Otitis is an inflammation that affects the ear and that can be both acute and chronic. There are various types and the most widespread form - but not the only one - in the pediatric population is the so-called otitis media (an "inflammation of the middle ear").
Otitis is a disease that can affect children of any age and of both sexes equally, although it seems that the incidence of ear infections is higher in children under the age of four.
or flu, and is caused by bacterial or, sometimes, viral infections.
In pediatric patients, in fact, the microorganisms responsible for infections affecting the airways can easily reach the ear through their diffusion in the Eustachian tube which is the channel that connects the nose to the ear.
This diffusion of pathogenic microorganisms from the airways to the ear of children is favored by the anatomy of the ear itself. In fact, in children the Eustachian tube is shorter and more horizontal than that of adults and this favors the passage of pathogens. hence the onset of otitis.
which can make feeding the baby difficult;In association with this typical symptomatology, otitis in children can also be accompanied by the symptoms of the disease that favored its development (such as, for example, a cold or the flu), among which we remember:
- Fever;
- Sore throat;
- Cough;
- Nasal congestion.
If not promptly diagnosed and / or if not adequately treated, the infection responsible for otitis can become complicated, involving the eardrum, causing perforation in the most serious cases, and even causing permanent hearing damage.
.in children it varies according to various factors, such as the type of infection that caused the disorder, the age of the child, the severity of the otitis and the possible consequences deriving from it (eardrum perforation, hearing problems, etc. .).
In some cases, otitis in children is self-limited and resolves spontaneously, especially when it is caused by viral infections.
For this reason, before intervening with targeted pharmacological therapies, in milder cases the doctor prefers to first administer anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen (Antalfebal®) or analgesics such as paracetamol (Tachipirina®) and based on the child's response, evaluate later whether to prescribe a different therapy or not.
In the event that the otitis does not resolve spontaneously and in the most serious cases, the doctor may decide to prescribe the administration of specific drugs aimed at eradicating the microorganism responsible for the pathology. Therefore, if the triggering cause of the otitis in children lies in a "bacterial infection, the pediatrician will institute" adequate antibiotic therapy.
Antibiotics that are used for the treatment of otitis in children can be administered either orally (generally in the form of syrups, suspensions or oral drops), or via the ear (in the form of ear drops).
The active ingredients most used in this field are amoxicillin, cefixime and ciprofloxacin.
Furthermore, paracetamol can be administered concomitantly with antibiotic therapy, in order to relieve the child from the pain caused by otitis and in order to lower any associated fever.
