Otitis Media
(Middle Ear Infection or Inflammation)
Medical Author: David Perlstein, MD FAAP
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel, Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
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OTC Remedies for Ear Infections
Medical Author: Dennis S. Phillips, MD
Medical Editor: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
 Viewer Asks: Are there any over-the-counter remedies for a child with an ear infection?
Dr. Phillips Answers: While there exist over-the-counter (OTC) remedies and medications that can alleviate the pain and symptoms of an ear infection, there are no OTC measures that kill the bacteria in the middle ear space that actually cause the infection. The "feel better" measures that work the best are oral pain medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or oral pain/antiinflammatory medications, like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). Topical anesthetic drops are also available that are applied into the ear canal and basically numb the inflamed ear drum from the outside. But since the infection is caused by bacteria in the middle ear space on the other side of the eardrum, nothing applied externally can help kill the bacteria through the intact eardrum.
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What is otitis media?
Otitis media is inflammation of the middle ear. "Otitis" means inflammation of the ear, and
"media" means middle. This inflammation often begins with infections that cause sore throats, colds or other respiratory problems, and spreads to the middle ear. These can be caused by viruses or bacteria, and can be acute or chronic.
Acute otitis media is usually of rapid onset and short duration. Acute otitis media is typically associated with fluid accumulation in the middle ear together with signs or symptoms of ear infection; a bulging eardrum usually accompanied by pain, or a perforated eardrum, often with drainage of purulent material (pus). Fever can be present.
Chronic otitis media is a persistent inflammation of the middle ear, typically for a minimum of a month. This is in distinction to an acute ear infection (acute otitis media) that usually lasts only several weeks. Following an acute infection, fluid (an effusion) may remain behind the ear drum (tympanic membrane) for up to
three months before resolving. Chronic otitis media may develop after a prolonged period of time with fluid (effusion) or negative pressure behind the eardrum (tympanic membrane).
Chronic otitis media can cause ongoing damage to the middle ear and eardrum
and there may be continuing drainage through a hole in the eardrum. Chronic otitis media often starts painlessly without fever. Ear pressure or popping can be persistent for months. Sometimes a subtle loss of hearing can be due to chronic otitis media.
How common is acute otitis media?
Otitis media is the most common diagnosis in sick children in the U.S. It is estimated that 75% of all children experience at least one episode before the age of three.
Next: Why do young children tend to have ear infections? »
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Otitis Media
Antibiotic Resistance (Drug Resistance, Antimicrobial Resistance) »
Quick facts
- Increasing use of antimicrobials in humans, animals,
and agriculture has resulted in many microbes developing resistance to these
powerful drugs.
- Many infectious diseases are increasingly difficult
to treat because of antimicrobial-resistant organisms, including HIV infection, staphylococcal
infection, tuberculosis, influenza, gonorrhea, candida infection, and malaria.
- Between 5 and 10 percent of all hospital patients
develop an infection, leading to an increase of about $5 billion in annual
U.S. healthcare costs.
- About 90,000 of these patients die each year as a
result of their infection, up from 13,300 patient deaths in 1992.
- People infected with antimicrobial-resistant organisms are more likely
to have longer hospital stays and may require more complicated treatment.
Definitions...
Read the Antibiotic Resistance (Drug Resistance, Antimicrobial Resistance) article »
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