{"id":302,"date":"2021-01-04T15:21:08","date_gmt":"2021-01-04T22:21:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/neurotucson.fm1.dev\/ear-hearing\/acute-otitis-media-middle-ear-infection\/"},"modified":"2021-02-02T16:53:15","modified_gmt":"2021-02-02T23:53:15","slug":"acute-otitis-media-middle-ear-infection","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/neurotucson.com\/ear-hearing\/otology\/acute-otitis-media-middle-ear-infection\/","title":{"rendered":"Acute Otitis Media (Middle Ear Infection)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Acute otitis media (AOM) is an infection of the middle ear (the space located behind the eardrum) that has been present for 3 weeks or less. AOM results from bacterial or viral infections of the middle ear space along with blockage of the Eustachian tube. The Eustachian tube runs from the middle ear to the back of the nose and usually drains fluid produced in the middle ear. Several factors can cause the Eustachian tube obstruction, including allergies, extra saliva or mucus produced during teething, cold\/sinus infections, enlarged or infected adenoids, or irritation from tobacco smoke. AOM is very common in children and infants because their Eustachian tubes can be easily blocked, but AOM may also occur in adults.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Symptoms can include fever, ear pain,\u00a0ear drainage<\/a>, and\u00a0decreased hearing. Children with AOM may tug or pull at their affected ear, be irritable, cry more than usual, have trouble sleeping, lose their balance easily, have a fever over 100\u00b0F, have loss of appetite, or vomit due to nausea. Most ear infections do not need to be treated with antibiotics. Treatment will depend on several factors, including the child\u2019s age and severity of symptoms. Symptoms usually improve within the first few days, and most infections clear up on their own without treatment within 1-2 weeks. Therefore, a \u201cwait and see\u201d approach is often recommended for the first 48-72 hours in children greater than 2 years of age that are otherwise healthy and have only mild, non-progressive symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indications to see a doctor include worsening symptoms over 24-48 hours, high fever, severe ear pain, ear discharge, severe headache, dizziness, swelling around the ear, or weakness\/twitching of facial muscles. Antibiotics are often prescribed for children less than 2 years old, those who have high fevers, those with moderate-severe ear pain, and individuals with symptoms that do not improve within 24-48 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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