What Is A Middle Ear Infection?

A middle ear infection known in medical terms as Otitis Media results from the blockage of the Eustachian tube which links the middle ear region that includes the eardrum to the back portion of the throat located behind the nasal cavity.

The Eustachian tube whose main function is to maintain the ear pressure equal to that found externally and facilitate hearing as well as helping in draining the middle ear linings, gets blocked due to several reasons like a respiratory infection which leads to build up of mucous along the ear drum lining causing pain due to the increasing pressure.

Sometimes the ear drum itself ruptures draining the accumulated fluid and allaying the pain; also if the fluid remains trapped in the middle ear for a long period it may decrease the degree of hearing, the condition being referred to as glue ear.

Bacteria and virus also find their way in the Eustachian tube which causes pus to be formed accompanied by inflammation and fever (Acute Otitis Media) and requiring in most cases a course of antibiotics to inhibit the condition from becoming chronic.

Children in the age group from 2 to 4 are at more risk due to the small size of their Eustachian tubes which becomes elongated and stiff as one grows up thereby reducing the chances of bacteria getting in to it.