EAR PROBLEM

ROBY RODRIN
An ear infection (otitis media) is an infection of the middle ear, the air-filled
space behind the eardrum that contains the tiny vibrating bones of the ear.
Children are more likely than adults to get ear infections.

An ear infection is caused by a bacterium or virus in the middle ear. This

infection often results from another illness — cold, flu or allergy — that causes
congestion and swelling of the nasal passages, throat and eustachian tubes.

EAR PROBLEM
 Being around someone who smokes
 Family history of ear infections
 A poor immune system
 Spends time in a daycare setting
 Absence of breastfeeding
 Having a cold
 Bottle-fed while laying on his or her back

RISK FACTORS
 The Filipino population has a 50% prevalence of otitis media. Young age was
associated with otitis media. There was no association between otitis media
and gender, body mass index, breastfeeding, tobacco exposure or deep
swimming. When otitis media diagnoses were plotted across ages, otitis media
was observed within the first year of life and chronic otitis media persisted up
to adulthood.
 Children aged 6 – 18 months are the most likely sufferers of an ear infection,
with 75% of all otitis media cases appearing in those under 10 years old.
 Otitis media is common. In fact, one third of children will have six or more
episodes of otitis media by the time they are seven years old. 

RELEVANT STATISTICS
 OTOSCOPE

DIAGNOSTIC TEST
The main symptoms of otitis media
 earache
 a high temperature (fever) of 38°C or higher
 being sick
 lack of energy
 slight deafness

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

In younger children, who can’t explain what is wrong, otitis media is often difficult to detect. What’s
more, it’s easy to explain the symptoms away as general irritability or tiredness. Here are a few signs to
look out for.
 Pulling or tugging of the ear
 Irritability
 Restlessness at night
 Poor feeding
 Loss of balance
 Fever
 Crying
 Tiredness or poor sleep
 Slight deafness.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

The following tips may reduce the risk of developing ear infections:
 Prevent common colds and other illnesses. Teach your children to wash their hands frequently and
thoroughly and to not share eating and drinking utensils. Teach your children to cough or sneeze into the
crook of their arm. If possible, limit the time your child spends in group child care. A child care setting
with fewer children may help. Try to keep your child home from child care or school when ill.
 Avoid secondhand smoke. Make sure that no one smokes in your home. Away from home, stay in
smoke-free environments.
 Breast-feed your baby. If possible, breast-feed your baby for at least six months. Breast milk contains
antibodies that may offer protection from ear infections.
 If you bottle-feed, hold your baby in an upright position. Avoid propping a bottle in your baby's mouth
while he or she is lying down. Don't put bottles in the crib with your baby.
 Talk to your doctor about vaccinations. Ask your doctor about what vaccinations are appropriate for
your child. Seasonal flu shots, pneumococcal and other bacterial vaccines may help prevent ear infections.

PREVENTION
Most ear infections don't cause long-term complications. Ear infections that happen again and again can lead to
serious complications:
 Impaired hearing. Mild hearing loss that comes and goes is fairly common with an ear infection, but it
usually gets better after the infection clears. Ear infections that happen again and again, or fluid in the middle
ear, may lead to more-significant hearing loss. If there is some permanent damage to the eardrum or other
middle ear structures, permanent hearing loss may occur.
 Speech or developmental delays. If hearing is temporarily or permanently impaired in infants and toddlers,
they may experience delays in speech, social and developmental skills.
 Spread of infection. Untreated infections or infections that don't respond well to treatment can spread to
nearby tissues. Infection of the mastoid, the bony protrusion behind the ear, is called mastoiditis. This infection
can result in damage to the bone and the formation of pus-filled cysts. Rarely, serious middle ear infections
spread to other tissues in the skull, including the brain or the membranes surrounding the brain (meningitis).
 Tearing of the eardrum. Most eardrum tears heal within 72 hours. In some cases, surgical repair is needed.

COMPLICATIONS
MASTOIDITIS
EAR
INFECTION

NO INFECTION
1. __________________________ is an infection of the middle ear, the air-
filled space behind the eardrum that contains the tiny vibrating bones of the
ear.
2. An ___________ auriscope is a medical device which is used to look into
the ears. Health care providers use this to screen for illness during regular
check-ups and also to investigate ear symptoms. Potentially gives a view of
the ear canal and tympanic membrane or eardrum.
3. Earache, a high temperature (fever) of 38°C, or higher being sick lack of
energy slight deafness are all symptoms of ______________________

QUESTIONS