Table of contents:
- Most acute otitis media (congestion) occurs in infants and children
- Get to know the structure of the Eustachian tube in our body
- 2. Shape eustachian tube different
- 3. Eustachian tube rudimentary
- 4. Different sizes of adenoids
- 5. The child's defense system is still low
One of the ear symptoms that patients often complain about is discharge from the ear canal or what is commonly called congek. Congek is caused by inflammation of the middle ear, where there is an accumulation of fluid in it. This condition is called Acute Otitis Media (AOM).
Most acute otitis media (congestion) occurs in infants and children
A study that examines the age factor in the occurrence of AOM states that AOM is a common disease in infants, toddlers, and children. OMA cases in adults have also been reported, but the number of cases is not as high as in children. A study in Brazil states that the estimated incidence of AOM in adults is only 0.004%, although generally the severity is more severe in adults than in children.
In the United States, otitis media is the most common diagnosis in preschool children, and its incidence has increased over the past decade. As many as 70% of children experienced ≥ 1 attack of AOM before the age of 2 years. In Canada, a study conducted in Quebec found that by age 3, 60-70% of children had experienced at least 1 episode of AOM. In Indonesia and developing countries, nearly 65% of children of pre-school age have experienced middle ear inflammation at least once, and this is increasing in middle to lower economic groups who have low levels of hygiene.
Seeing this fact, the question arises, why do children get earaches more easily? As it turns out, the answer lies in the development of our bodies. Come on, follow the explanation.
Get to know the structure of the Eustachian tube in our body
2. Shape eustachian tube different
Shape eustachian tube in babies and children is unique. The shape is wider and the position is more horizontal (horizontal) than the adult tube. This condition keeps inflammation on tuba eustachian becomes very common in children. Inflammation will trigger disturbance in eustachian tube in protecting the middle ear so that the likelihood of infection in the middle ear increases.
3. Eustachian tube rudimentary
In children, eustachian tube not yet fully developed. The tubal diameter in children is smaller, making it easier to block the tube. Along with the development of age, tuba eustachian will be longer and narrower and more towards the center, away from the back of the nose. The result, function eustachian tube will be more established in protecting the middle ear. Therefore, in general the incidence of AOM will decrease with increasing human age.
4. Different sizes of adenoids
Adenoids are one of the organs in the upper throat that play a role in immunity. In children, adenoids are relatively larger than adults. Adenoid position adjacent to the estuary eustachian tube so that large adenoids can interfere with opening eustachian tube.
5. The child's defense system is still low
Underdeveloped immunity in babies and children makes them susceptible to various diseases. One of the most common is acute respiratory infection (ARI). Recurrent ARI in children causes the infection to spread to the middle ear. In addition, adenoids can become infected due to ARI then spread to the middle ear via tuba eustachian. The low IgA and IgG in children increases the likelihood of AOM in children compared to older people. Different things happen in adults, where the development of the immune system has grown stronger so that the attack of microorganisms can be better anticipated.
