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Exudative otitis in the child

Alexey Portnov, medical expert
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024

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Epidemiology
Causes

Symptoms
Complications and consequences
Treatment
Who to contact?

"Adhesive" ear in children often occurs at the age of 3-7 years. The disease develops due to a violation of the functions of the Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear with the nasopharynx.

trusted-source [1], [2], [3], [4]

Epidemiology

One of the most common childhood diseases is otitis. About 50% of infants are faced with its serous form in the first year of life.

trusted-source [5], [6], [7], [8]

Causes of the exudative otitis media in a child

The main causes of the disease include:

Second hand smoke.
Various infectious diseases.
Reduced protective properties of the immune system.
Acute respiratory viral infections.
Artificial feeding up to 6 months.
Allergic rhinitis.
Feeding the child in a horizontal position.
Enlarged adenoids.

trusted-source [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14], [15]

Symptoms of the exudative otitis media in a child

The pathological condition is manifested by ear and behind-the-back pains of shooting character. Possible decrease in severity of hearing, congestion, noise, increased body temperature. Also, there may be discharge from the ear against a background of general weakness, tearfulness, dizziness.

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Exudative otitis in infants

The disease develops due to the formation of mucus in the nasal cavity, frequent regurgitation and the inability to normally blow out. Eustachian tubes in newborns are short and narrow, so liquid accumulates there well.

Severe pain in the middle ear area is also accompanied by such symptoms:

Vestibular disorders.
Nausea and vomiting.
Refuse to eat.
Hearing impairment.
Nasal congestion and redness.
Subfebrile body temperature.
Allocations from the ear.

trusted-source [19], [20], [21], [22], [23]

Complications and consequences

If you leave exudative otitis in a child without treatment, it leads to hearing impairment. In especially severe cases, it is possible to damage the ear or auditory nerve with irreversible deafness. Another possible complication is the further spread of infection with damage to the bones of the skull and brain tissue.

trusted-source [24], [25], [26], [27], [28],

Who to contact?

Otolaryngologist

Treatment of the exudative otitis media in a child

If the above symptoms appear, the child should be registered with an otolaryngologist. In restless condition, the baby is buried in the nose vasoconstrictor. If necessary, antipyretic and analgesic preparations can be used.

Treatment of exudative otitis begins with the elimination of the causes of the disease. Further measures are aimed at restoring the Eustachian tube and hearing. For this purpose, the child is prescribed a course of physiotherapeutic procedures and medicamental treatment.

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