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Ear Infections
What's happening inside the ear when my child has an ear infection?
When the ears are infected the eustachian tubes become inflamed and swollen. The adenoids can also become infected.
The eustachian tubes are inside the ear. They keep air pressure stable in the ear. These tubes also help supply the ears with fresh air.
The adenoids are located near the eustachian tubes. Adenoids are clumps of cells that fight infections.
Swollen and inflamed eustachian tubes often get clogged with fluid and mucus from a cold. If the fluids plug the openings of the eustachian tubes, air and fluid get trapped inside the ear. These tubes are smaller and straighter in children than they are in adults. This makes it harder for fluid to drain out of the ear and is one reason that children get more ear infections than adults. The infections are usually painful.
Adenoids are located in the throat, near the eustachian tubes. Adenoids can become infected and swollen. They can also block the openings of the eustachian tubes, trapping air and fluid. Just like the eustachian tubes, the adenoids are different in children than in adults. In children, the adenoids are larger, so they can more easily block the opening of the eustachian tube.
Are there different types of otitis media?
Can otitis media affect my child's hearing?
How do I know if my child has otitis media?
