Sore, itchy ears can result in loss of hearing
Apr 25, 2011
HARRIET Basiita, a first-time mother, could not figure out what had happened to her daughter’s ear. It all started when Melissa was four months old. “She first got a fever, accompanied by a cold, and kept pulling at her ears. Three days later, one of her ears started oozing with pus.
By Agnes Kyotalengerire
HARRIET Basiita, a first-time mother, could not figure out what had happened to her daughter’s ear. It all started when Melissa was four months old. “She first got a fever, accompanied by a cold, and kept pulling at her ears. Three days later, one of her ears started oozing with pus.
Michael Awubwa, an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist at Mulago Hospital, describes Melissa’s condition as otitis media, an infection in the middle ear.
Otitis media is a common cause of fever in children, second to malaria. It affects more than 80% of all children before their third birthday. This results from frequent colds and coughs because the eustachian tube and the immune system have not yet matured.
According to Dr. Melanie Duval, a visiting ENT specialist from Canada, otitis media can be categorised into two main types; infective and otitis media with effusion.
Infective otitis is the commonest and is caused by a virus or bacteria, although the former is the major cause. Besides, it can present as acute or chronic.
Dr. Chris Ndoleriire, an ENT specialist at Mulago Hospital, explains that the onset of acute infective otitis is usually rapid and clears in a couple of weeks.
It presents with a fever, irritability, pulling at the ears, runny or stuffy nose, fluid accumulation in the middle ear and a bulging eardrum, accompanied by severe pain or a perforated eardrum often with pus.
Ndoleriire says with chronic infective otitis media, there is persistent inflammation of the middle ear over a period of two months and consequently a hole develops in the eardrum.
In addition, it presents with pus oozing from the ears, a cyst (a swelling) in the ear as a result of skin debris that accumulate, and this may require surgery.
He says otitis media effusion, which is commonly referred to as glue ear, results from the blockage of the eustachian tube.
Who is prone?
“Upper respiratory infections as well as children with deformities like cleft palate or Down’s syndrome predisposes one to acute otitis media,†says Awubwa, explaining that the presence of the palate denies the child the ability to sort liquids, solids and gases which end up going the wrong way. This makes fluids and germs become trapped behind the eardrums, causing infections.
Duval says school going children and those staying in big families are at risk of getting otitis media because exposure results in more frequent colds, therefore more earache. She adds that exposure to air with irritants such as tobacco smoke also increases the chance of otitis media.
Health complications
Ndoleriire says the biggest challenge with treating otitis media is self-medication and patients reporting late to hospital.
Chronic otitis media when not treated causes infection of the bone behind the ear and brain abscess as a result of eardrum rupturing.
This results in pus oozing from the middle ear into the ear canal and the facial nerve getting eaten away as well as temporary hearing problems.
Ndoleriire explains that otitis media with effusion reduces speech development by 80%.
If it persists for more than three months, a child may need a grommet tube inserted in the eardrum to do the work of an immature eustachian tube (supplying air to the the eardrum).
Ear care tips
Ndoleriire urges parents to avoid self-medication and instead seek medical care when a child has itchy ears or when they ooze with pus. Besides, he encourages keeping the ears clean by wiping away the pus. He also discourages water from going into the ears.
HARRIET Basiita, a first-time mother, could not figure out what had happened to her daughter’s ear. It all started when Melissa was four months old. “She first got a fever, accompanied by a cold, and kept pulling at her ears. Three days later, one of her ears started oozing with pus.
Michael Awubwa, an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist at Mulago Hospital, describes Melissa’s condition as otitis media, an infection in the middle ear.
Otitis media is a common cause of fever in children, second to malaria. It affects more than 80% of all children before their third birthday. This results from frequent colds and coughs because the eustachian tube and the immune system have not yet matured.
According to Dr. Melanie Duval, a visiting ENT specialist from Canada, otitis media can be categorised into two main types; infective and otitis media with effusion.
Infective otitis is the commonest and is caused by a virus or bacteria, although the former is the major cause. Besides, it can present as acute or chronic.
Dr. Chris Ndoleriire, an ENT specialist at Mulago Hospital, explains that the onset of acute infective otitis is usually rapid and clears in a couple of weeks.
It presents with a fever, irritability, pulling at the ears, runny or stuffy nose, fluid accumulation in the middle ear and a bulging eardrum, accompanied by severe pain or a perforated eardrum often with pus.
Ndoleriire says with chronic infective otitis media, there is persistent inflammation of the middle ear over a period of two months and consequently a hole develops in the eardrum.
In addition, it presents with pus oozing from the ears, a cyst (a swelling) in the ear as a result of skin debris that accumulate, and this may require surgery.
He says otitis media effusion, which is commonly referred to as glue ear, results from the blockage of the eustachian tube.
Who is prone?
“Upper respiratory infections as well as children with deformities like cleft palate or Down’s syndrome predisposes one to acute otitis media,†says Awubwa, explaining that the presence of the palate denies the child the ability to sort liquids, solids and gases which end up going the wrong way. This makes fluids and germs become trapped behind the eardrums, causing infections.
Duval says school going children and those staying in big families are at risk of getting otitis media because exposure results in more frequent colds, therefore more earache. She adds that exposure to air with irritants such as tobacco smoke also increases the chance of otitis media.
Health complications
Ndoleriire says the biggest challenge with treating otitis media is self-medication and patients reporting late to hospital.
Chronic otitis media when not treated causes infection of the bone behind the ear and brain abscess as a result of eardrum rupturing.
This results in pus oozing from the middle ear into the ear canal and the facial nerve getting eaten away as well as temporary hearing problems.
Ndoleriire explains that otitis media with effusion reduces speech development by 80%.
If it persists for more than three months, a child may need a grommet tube inserted in the eardrum to do the work of an immature eustachian tube (supplying air to the the eardrum).
Ear care tips
Ndoleriire urges parents to avoid self-medication and instead seek medical care when a child has itchy ears or when they ooze with pus. Besides, he encourages keeping the ears clean by wiping away the pus. He also discourages water from going into the ears.