Middle ear effusion is caused by a presence of fluid in the middle ear without an actual ear infection. While children (or adults) with a traditional ear infection will experience pain and often other nasal symptoms, people who have a middle ear effusion do not feel or act sick. Middle ear effusion is caused by a blockage in the Eustachian tube, which carries fluids through the ear. When this tube is blocked, fluid builds up in the middle ear. Allergies and respiratory infections can prompt this to occur.
Minor Treatments
Most middle ear effusion infections will clear up on their own. For a child who is healthy in all other respects, treatment might include an environmental or lifestyle change. For example, doctors may recommend that the child avoid exposure to cigarette smoke, or that an infant maintain a breastfeeding routine. A change in a day care setting may also be beneficial. If the child experiences regular allergies, avoiding allergic triggers (such as pollen or dust) may also help. In some cases, even chewing gum has been known to improve symptoms for some children.
Medical Intervention
If the fluid persists inside the ear after six weeks, doctors may recommend more thorough treatment options. They may perform an ear/hearing test, they may keep observing and examining the ear on a regular basis, or try a dosage of antibiotics. Unfortunately, if the middle ear effusion becomes chronic or continues beyond the first administration of antibiotics, the effectiveness of these medications can be decreased. A one-time antibiotic or antimicrobial treatment is possible, but beyond that other measures may need to be considered.
In some cases, doctors may prescribe antihistamines or other allergy medications. These medications would only benefit the child in clearing up any nasal or other allergy symptoms coinciding with the ear infection; middle ear effusion itself cannot be treated with these medications.
Severe Cases
In some cases, if middle ear effusion persists over a longer period of time (3 months or more), symptoms can become severe. The fluid in the ear may make hearing more difficult, which in turn can delay speech development. Hearing tests may need to be administered regularly for children with persistent middle ear effusion problems.
Doctors may even suspect that a structural abnormality of the middle ear could be the underlying problem if a child has persistent middle ear effusion. Scans and tests would be needed to determine the validity of this suspicion.
Surgery is also an option, which may include putting tubes into the child's ears to strengthen the middle ear area. In the past, doctors would perform surgery if the middle ear effusion persisted beyond three months. However, in recent years (since 2004), doctors have elected to perform surgery only if the condition persists and significant hearing loss occurs. If a child is living with middle ear effusion with no significant side effects, surgery is not medically necessary.
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