Ear infection

Ear infection

The most common form of ear infection in children is acute otitis media (acute otitis media). An acute otitis media usually goes away on its own, 8 out of 10 get better within a couple of days without treatment.

What is an ear infection?

Ear infections are usually caused by an infection in the lining of the middle ear. The infection is usually caused by viruses, but can also be caused by bacteria. Other types of ear infection are ear canal inflammation or inflammation of the inner ear; these will not be discussed further here. Ear infections are most common in the winter and almost always start with a cold. Otitis media is common in children, while young people and adults are affected less often.

Causes of ear infections

The cause of acute otitis media is that the eardrum, which is a channel between the ear and the throat, becomes blocked. When the eardrum becomes blocked, fluid will collect in the middle ear and viruses/bacteria can cause an infection. The formation of fluid leads to increased pressure and pressure on the eardrum, which leads to pain.

Symptoms of ear infection

Pain in the ear. The pain gets worse if you press in front of or pull on the ear - this can be used as a self-test to see if the inflammation is in the middle ear.

• Fever.

• Unrest.

• Pus/fluid that flows out of the ear if the eardrum is perforated. The pain will then decrease or disappear completely. It is not harmful for the eardrum to burst and it will heal itself.

The child can go to nursery with an ear infection if the general condition is good and the child does not have a fever. Fever means a temperature of 38 degrees or more measured in the rectum.

Good advice for ear infections

• The pressure is lowest when sitting or standing. Older children and adults can therefore benefit from sleeping with their heads slightly elevated.

• Fever can easily cause dehydration (dehydration) in children. It is therefore important that children with fever get plenty of fluids.

• Many children find that keeping something warm against the sore ear helps. You can buy hot water bottles that can be filled with hot water at the pharmacy.

Treatment of ear infections

An ear infection will often go away on its own and the pain normally only lasts for a day. For children over 1 year of age, it is fine to watch it for a couple of days before possibly contacting a doctor. It is important that the child is not in unnecessary pain, but receives painkillers on the days the child needs them. Preparations with paracetamol are the first choice as an analgesic and antipyretic medicine. The medicines are available in various forms and are dosed according to weight. It is important to follow the instructions for use carefully.

Nasal drops with active ingredient reduce the swelling of the mucous membrane in the nose. It can provide a good pain-relieving effect by relieving the pressure in the middle ear. Children should not use decongestants for more than 5 consecutive days. For adults, the recommendation is that mucosal decongestants should not be used for more than 10 consecutive days.

Antibiotics are not always necessary for otitis media. Antibiotics do not help with the pain, and often do not get better any faster either. It is the doctor who decides whether antibiotics are necessary. If the doctor has assessed that a course of antibiotics is necessary, it is important that it is used exactly as the doctor has decided. To prevent the bacteria from becoming resistant, it is important that the entire course is completed, even if you feel better before the course is completed. It is not always easy to give medicine to children.

When should you contact a doctor about an ear infection?

• If your child is under 1 year old and may have an ear infection.

• If you are unsure about the child's condition.

• If the child has a high fever and/or a reduced general condition.

• If the pain does not subside after 2-3 days and pus flows out of the ear for more than a day.

• If you do not notice improvement after 2-3 days on antibiotics.

• 6-8 weeks after an ear infection, you should see a doctor to check that the middle ear has returned to normal.

• If the ear infection keeps coming back.

• If the ear starts to stick out and you see redness and swelling behind the ear, see a doctor immediately. This may be a sign that the inflammation is spreading.

Sources: Helsebiblioteket.no, helsenorge.no, Norwegian health informatics for healthcare personnel.