What is ear infection?

Although there are different types of ear infections, the most common is called acute otitis media, involving inflammation and infection of the middle ear - located behind the eardrum. This is a brief and painful infection caused by viruses or bacteria that reaches more children.

causes

An ear infection is caused by bacteria or viruses present in the middle of the individual ear. Often this type of inflammation arise as a symptom of other diseases, such as flu or allergies, but other causes can result in the onset of symptoms.

One of these causes is the obstruction of the Eustachian tube, a tube leaving the middle ear and reaches the back of the throat, responsible for the drainage of the fluid normally produced by the middle ear. If this tube is blocked, fluid will accumulate, also generating the accumulation of bacteria or virus in the region, thus causing the infection. ear inflammations are common in infants and children precisely because the eustachian tube can easily become congested.

Similarly, inflammation of the adenoids can also cause acute otitis media. Adenoids are small pieces of tissue located in the back of the nose, very near the Eustachian tube. Inflammation or enlarged adenoids can also block the tube and thus cause otitis.

Ear infection may also be caused by effusion. It is exactly like the inflammation of joint, where an accumulation of fluid in the middle ear, but without infection by bacteria or viruses. This type of inflammation may occur because even after being cured otitis, fluid accumulation persists, causing again the infection.