Children with tinnitus and hearing loss due to otitis media

Otitis media is a common disease in children, often occurring after acute rhinopharyngitis caused by a virus, infection, allergy... - Photo: XUAN MAI

Children have persistent runny nose and ringing ears when entering air-conditioned rooms.

For the past 6 weeks, the youngest daughter of Ms. Tran Thanh (living in Ho Chi Minh City) has been having a runny nose and tinnitus. Taking her to the doctor, the doctor diagnosed that the cause was due to the child's horizontal ear canal, which easily transferred viruses from the nose and throat to the ear, causing otitis media.

Although the baby was cared for and given medication as prescribed by the doctor, the above condition recurred a week after the illness was cured.

Through visiting many people who had otitis media since childhood, Ms. Thanh learned that they also had the same condition as her youngest daughter.

Every day, her family cleans the house thoroughly, but her child's condition does not improve, so they have to accept "living with the flood".

Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Minh - Vice President of the Vietnam Audiology Association - said that otitis media in children (under 16 years old) is a common disease and has its own characteristics, unlike adults. The younger the child, the higher the rate of otitis media.

During the examination, Dr. Minh received many children with otitis media. These children were brought by their parents for examination along with other diseases such as adenoiditis, tonsillitis, sinusitis, etc. The children will be treated by the doctor at the same time for the diseases they have.

Occurs after acute rhinopharyngitis but is not treated properly

Talking about the causes of otitis media in children, Dr. Minh said that they often occur after acute rhinopharyngitis caused by a virus, infection, allergy... When children have acute rhinopharyngitis but do not treat it properly and completely, it turns into otitis media.

"The anatomical structure from the nose to the ear in young children is very close together and through a path called the Eustachian tube. This tube originates from the nasopharynx, through the ear to ensure the ventilation function of the ear, or drains secretions from the ear down the throat.

This is the path that, when a baby has rhinitis caused by a virus or infection, can spread to the ear area and cause otitis media," Dr. Minh explained.

Dr. Minh added that early-stage otitis media usually appears about 7-10 days after rhinopharyngitis. If this condition does not go away, it is called acute otitis media. If it persists for up to a month, it is called subacute or chronic otitis media.

The consequences of acute otitis media will cause the child's ear to swell, become painful, aching, have hearing loss, and be buzzing. In young children, because they are not yet fully aware and able to speak, they often show signs of fussiness and crying, picking their ears with their hands because of discomfort and pain.

Some children also have digestive disorders with diarrhea, due to bacteria spreading to the digestive system, causing intestinal disorders. This case only occurs in children with acute otitis media due to infection.

In addition, some favorable factors such as children using air conditioners frequently or poor hygiene (often sucking fingers, sucking toys...) make it easier for rhinopharyngitis to develop and turn into otitis media.

How can children prevent otitis media?

To prevent otitis media in children, Dr. Minh recommends that the first thing to do is to keep the child's body from getting infected (cold, rain, wind) and keep the room temperature at a moderate, airy level (do not let children sleep in the air conditioner at low temperatures regularly, clean the house regularly...).

At the same time, avoid polluted environments (cigarette smoke, houses with factories, chemicals...) because they can easily cause upper respiratory tract infections.

Some bad, unhygienic habits of children should be avoided such as dirty hands or putting toys in the mouth, because this is an environment that spreads many harmful bacteria, causing otitis media.

In addition, parents need to pay attention to the child's diet, which is also very important, to help prevent respiratory diseases and ear infections. The milk-drinking and weaning regimen for young children must follow the principles and instructions to avoid allergies, poor absorption, and nutritional disorders because they are more likely to cause otitis media.

When children show signs of rhinopharyngitis, parents should take them to a reputable medical facility for timely examination and treatment to avoid affecting the ears. Absolutely do not arbitrarily give children medicine indiscriminately, especially antibiotics.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tre-nho-bi-u-tai-giam-thinh-luc-vi-bi-viem-tai-giua-20240624175211394.htm