The eustachian tube drains fluid from your ears to the back of your throat. If it clogs, otitis media with effusion (OME) can occur. If you have OME, the middle part of your ear fills with fluid, which can increase the risk of ear infection. OME is very common. According to the Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality, about 90 percent of children will have OME at least once by the age of 10.
Symptoms
OME isn’t the result of an infection. Symptoms are often mild or minimal, and can vary based on a child’s age. But not all children with OME have symptoms or act or feel sick.
One common symptom of OME is hearing problems. In younger children, behavior changes can be a symptom of hearing problems. For example, a child may turn the television up louder than usual. They may also tug or pull on their ears.
Older children and adults who have OME often describe sound as muffled. And they may have the feeling that the ear is full of fluid.
Treatment
OME often clears up on its own. However, chronic OME can increase risk of ear infections. You may need to see your doctor if it feels like there’s still fluid behind your ear after six weeks. You may need more direct treatment to drain your ears. One form of direct treatment is ear tubes, which help drain fluid from behind the ears. Removing the adenoids can also help treat or prevent OME in some children. When adenoids become enlarged they can block ear drainage.
What are the treatment options for ear discharge?
Treatment of your ear discharge depends on its cause. In some cases, your condition won’t need medical treatment. For example, the American Academy of Pediatrics describes a 48-hour “wait-and-see” approach, accompanied by close follow-up, as one option for treating mild ear pain in children.
Signs of an ear infection usually start to clear up within the first week or two, without any treatment. Pain medications might be needed to deal with any pain or discomfort.
If your child is under six months old or has a fever over 102.2°F, your doctor might prescribe antibiotic ear drops.
Most cases of ear trauma also heal without treatment. If you have a tear in your eardrum that doesn’t heal naturally, your doctor might apply a special paper patch to the tear. This patch keeps the hole closed while your eardrum heals.
If a patch doesn’t work, your doctor might surgically repair your ear using a patch of your own skin.
A doctor should treat swimmer’s ear to prevent the infection from spreading. Typically, your doctor will give you antibiotic ear drops to use for about a week. In severe cases, oral antibiotics will also be necessary.
