric ENT.
Can we go to the swimming pool in case of otitis?
Ending up with an otitis after going to the swimming pool is a frequent phenomenon, either because one is in contact with microbes (bacteria, fungus), or because the ear is particularly sensitive. But in any case, this is an otitis externa which therefore affects, as its name suggests, the external canal of the ear. The microbe lodges in the skin and an infection appears. If you pull the pinna of the ear, it’s painful. The middle ear is not affected since the eardrum prevents water from passing through. You can therefore bring your child to the swimming pool without worry. As a precaution, make sure to dry your ears well and put on a (wool) hat when you go out, especially if it’s cold! Good to know : in the event of perforation of the eardrum, following acute otitis media, it is essential to always keep your child’s ears dry because in this case the water can stagnate and pass into the middle ear. Do not wet his head systematically when bathing and dry his ears well.
Thank you to Pr Chevalier, General Secretary of the French Society of ENT and Face and Neck Surgery.