Otitis Explained

Ear infections are commonly referred to as “otitis” which is defined as the inflammation (itis) of the any part of the ear (oto). The  most common infections that occur are otitis externa which is the infection of the outer  ear or ear canal and otitis media which is the infection of the middle ear and ear drum. Otitis media is the more serious of the two and the one that is most often referred to by doctors as a ear infection. How the middle ear ends up getting infected is pretty basic, but why it becomes infected is a little bit harder to explain.

A small tube called the Eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the throat. This tube serves two purposes. First it opens and closes to allow any fluid produced by the ear to drain into the throat and also to prevent other fluids from entering the ear. Secondly, it will open and close to help normalize air pressure. This second function happens a lot when we travel at a higher altitude and we feel our ears clog. Swallowing will then cause them to “pop” opening the Eustachian tube allowing the pressure inside to equalize with the pressure outside.

When the Eustachian tube fails to open and close properly then an ear infection may develop.  This is caused by the bacterial laden fluids of the throat along with the secretions of the nose backing up into the middle ear and not draining out.

Colds and allergies may also cause the Eustachian tube to malfunction due to inflammation in the area. As your immune system works to fight off the infection, white blood cells combine with the dead bacteria to form pus which in turn puts pressure on the eardrum as it builds up. The eardrum (tympanic membrane) then begins to bulge outward as the pus builds up and becomes painful as it is stretched out.

Ear infections happen commonly in children and it is important to look for signs that your child may be suffering from one. While an older child might be able to tell you that their ear hurts a younger child might just start acting differently, doing things such as tugging on their ears, act irritable and overly clingy.

A low or high fever might also accompany an ear infection as could pus discharge from the ear. This discharge occurs when the thin tympanic membrane tears to allow the built up pus to drain out. This discharge should not alarm you.  The body is getting rid of unwanted infectious material and the torn eardrum will heal rather quickly by itself.

Antibiotics and otitis

A paper published in the July 23, 1997 issue if the British Medical Journal  reproached doctors for routinely prescribing antibiotic for the treatment of ear infections in young children. The paper cited studies which concluded that this was a waste of time and money and may even be potentially harmful. Antibiotics do not necessarily speed recovery and may promote the proliferation of stronger durg resistant bacteria. Researchers in Britain estimated at that time more than 97% of doctors routinely prescribed antibiotics to treat ear infections. The Journal of the American Medical Association also weighed in with an editorial in their November 26, 1997 issue encouraging doctors to stop all antibiotic use for childhood ear infections accept for the most severe cases of it.