Our Specialties
Middle Ear Infections
Imagine no more ear infections for you or your child!
…Let us help you stop the endless cycle of painful ear infections. Don’t wait another day to schedule an evaluation.
What are the symptoms of middle ear infections?
- Discomfort or pain in one or both ears
- Persistent feeling of pressure within the ear
- Excessive whining or fussiness in infants
- Mucous or fluids draining from the ear
- Decline or loss of hearing
How many types of middle ear infections are there?
There are two types:
Acute Otitis Media (AOM)
Usually caused by fluid or mucous built up by bacteria that colonized the throat and then spread to the middle ear. AOM can occur during and may even appear after a cold has passed.
Otitis Media with Effusion (OME)
Usually occurs when the patient develops fluid which is called an effusion. This effusion can become trapped behind the eardrum. This condition can appear in one ear or both ears at the same time. Long standing fluid is commonly referred to as “glue ear” because the effusion is very thick.
Who is most likely to develop a middle ear infection?
Ear infections are common among all races, age groups and sexes, but middle ear infections are infrequent in adults. By far, children are more likely to suffer from middle ear infections. The Eustachian tubes in children, for many reasons, may not function properly and do not aerate the middle ear. Five out of six children (83%) will have at least one ear infection by the age of three.
What can happen if my child’s infection is not treated by a doctor?
- Hearing loss
- Perforation of the eardrum
- Meningitis
- Mastoiditis
How are middle ear infections evaluated by your doctor?
If your doctor suspects that you or your child has an ear infection, he or she will use an otoscope to examine the ear. They will be looking for signs of inflammation, swelling and redness on or behind the eardrum. A healthy eardrum is usually gray and translucent.
For an even more detailed analysis, our audiologist will use tympanometry to detect fluid in the middle ear and possible infection, to identify a perforation of the eardrum and to identify Eustachian tube problems.
How do you treat middle ear infections?
If Dr. Holmes determines that an infection is present, he will propose a treatment plan to eliminate the infection and reduce the pain that may include:
- Pain Relief: Acetaminophen or ibuprofen for earaches a fever over 102
- Antibiotics: Prescribed to kill bacteria that may be causing the ear infection.
If recurrent or long standing, Myringotomy (with insertion of ear tubes) may be warranted.
Hear From Our Patients
★★★★★
Haya G.
A friend of mine told me that Dr. Holmes helped her son when he needed ear tubes. My son had ear infections for months and was allergic to amoxicillin. Other medicines did not work for him. I took him to Dr. Holmes and at 21 months he got tubes. It made all the difference in his life. He went from being on antibiotics for two months straight for back-to-back-to-back ear infections to only one minor one in the last year and a half. When my daughter started screaming at night at 6 months old I took her to the pediatrician to find that she had ear infections as well. She also did not respond to the medicines. I took her to Dr. Holmes to have her ears “fixed” when she was 8 months old. She is now 14 months old and hasn’t had another infection. Dr. Holmes and his staff are wonderful. I am so grateful to have found his practice.
★★★★★
Victoria H.
Dr. Holmes is truly exceptional. He has cared for our twin toddlers for the past 8 months. In that time, we've seen him ten or eleven times — from the initial diagnostic meeting where we met with the amazing audiologists who confirmed that our kids were having trouble hearing, to successful insertion of tubes in both kids' ears at 18 months, to numerous sick visits when our son has gotten ear infections (and thank goodness for those tubes, which have greatly relieved his discomfort). We have been floored by the responsiveness of Dr. Holmes and his team to the needs of our kids. Literally, numerous same-day appointments, and some when Dr. Holmes was splitting between surgical work and clinical work. Everyone at the office is incredibly kind, patient, and thorough. We could not speak more highly of this practice.
