What are the 3 types of Otitis media?
There are three main types of otitis media.
1. ACUTE OTITIS MEDIA (most common and least serious)
– Acute swelling and redness in the middle ear, causing infected fluid and mucus to become trapped behind the eardrum.
2. OTITIS MEDIA WITH EFFUSION
– Continued accumulation of fluid and mucus in the middle ear space, after the initial infection is gone. The individual may not display any symptoms.
3. CHRONIC OTITIS MEDIA WITH EFFUSION (most serious)
– The fluid remains behind the eardrum for a prolonged period of time or keeps on returning, with or without an infection present.
Otitis media usually occurs as a result of eustachian tube dysfunction (the tube that connects the back of your throat to your ears, responsible for equalising pressure in your middle ear). Otitis media can also be triggered by a cold or allergies leading to swelling of the nose, throat or eustachian tube. In both instances, fluid is unable to be drained from the middle ear in its usual fashion.
Signs & Symptoms
There are many signs & symptoms of otitis media. The good news is that in most cases, otitis media is curable. However, if left untreated it can lead to permanent hearing loss, infections around other parts of your head and/or delayed speech & language (for children).
- Tugging or pulling on the ear
- Hearing difficutlies (everything sounds muffled/soft)
- Fluid/discharge from the ear
- Discomfort, pain or irritability in the ear
- Loss of balance
- May coincide with a fever
