Answer:

Middle ear infection, or otitis media, is an inflammation or infection of the middle ear (the space behind the eardrum), causing ear pain, fever, hearing loss, eardrum perforation, and fluid discharge. This is one of the common ear, nose, and throat conditions in young children, particularly those aged six months to three years.

The eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx, balancing pressure and draining fluid. In young children, this tube is shorter, wider, and more horizontal than in adults, and its function is not yet fully developed. When a child has rhinitis or pharyngitis, bacteria and viruses from the nasopharynx can easily travel up to the middle ear. Swelling of the eustachian tube lining obstructs airflow and fluid drainage, creating an environment for bacterial growth.

Children's immune systems are also immature and lack the full capacity to fight off various pathogens, which allows the disease to develop and recur frequently.

During the rainy season, high humidity and fluctuating temperatures create ideal conditions for viruses and bacteria to thrive, attack, and cause upper respiratory tract infections. Accumulated mucus in the nasopharynx can travel through the eustachian tube into the middle ear, causing blockage. This leads to poor ventilation in the middle ear, creating negative pressure within the ear canal and resulting in inflammation.

Doctor Tra Linh advises parents on preventing middle ear infections in children. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital.

Common allergens in the rainy season, such as mold and house dust, can easily trigger allergic rhinitis or prolonged rhinitis and pharyngitis, including adenoid hypertrophy. These conditions impede eustachian tube function, preventing fluid drainage and increasing the risk of recurrent middle ear infections.

If left undetected and untreated, middle ear infections can lead to complications such as eardrum perforation, hearing loss, mastoiditis, and meningitis. Chronic and recurrent infections can affect language development due to temporary hearing impairment during the illness.

If your child experiences recurrent ear infections three times in six months or more than four times in one year, you should consult an ear, nose, and throat specialist for an endoscopy to assess the condition of the eustachian tubes, tonsils, adenoids, and other risk factors.

For home prevention, parents should keep children warm when going out in the rain and regularly clean their nose and throat with physiological saline. It is also important to thoroughly treat any rhinitis or pharyngitis, limit children's contact with individuals suffering from respiratory illnesses, and ensure children receive all recommended vaccinations.

Doctor Chau Tra Linh

Ear, Nose, and Throat Center

Tam Anh General Hospital, TP HCM