An inflammatory disease affecting the ear canal, otitis is a common pathology in children under 5 years of age. It occurs especially in those who have problems with allergies or respiratory tract infections. The dominant form is otalgia, baby's ear hurts but parents have difficulty detecting the disease except by the child's behavior. However, the image that could be taken is that "otitis is the equivalent of a toothache in the ear". There are several manifestations of otitis, but the most common is acute otitis media (AOM).
Acute otitis media
In the case of acute otitis media, the middle ear and the Eustachian tube are infected. When the eardrum is blocked, painful pressure causes the eardrum to bulge, which can rupture at some point. The result is that in general, there are bouts of fever and the child's temperature can rise to 38°5 to 40°C. Sometimes the child loses weight, he loses his appetite and it is not uncommon for digestive disorders to occur. He may be prone to seizures and is also dehydrated. The telltale sign is that he frequently touches his ear. Brutal, violent pain affects the diseased ear and blood or pus flows out of the ear. As a result, the child may have difficulty hearing and may also have a headache or throat ache. The germs identified as responsible for AOM are bacteria that have developed some resistance to antibiotics, including Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Phlyctenular otitis Phlyctenular
otitis has the particularity of being much more painful than acute otitis media. They occur in small epidemics. An examination done early, i.e. before the rupture of the eardrum, shows bloody bullae. These effusions contain the same bacteria as those responsible for acute otitis media. Note that the fever falls as soon as the eardrum ruptures and the effusion appears.
Seromucosal otitis
, on the other hand, is generally favoured by repeated infections in the throat, nose and eyes, or a lack of iron; nor can we ignore the parents' smoking, which generates a breeding ground for allergies. Secretions accumulate in the middle ear, but the absence of acute superinfection means that the child does not feel pain and does not have a fever but has problems hearing, which results in language acquisition disorders. The examination shows bubbles in the eardrum, which loses its transparency and is not very mobile. The most visible effect is thick, viscous mucus that builds up at the back of the eardrum.
Mucupurulent otorrhea Mucupurulent
otorrhea is the form of otitis externa and chronic otitis media. The child feels a sharp pain, especially when the pinna of the ear is touched. But it can also happen that the ear gives off a very unpleasant smell but the child does not feel pain and does not have a fever. In some manifestations, otorrhea is sometimes confused with acute otitis media or phlyctenular otitis.
If otitis is a disease that mainly affects children, it is because their immune defense is still immature and the Eustachian tube is still short and permeable. In addition, there is sometimes the frequency of colds or the hypertrophy of the "vegetations", a breeding ground for infection.
Symptoms of otitis
The most noticeable symptom is otalgia, which means that the ear is painful. But since the disease occurs at a time when the child is not yet able to speak, parents must consider other signs. Decreased hearing is one of them, as is runny nose, cough or fever. On the other hand, the child is irritable, cries often, touches his ear, loses his appetite and has sleep disorders. Someone who already knows how to speak complains of a stuffy nose or a feeling of blocked ears and a feeling of fatigue. Sometimes he feels itching inside the ear and this ear hurts when he swallows.
Treatment of otitis while waiting for the doctor's consultation
While waiting for the doctor's appointment, Belladonna 9 CH, Ferrum phosphoricum 9 CH and Capsicum annuum 9 CH can already be administered by alternating 3 granules of each every hour, especially when, in addition to a congested ear, you are faced with a sudden declaration of fever. In the case of suppuration, 3 granules of Arsenicum album 9 CH, Pyorogenium 9 CH and Mercurius solubilis 9 CH may be added 3 times a day. In the case of acute otitis media, the recommended pain and anti-inflammatory remedies are Belladonna and Arsenicum album 9 CH in 5 granules 2 to 3 times a day. In addition to the antibiotics prescribed by the doctor, 5 granules of Mercurius, or Hepar sulphur, Capsicum 9 CH or Pyrogenium can be combined several times a day. When pain spreads to the throat with a feeling of thirst or when a yellow nasal mucus sometimes bloody appears, Mercurius is used. When pain occurs at night or after a cold, Aconitum napellus 9 CH is usually prescribed.
When the heat of the surrounding environment calms the pain, Arsenicum album 9 CH is recommended. Belladonna 9 CH relieves a pounding pain. When the pain is difficult to define, Capsicum annuum 5 CH is recommended. Chamomilla vulgaris 15 CH relieves unbearable pain. In the case of a low fever, between 38 and 38.5°C, give Ferrum phosphoricum 9 CH but only 4 times in 24 hours. After the medical examination, two solutions are possible: the doctor may recommend Manganum metallicum 9 CH or Manganum aceticum 9 CH if the examination of the eardrum with an otoscope has resulted in a coughing fit. The second solution is Phytolacca decandra 9 CH when the pain felt in the ear is aggravated by swallowing in the absence of inflammation of the eardrum.
Treating acute otitis media
For acute otitis media, while waiting for a medical consultation, give 1 dose of Lachesis mutus 9 CH immediately to relieve the pain. For continued treatment, take 5 granules of Arsenicum album 9 CH, Belladonna 9 CH, Capsicum annuum 5 CH, Chamomilla vulgaris 15 CH, Ferrum phosphoricum 9 CH every half hour. When otitis complicates nasopharyngitis, 1 dose of Hepar sulfuris calcareum 30 CH and 1 dose of Pyrogenium 9 CH per 24 hours for 3 days. If the otitis is diagnosed as recurrent, 1 dose of Avian 9 CH should be taken at the beginning of treatment.
Treating other forms of otitis
For phlyctenular otitis, taking 5 granules of Cantharis vesicatoria 9 CH every half hour is recommended, a dose that should be reduced as the patient's condition improves.
In case of seromucosal otitis, take 5 granules of Kalium muriaticum 9 CH, 1 to 4 times a day depending on the intensity of the symptoms.
5 granules of Mercurius solubilis 15 CH can be taken every 2 hours and 1 dose of Avian 9 CH in case of mucopurulent otorrhea, pending the medical examination.
For a basic treatment of otitis, Manganum 5 CH with Ferum phosphoricum 5 CH and Kalium muriaticum 5 or 7 CH is mainly used, but in addition it is necessary to systematically treat the child's rhinitis. To do this, clean the nose with saline solution and above all, blow your nose regularly.
When to see a doctor?
Consulting a doctor is necessary when the child has a fever and complains or shows signs that he has earache. His pain may make him irritable and cause him to refuse to eat. If he cannot yet speak and cries incessantly, the best thing to do is to go to the pediatrician who is able to diagnose the problem. A child's hearing loss is a problem that must be referred to the doctor's opinion, as well as when there is difficulty breathing, purplish spots on the skin or vomiting.
