Otitis Media
What is it?
Otitis media is a middle ear infection that occurs when the space behind the eardrum becomes inflamed due to an infection.
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Symptoms
Ear pain, fever, difficulty hearing, a feeling of fullness in the ear, and drainage from the ear. Infants and young children may also experience fussiness, trouble sleeping, and tugging or pulling at the ear.
Complications
Temporary hearing loss, ruptured eardrums, chronic/recurrent infections, and in rare cases, more serious problems like meningitis or facial nerve paralysis.Â
Treatment
- Antibiotics to fight the infection
- Pain management
- In some cases, surgery to address complications like chronic fluid buildup or persistent burst eardrums