Help for Chronic Ear Infections in Infants

Ear infections, a fairly common occurrence in infants, are caused when there is an inflammation of the middle ear which is the cavity behind the ear drum. When an ear infection does not heal in time or if the infection continues to reoccur, it is said to have become chronic. Chronic ear infections are called chronic otitis media.

What causes Chronic Ear Infections

The middle ear produces secretions which usually drain out through the eustachian tube to the throat. The Eustachian tube is also critical for maintaining airflow through the ear and equalizing air pressure, which is essential for balance. When the fluids don’t drain properly, the bacteria present in the fluid gives rise to an infection.

Children are more likely to suffer from ear infections because the tubes are smaller and at a similar horizontal level hampering drainage, most often when the tubes are swollen or blocked with mucus from other illnesses like the flu. The ear infections typically occur with regularity in children under the age of 3 years.

Treatment of Chronic Ear Infections in Children

Doctors today usually have a wait-and-watch approach towards ear infections in infants with symptomatic relief the infection often clears up on its own. When this condition continues, specific treatment for the infection needs to be undertaken.

For treating chronic infections, the doctor may prescribe a course of antibiotics. When the infection fails to responds to the antibiotics, fluid builds up in the middle ear remains for longer time or hearing loss begins, a minor surgical procedure is advised.

Myringotomy the surgery is especially recommended for infants since having persistent fluid in the ear might impact their hearing and speech development.

Myringotomy is simple, low risk and takes less than half an hour. The surgeon makes a small incision in the eardrum, drains the liquid and then places tiny tube connecting the middle ear and the outer ear. The surgery is usually done in both ears and is called bilateral myringotomy.