AOM in children and adults

Acute otitis media (AOM) represents the middle ear inflammation resulting from infection. It is manifested by pain in the ear, hearing loss and a feeling of pressure.

The WCO is one of the most frequent reasons for consultation in childhood remains the leading cause of deafness in this age. Although more common in children, also it occurs in adults due to weather changes, allergies or catarrhal.

It is a process that early treatment resolves without complications, disappearing pain and deafness.

In children, relatively frequently, involves hearing loss during long periods, a fact that can lead to delayed language acquisition or decreased school performance by inattention. And sometimes it is responsible for complications own Temporal Bone (mastoiditis) and, more rarely, infection complicated by intracranial structures.

What are the symptoms?

In the infant and child can be detected if it is much touches the ear, is irritable, manifested fever, vomiting and / or redness of the ear, plus mucopurulent discharge in the ear canal, known as otorrhea situation.

In the adult it is detected by the presence of ear pain, feeling of pressure, hearing loss, fever and possibly otorrhoea. If you develop complications is added: redness behind the ear, shakiness, dizziness or vomiting.

In the absence of proper treatment of acute otitis media, may lead to sequels and significant hearing loss.

What is the role of the otolaryngologist?

The specialist in Otolaryngology must:

• Diagnose AOM and know its cause.
• Explore the ear by otomicroscopy, audiometry Tympanometry and to establish the degree of involvement of the disease.
• Suitable treatment to the patient's condition, monitor the progress of the process until healing and advise measures to prevent the occurrence of new episodes.

Importantly, the presence of any symptoms are referred to a specialist for an early stage and treat this type of otitis.

Edited by Roser Berner Ubasos.