An infection of the middle ear is inflammation of the middle ear cavity behind the eardrum. It is caused by viruses or bacteria. It often occurs after dysfunction of eustachian canal, which ensures middle ear ventilation, as a result of a recent cold or an allergic problem.
Only one or simultaneously both ears can be affected. Ear infections are more common in young children because development of middle ear anatomy hasn't been completed in them.
The most common symptoms are pain, fever and aural fullness. If the eardrum is perforated because of the pressure created by inflammation, a bloody or greenish discharge occurs.
Treatment of middle ear infection is quite important. In advanced chronic middle ear inflammations, hearing loss, dissolution of middle ear bones and conditions such as meningitis may occur.
Treatment
Initially, antibiotic treatment is applied. It can be accompanied by medications reducing swelling of the mucous membrane and thinning viscosity of mucus. In patients with diagnosed allergies, anti-allergic treatment should also be added to the process.
If drug therapy remains inconclusive, surgical treatment is applied.
During surgery for inflammation of the middle ear, the eardrum is perforated or a tube is attached. By perforating the eardrum, the fluid inside is drained off. In some cases, the fluid cannot be removed due to its very sticky nature and in this case, a tube is attached to the location of perforation in the eardrum. Ventilation of middle ear is ensured by this tube. Surgeries for chronic inflammation of the middle ear are performed under general anesthesia by making an incision behind the ear. The fluid is drained off and the hole in the eardrum is closed.
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