Common and usually harmless: otitis media in children

Berlin (dpa) - It is painful and uncomfortable: infants in the first year of life and young children aged under six often confronted with a middle ear infection. With proper treatment the symptoms are usually gone in a few days.
Middle ear infections are the most common reasons for attending a pediatric practice. "Almost every sick child to school at least once at the beginning of inflammation of the middle ear mucosa," says Prof. Reinhard Berner of the German Society for Child and Adolescent Medicine in Berlin. The ear pain is often preceded by an infection of the upper respiratory tract: "On the Eustachian tube, the Eustachian tube, bacteria or viruses get from the throat to the middle ear, causing inflammation."

The risk of otitis media is also enhanced by enlarged tonsils, allergies such as hay fever or passive smoking: "Smoking is more common in children of middle ear infections because their membranes are more susceptible to infections," says Berner. Drafts or cold do not - as often assumed - for the ear pain. "However, external factors, for example, increase cold feet, the susceptibility to infections in general."


Acute otitis media often occurs suddenly and are characterized by throbbing and stinging pain, general malaise and rising body temperature. "In infants shows the inflammation rather uncharacteristic," said Ulrich Fegeler the Professional Association of Child and Adolescent Physicians. "If the children bore the ear, whining and restless are, parents should suspect in any case can clarify the pediatrician."

Whether a middle ear infection is present, shows the view into the ear with an ear horn, the otoscope. "A bulging, redness or cloudiness, but also a recovery of the tympanic membrane is disease indications," said Fegeler.

In an inconspicuous disease ranges usually a pain reliever, such as paracetamol. "Juice or suppositories containing the active ingredient ibuprofen not only take the pain, but also have anti-inflammatory," says Prof. Michael Lentz, director of the Children's Hospital of the University Hospital Bonn. "Some children feel a heat pad or irradiation through a red light to be pleasant," added Fegeler. "The heat relaxes the claimed eardrum."

Unacceptable is in any case, the administration of ear drops, all the experts say. "They have no influence on the disease can even lead to undesirable side effects," warns Lentze. Fegeler encourages parents to give the young patients decongestant nose drops: "The drops are given to the child in the supine posture." Later, keep the child must be a few minutes so that the drug can be distributed optimally. "Give your child then a stick of gum or a Teefläschchen." Swallowing promotes the pressure balance and fluid flow in the ear.

In most cases the middle ear inflammation subsides by itself sometimes to open the eardrum and pus and mucus flow down, sometimes the pain just sound from Sun "Should, however, no significant improvement after 48 hours or the child despite paracetamol or ibuprofen fever or symptoms continue, an antibiotic is recommended," says Berner.

"Even in infants who have early disease strong characters such as high fever, doctors and parents should not hesitate unnecessarily," advises Lentze. Normally a simple rich and proven antibiotic such as amoxicillin. "The drug should always be applied on the package and the prescription of the doctor," warns Lentze. the antibiotic is stopped too early, there is a risk the disease filibuster. This favors not only renewed ear infections: "streptococci remain in the body, it is in the body, for example, in the heart drop and cause serious damage."

Development of a chronic middle ear infection but is extremely rare, says Berner. "Two infections per year are normal, some children have even four times a year a middle ear infection." Have any children but longer than three weeks and repeated at very short intervals, ear pain, must necessarily an ear, nose and throat doctor should be consulted. There is a risk of Trommelfellvernarbungen or sound conduction disorders that can lead to hearing loss.