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What is a chronic middle ear infection?

What causes chronic ear infections?

What are the symptoms of a chronic ear infection?

How can doctors tell if my child has a chronic ear infection?

How is a chronic ear infection treated?

Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders in Children

Acute Middle Ear Infection in Children

Chronic Middle Ear Infection in Children

Fluid in the Ear (Secretory Otitis Media) in Children

Enlarged Tonsils and Adenoids

Hearing Problems in Children

Juvenile Angiofibromas

Neck Lumps in Children

Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis

ADDITIONAL CONTENT

Cholestasis is reduction or stoppage of the flow of bile, the digestive fluid produced by the liver. It can be caused by disorders of the liver, bile duct, or pancreas. Which of the following is a key symptom that is almost always present in people with cholestasis?

Abdominal pain
Enlarged gallbladder
Enlarged spleen
Jaundice

Chronic Middle Ear Infection in Children

By

The Manual's Editorial Staff

Last full review/revision Jul 2020| Content last modified Jul 2020

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Topic Resources

Otitis Media

The middle ear is the space just behind the eardrum. Germs can get in the middle ear and cause an infection. A middle ear infection is also called otitis media. A chronic infection is one that lasts a long time (even with treatment) or keeps coming back.

Chronic ear infections can permanently damage parts of the ear that help your child hear
They usually don’t hurt

A chronic ear infection is more likely if your child has:

Lots of acute ear infections
A hole in the eardrum (for example from an injury or ear surgery), particularly if water gets in the ear
A blocked eustachian tube (the tube connecting the inside of the ear to the back of the throat)
Certain birth defects, such as a cleft palate, that affect the mouth and face
Down syndrome

Chronic ear infections may get worse (flare up) after your child has a cold or other nose or throat infection.

Trouble hearing
Pus or liquid coming out of the ear—the pus may smell very bad

Chronic ear infections shouldn't hurt unless the infection has spread to the bone next to the ear. Tell your doctor if your child has a chronic ear infection and starts to have pain.

Doctors will look in your child's ear to see if pus is draining out of a hole in the eardrum
They’ll also look for an abnormal growth in the eardrum

If doctors think the infection might have spread, they'll do a CT scan or MRI.

Doctors will:

Clean out your child’s ear
Have you put antibiotic and corticosteroid ear drops in your child’s ear
Have you keep water from getting in your child's ear

If the infection is very bad, doctors will also give your child antibiotics to take by mouth.

If your child's eardrum is damaged or has an abnormal growth on it, doctors will often do surgery.

NOTE: This is the Consumer Version. DOCTORS: Click here for the Professional Version

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Acute Middle Ear Infection in Children

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Fluid in the Ear (Secretory Otitis Media) in Children

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