Acute otitis media

Acute otitis media is the acute inflammation of the middle ear. It's a very common condition among children under 5 years. But can also affect adults. 

Causes:

Acute otitis media occurs when their is a problem in the eustachian tube, a canal that connects the middle ear cavity with the nasopharynx. It helps draining fluids in the middle ear and equalizes pressure in the middle and outer ears.

when their is a problem in the function of the eustachian tubes, fluid accumulates in middle ear facilitating the growth of microorganisms leading to infection.

Otitis media can be caused by many infectious organisms like bacteria and viruses. Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenza. and Moraxella catarrhalis are the most common types of bacteria that are responsible for acute otitis media. Viruses that may cause the disease include Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), coronaviruses, adenoviruses, and influenza viruses.

Risk factors: 

Age: acute otitis media is common among children specially between 6-24 months.

Upper respiratory infection: upper respiratory tract infection like Common cold, sinusitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, and influenza all can increase the risk of acute otitis media.

Gastroesophageal reflux(GERD)

Lack of breastfeeding: as mother's milk provides more immunity to the nursing infant than formulas. and during breastfeeding babies have less chance of reflux a known risk factor for otitis media.

Exposure to smoke and other respiratory irritants.

Anemia.

Children who are exposed to smoke and other respiratory
irritants are more prone to develop otitis media.

Symptoms & signs:

Ear pain: the most common symptom of Acute Otitis media.

Fever: may also occur.

Headache, malaise, and lethargy.

Hearing difficulties: in the affected ear

Discharge: pus may be seen coming from the ear if perforation of the tympanic membrane occurs. Perforation of the tympanic membrane is often associated with sudden relief of the ear pain.

Complications:

Generally complications are rare but in some cases complications could occur examples are

Perforation of the tympanic membrane: May occur in severe untreated cases. There's sudden discharge of pus from the ear that is often accompanied with decreased pain level due to sudden drop of the pressure in the middle ear.

Mastoditis: It is the inflammation of mastoid air cells that lies just behind the ear.

Intracranial abscess: Infection may spread from the mastoid bone the inside of the skull causing epidural, subdural, or intracerebral abscesses.

Meningitis: a very dangerous and fatal condition that involves inflammation of the meninges around the brain and spinal cord. It may arise in immunosuppresed individuals (people having low immunity and vulnerable to infections) like people who have Diabetes, AIDS, or transplant patients who require immunosuppressive drugs.

Meningitis can occur as a complication of otitis media

Treatment:

Your doctor may prescribe you some antibiotics that fight the invading bacteria. you may also be given some analgesics ( drugs that decrease pain) and antipyretics ( drugs that treat fever).