Some time ago, a mother sent a private message saying that her 3-year-old daughter had a cold, and she kept pulling on her ears and complaining of pain. She wanted to ask her why?
After understanding the child's general condition, he suspected that the baby might have acute otitis media. He suggested that the mother take the child to the hospital's otolaryngology department for a check-up, and it turned out to be this disease.
Otitis media is actually a common ear disease. Compared with adults, children are more likely to suffer from otitis media.
Although the incidence of otitis media in children is very high, when some parents see their children experiencing ear discomfort, they rarely think that it is an ear disease. Once discovered late and treatment is delayed, it is likely to lead to hearing loss or meningitis.
Therefore, as parents, we still need to learn more about otitis media, so that we can prevent the occurrence of otitis media as early as possible.
1. What is acute otitis media?
Our ears are composed of three parts: the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear.
Otitis media, as the name suggests, is a disease that occurs in the middle ear. At the same time, it is also divided into purulent otitis media and secretory otitis media according to different causes.
The most common cause of acute otitis media in children is acute otitis media.
The occurrence of acute otitis media is mainly caused by bacterial invasion and respiratory virus infection, which leads to bacterial infection, such as common Streptococcus pneumoniae , Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus , etc.
1. Bacterial invasion: Due to external factors and other reasons, bacteria and other microorganisms enter the ear and cause infection and inflammation. For example, when children swim or take a bath, water gets into their ears and they are not cleaned in time.
2. Respiratory virus infection: due to colds, sinusitis and other diseases, inflammation spreads through the nose to the middle ear.
Because our middle ear and nasopharynx are connected, and the middle ear and nasal cavity secrete the same mucus. When germs enter the middle ear through the nose, they will release toxins, causing nasal mucosa to swell, and the middle ear will secrete the same mucus. The mucus in the ear will be blocked and cannot come out, which causes otitis media.
Acute otitis media is common in children under 3 years old.
Because the Eustachian tube lumen in children is relatively short, has a wide inner diameter, and has a low orifice in the femoral chamber, once a viral infection occurs in the throat, it can easily spread to the middle ear; coupled with the immature development of children's immune function, it is even more Easy to trigger.
Therefore, as parents, we should pay more attention to children’s ear problems and focus on early prevention and treatment.
2. How to judge otitis media?
Ear diseases are difficult to see with the naked eye, so how to determine if a child has acute otitis media?
In fact, when acute otitis media occurs, it will be accompanied by severe earache symptoms, just like the pulse, with bursts of throbbing pain and ear fullness.
If the eardrum is perforated, pus will flow out of the ear, and the body will have symptoms such as fever, cold sensitivity, loss of appetite, and diarrhea.
Babies who cannot speak will exhibit behaviors such as tearing their ears hard and hitting their heads. When parents touch their ears, the babies will avoid them, become irritable, and even cry incessantly, no matter how much they are coaxed.
If a child has had symptoms of respiratory infection before having these symptoms, such as cold, cough, runny nose, etc., they should pay more attention.
Children who can talk will have hearing loss and often cannot hear adults' speech clearly. They always feel like something is covering their ears.
If there is unpleasant-smelling pus flowing out of the ear, it is most likely otitis media.
No matter what kind of situation the child is in, as long as the above symptoms are found, parents should take the child to the hospital for examination as soon as possible for early detection and early treatment.
3. Doing 5 things can greatly reduce the occurrence of acute otitis media.
Since acute otitis media in children is mainly caused by bacterial invasion and respiratory virus infection, parents should pay attention to preventive measures in daily life.
Avoid colds. Children should usually be taught to maintain good daily hygiene habits, wash hands frequently, and go to crowded places as little as possible, which can reduce the spread of respiratory viruses.
The correct way to blow your nose. If a child has a cold and has a runny nose, parents should press one of the child's nostrils with their fingers and ask the child to listen to the adult's instructions and exhale gently and forcefully to the other side so that the nose can be blown out. When done, switch to the other side. One continues.
Take waterproof measures when bathing or swimming. Whether you are swimming or bathing, if you are not careful, water will get into your nose or ears, which can easily cause bacteria to enter the nasal cavity or ears and cause otitis media. Therefore, you should try to wear auxiliary tools to prevent water intrusion when swimming, such as earplugs, Nose clip etc.
Pay attention to breastfeeding posture. When feeding a baby, do not let the baby lie flat. Hold the baby in an oblique position for feeding to avoid accidentally choking the milk from the Eustachian tube into the middle ear when feeding on the back.
Get vaccinated promptly. vaccines related to otitis media are mainly pneumonia vaccine and influenza vaccine, which also have a certain preventive effect on otitis media.
Generally speaking, we should pay attention to the physical condition of our children in daily life. Once we suspect that there may be symptoms of otitis media, we should go to the hospital for examination in time. We can usually conduct regular hearing screenings for our children, take precautions and isolate them, and let our children Reduce the likelihood of getting sick.
