Before furthering into the discussion of
and its nature, it is best to have a look at the basics of the ear’s structure. First, we start with the middle ear. The middle ear is located behind the eardrum and it houses a complex arrangement of tiny bones which are sensitive to sound waves. As sound waves pass the middle ear, they are then transmitted to the inner ear. Near the inner ear is the Eustachian tube which connects the ear to the nose. When a foreign matter is breathed in through the nose, the Eustachian tube becomes irritated.
Irritation of the Eustachian tube can go to the extent of inflammation causing a blockage of fluid drainage from the ear to the nose and throat. Under these circumstances, otitis media occurs, and it is seen as more prevalent among children than adults. You may ask why so. It’s because of the different structure of the Eustachian tube among children. It appears to be shorter and less slanted allowing bacteria to get into the middle ear more easily. In its most simple sense, otitis media is an ear infection. Otitis media is an inflammation of the inner ear which is brought about by several factors.
Moisture accumulated in the ear or an injury to the ear canal can lead to otitis media. Moisture collected into the ear can occur while swimming or while bathing. As for injury to the ear canal, it can be instigated by hard impact on water or perhaps with careless and coercive use of cotton swab while cleaning the ears. Due to these factors, discomfort, bacterial growth and consequently infection result. Symptoms of
to be on the lookout for are pain and inflammation in the ears. Pus or fluid in the Eustachian tube and in the ears as well as a sensation of fullness in the ears can also be indications of otitis media.
So are fever, dizziness and hearing loss. If coughing and runny nose accompany otitis media, they can be indications of upper respiratory tract infections. Such conditions ought to be closely monitored to prevent their aggravation. Other than being predominant among children, the condition is also common among individuals with allergies and those with cleft palates. Researches have shown that otitis media ranks second, following the common cold, among the health epidemics among preschoolers. Fifty percent of children have at least one episode of otitis media before reaching the age of one. And before the age of three, 35% of children has had repeated episodes.
After the age of three, an estimated of 5 million school days are reported to have been missed annually due to otitis media. Preventive measures for this ear condition are relatively easy. Frequent hand washing so as to avoid transmission of bacteria into the nasal passages and the ears can be very helpful. Washing or flushing out the nasal passages every now and then can aid in warding off otitis media. Nasal rinses or sprays containing xylitol are also effective in preventing
as they keep bacteria from settling in susceptible areas.
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