


You are worried that the fever or ear pain is not getting better fast enough.Your child's ears were recently looked at by a doctor.Your child was diagnosed with an ear infection.Removal of the adenoids has been shown to help some children with OME. If your child's adenoids are infected, your child's physician may recommend the removal of the adenoids (lymph tissue located in the space above the soft roof of the mouth, also called the nasopharynx). The tubes usually fall out on their own after six to twelve months. The child's hearing is restored after the fluid is drained. A small tube is placed in the opening of the eardrum to allow air to enter (ventilate) the middle ear and to prevent fluid from accumulating. This surgical procedure involves making a small opening in the eardrum to drain the fluid and relieve the pressure from the middle ear. If your child has OME that persists more than 2 or 3 months and there is concern that the decreased hearing associated with the fluid may be affecting speech development or school performance, your child’s physician may suggest ear tubes (myringotomy tubes) be placed in the ear(s) through a surgical procedure called myringotomy. However, if your child has an upper respiratory infection accompanying the OME, antibiotics may be indicated.Īntihistamines and decongestants have been shown to have no effect on OME. In most cases, the middle ear fluid in OME is not infected so antibiotics are not indicated. In most cases the fluid in OME resolves on its own within 4 to 6 weeks, so acute treatment is not needed. Please discuss your child's condition, treatment options and your preferences with your child's physician or healthcare provider.

Treatment for OME depends on many factors and is tailored for each child. Being bottle fed while lying on the back.While any child may develop OME, the following are some of the factors that may increase your child's risk of developing OME: A cold or allergy, which can lead to swelling and congestion of the lining of the nose, throat and eustachian tube (this swelling prevents the normal flow of air and fluids).An immature eustachian tube, which is common in young children.Some reasons the eustachian tube may not work properly include: When this tube is not working properly, it prevents normal drainage of fluid from the middle ear, causing a build-up of fluid behind the eardrum. The eustachian tube helps to equalize the pressure between the air around you and the middle ear. Otitis media with effusion is usually a result of poor function of the eustachian tube, the canal that links the middle ear with the throat area.
