Table of contents:
- Various causes of middle ear infections
- 1. Drink while lying down
- 2. Smoking
- 3. Allergies and flu
- 4. Sinusitis
- 5. Adenoid swelling
- 6. Other diseases
Middle ear infection, which in the medical world is called otitis media, is a bacterial infection that occurs in the middle ear and causes pain. Although everyone can experience it, about 75 percent of cases of middle ear infections occur in children under three years. So, what are the causes of that middle ear infection? Check out the following information, let's go.
Various causes of middle ear infections
The cause of middle ear infection in adults is generally caused by a viral, bacterial, or fungal infection that gets too deep into the ear. Meanwhile, in children, this infection is more common because of bad habits carried out daily.
For clarity, here are the various causes of middle ear infections.
1. Drink while lying down
If you or your child has a habit of drinking while lying down, it's good to stop this habit immediately. The reason is, drinking while lying down can more quickly push the bacteria in the throat into the eustachian tube, then ending in the middle ear.
This can increase the risk of blockage of the eustachian duct. The eustachian tube is the tube that connects the middle ear to the throat and nose (nasopharynx). Its main function is to control the pressure in the ear.
Children have narrower and more horizontal eustachian tubes than adults. This means, the eustachian tubes of children will be more prone to blockages and accumulate a lot of bacteria. The pressure in the ear increases and causes infection. That is the reason why children get more frequent middle ear infections.
2. Smoking
Whether it's active smokers or second-hand smoke, they are both at risk of developing an ear infection in the middle. Be careful, cigarette smoke can get into the ear directly and cause ear infections.
The temperature in the middle ear area tends to be warm and humid, which is a favorite place for bacteria to breed. So do not be surprised if people who are accustomed to smoking or inhaling secondhand smoke are prone to developing middle ear infections.
3. Allergies and flu
Middle ear infections are often preceded by the flu, cold, or an allergic reaction. When you catch a cold, the amount of fluid and mucus in your nose increases dramatically. The eustachian tube is responsible for draining this fluid so that the pressure in your ear remains normal.
If too much mucus builds up, the eustachian tube will become overwhelmed to drain all the fluid. As a result, there is a buildup of fluid and increases the pressure in the middle ear. If this fluid is infected by bacteria, then middle ear infections can no longer be avoided.
4. Sinusitis
If you have otitis media, it could be because of your sinuses. The bacteria that cause sinusitis can travel and enter the eustachian tube. As previously explained, this eustachian tube is responsible for controlling the pressure in the ear.
When the eustachian tube swells, the pressure in the ear becomes uncontrollable. The middle ear will fill up with a lot of fluid and cause infection.
5. Adenoid swelling
Adenoids are pads of lymph tissue (such as glands in the neck or tonsils) located at the back of the nasal cavity, close to the entrance to the eustachian tube. This part plays an important role to help fight infection from germs that are inhaled or swallowed.
Unlike the eustachian tubes of children, which are smaller in size, the size of the adenoids in children is relatively larger than in adults. If the adenoids become inflamed or swollen, these glands can block the ear canal and lead to infection.
6. Other diseases
Apart from daily bad habits, middle ear infections can also be caused by a number of diseases. This ear infection is very susceptible to be experienced by people with weak immune systems. What's more, this risk can continue to increase if you have blood sugar problems, aka diabetes.
Quoted from WebMD, the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery revealed that the characteristics of bacteria that cause middle ear infections are similar to pneumonia bacteria. But calm down first. This can be overcome by administering the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, which is very effective against bacteria that cause ear infections.
