What are the symptoms of otitis? How in the early stages to recognize them?

Otitis is an inflammatory process in the outer or middle ear caused by bacteria or viruses. Sometimes the cause of otitis is injury or pressure drop, but most often a precondition for its occurrence is the total hypothermia of the body. Often, the infection in the middle ear falls through the nasopharynx, and therefore the main principle of preventing otitis in children is the timely treatment of rhinitis, sinusitis and adenoiditis.

Preconditions for otitis media in children

Infections of the middle ear in infants are most often the cause of the transmitted colds and complications. This is directly related to the anatomical features of the child's body. The hearing organ of a child is much more vulnerable than an adult. In the middle ear of the baby, in addition to the auditory ossicles and the tympanic membrane, there is an eustachian tube connecting the ear with the nasopharynx. At the child it is wider and shorter than in the adult, and therefore infections from the nasopharynx get into the ear much faster.

The causes of otitis in children

In the first year of life, when the child is mostly in a recumbent position, otitis is quite common. Over time, the structure of the ear changes, and the symptoms of otitis may arise in it for quite some other reasons. In particular, by the age of 2-3 years, adenoids begin to grow in a child, they can often reach the maximum size and even cover the auditory tube. For reasons that cause otitis can also be attributed to a decrease in immunity, artificial feeding, allergic status, pathology from the bronchopulmonary system.

Symptoms of otitis in children under one year

Symptoms of otitis in infants are difficult to recognize, because the baby himself can not yet tell what it hurts. It will come in handy intuition of Mom, who can suspect otitis in a nursing baby, if he badly sucks his chest, worries and turns his head. It happens that by night the baby's fever rises above 38 C, at which time he can react uneasily when he presses the tragus and dodges his mother's hands. So, on the face the symptoms of otitis and you should immediately call a doctor.

Forms of otitis in children

Most often there are two forms of otitis in children: catarrhal and purulent. Symptoms of otitis in both cases correspond to catarrhal diseases: high fever, nasal congestion, rapid breathing, anxiety, purulent or mucous discharge from the ear. Often, the cause of otitis in a child lies in the nasopharynx, and it is a complication of untreated diseases of the upper respiratory tract (pharyngitis, tracheitis, sinusitis).

Children's otitis. Treatment.

Treatment of otitis in children begins with bed rest, and this means about walking, bathing, visiting relatives for a while is better to forget. In especially severe cases, hospitalization is recommended. Doctors prescribe the child medication depending on the form and severity of the disease. Most often it includes antipyretic, anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics and topical treatment. In some cases, dry heat, semi-alcoholic compresses, physiotherapy are prescribed.

Prevention of otitis in children

Avoiding inflammatory phenomena in the outer and middle ear will allow hardening and strengthening of immunity. Then no infections to your baby will not be terrible. Timely treatment of the common cold, adenoiditis is almost the main aspect in the prevention of otitis. To prevent their appearance in the baby, it is necessary from the early age to teach him to blow his nose correctly, alternately covering one or another nostril. The smallest crumbs can suck off mucus from the nose of a pear, which can be bought at any pharmacy. If the runny nose does not go away in seven days - you need to see a doctor for an appropriate treatment.