Acute otitis media, or ear infections, occurs in at least 75% of children. Most children are treated with antibiotics but occasionally children require myringotomy to diagnosis or treat an ear infection. Children with frequent ear infections may benefit from tube insertion.
Ear infections can occur when fluid builds up in the inner ear and becomes infected. This can cause:
-
Pain
- Fever
- Temporary hearing loss
- Loss of appetite
- Irritability
- Sometimes children get repeated ear infections because their inner ears cannot fully drain fluid build-up.
Treatments may include:
- Antibiotics
- Medicines to treat pain and fever
- Ear tube insertion to help with drainage
- Surgery to improve hearing by reshaping the inner ear bones or removing damaged tissue