Otitis Media or Ear Infection

Otitis Media or Ear Infection is the Latin name for “inflammation of the middle ear” or middle ear infection. It is very common in children but can occur at any age.

Symptoms of Ear Infection

The ear infection usually starts with an upper respiratory tract infection. The symptoms include cough, nasal discharge, stuffy nose and fever may be or not present.  Many times, the swelling of the mucous membranes, and the nasal discharges, can cause blockage in middle ear. The blockage appears in the Eustachian tube and may lead to ear infection. The Eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the upper respiratory system. In children the Eustachian tube is much smaller than in adults and they are more prone to ear infections or otitis.

Treatment in an ear infection

The classical medical treatment is based on pain killers – ibuprofen and acetaminophen. Topical ear drops are also prescribed. Antibiotic therapy in ear infection is very common and often prescribed by doctors. Because most ear infections will solve without treatment, antibiotic therapy should be prescribed with caution and weight the benefits and harms. If the pain is manageable with analgesics, deferring the start of antibiotics is recommended.

The symptoms of an acute otitis media are pain in the ear and can be accompanied by fever and irritability in infants. Using an extra pillow to keep the head elevated and warm application will usually diminish the pain. An acute otitis media can develop starting from a viral or bacterial respiratory infection, or can develop into a bacterial infection once the fluid trapped in the middle ear gets infected with bacteria.

A good natural approach in ear infection is aerosol salt therapy. This can be done using a salt machine that will release microscopic salt particles into the air. These breathable salt particles are able to penetrate behind the tympanic membrane, in the middle ear.  This helps to reduce inflammation, clears secretions and prevents bacterial infection. This is possible due to the mucolytic, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial salt properties.

Home salt therapy helps to reduce and prevent ear infections and other respiratory illnesses. The salt particles are of great help in cleaning the secretions and strengthen the respiratory immunity.

Warm usually helps, and adding few drops of warm olive oil with 1-2 drops of fresh lemon juice into the external ear will calm the pain. Together with salt therapy will quicken the recovery.