What's an otitis?

An otitis is an ear infection (external or middle ear) very common, especially in children. It is estimated that around two in three children will have a media otitis before the age of 3.

There are many types of otitis and the causes and symptoms vary. It's important to differentiate them in order to give the proper treatment.

The different types of otitis and their symptoms

External otitis (swimmer)

External otitis, also known as swimmer's ear infection, is characterized by an inflammation of the external part of the ear, including the auditory canal and the pinna. The expression Swimmer's ear infection comes from the fact that swimming is the main risk factor. Using cotton swabs also increases the risk of developing an external otitis.

It can develop at any age, but it mostly affects children and teenagers.

The most common symptoms are:

• Pain when touching the ear
• Itching
• Purulent discharge

Acute otitis media (''internal'' otitis)

Acute otitis media is characterized by a viral or bacterial infection of the cavity behind the eardrum, which can cause an infected fluid build-up.

Young children are more likely to develop this type of ear infection because some ear structures are not yet mature, such as the Eustachian tube.

The most common symptoms are:

• Hearing loss
• Pain
• Irritability
• Sleeplessness
• Fever

Serous otitis media

Serous otitis media is a non-infected fluid build-up in the cavity behind the eardrum, the middle ear. This build-up can be caused by the malfunction of the Eustachian tube, after a cold or an upper respiratory infection, or can be the direct impact of an acute otitis media.

What distinguishes serous otitis media is that it's not painful. The most common symptom is hearing loss caused by a bad sound transmission due to liquid.

Chronic otitis media

Chronic otitis media is an infection of the middle ear lasting for many weeks or occuring after a recurring acute otitis media.

It can result in a tympanic perforation infected by an external otitis.

Adhesive otitis

Adhesive otitis is a rare type of otitis characterized by a complication of chronic otitis media. It causes a retraction of the eardrum that eventually adheres to and destroys structures in the middle ear and cavity behind the eardum. This eardrum retraction is generally caused by a problem of ventilation of the middle ear, due to Eustachian tube malfunction.

The most common symptom related to adhesive otitis is hearing loss: the eardrum can no longer move freely, so it can no longer transmit the sound effectively to the inner ear. This type of otitis might cause complications that may require surgery.

Recommendations

Treatment varies depending on the type of otitis: antibiotics might be necessary for external otitis or acute otitis media, while decongestants or even chirurgical treatment might be needed in case of serous otitis media or adhesive otitis.

Prevention

The best way to prevent otitis is a good nasal hygiene. For external otitis, using earplugs for swimming and drying ears after swimming are good ways to restrain the growth of micro-organisms responsible for this infection.

If you have any doubt or show some symptoms, consult a doctor.