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Chronic Middle Ear Infection in Children

By

The Manual's Editorial Staff

Reviewed/Revised Jul 2022 | Modified Sep 2022
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What is a chronic middle ear infection?

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

What causes chronic ear infections?

What are the symptoms of a chronic ear 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.

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

  • 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 any abnormalities in the eardrum

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

How is a chronic ear infection treated?

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: VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
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