Contents
Serous otitis is a persistent (more than 2 months) effusion of serous fluid behind the eardrum. This disease is very common in children aged 1 to 6-8 years. Before 5 years, between 15 and 40% of children are affected by this disease. Why ? “ Serous otitis results from several factors in particular tubal dysfunction, a physiological peculiarity that persists until the age of 5-6 years », Explains Dr Marine Parodi, ENT.
Serous otitis: how to diagnose it? What are the symptoms ?
Serous otitis can often go unnoticed. It is a disease, usually not painful, the child may not complain about it, so the parents do not worry. Diagnosis is also difficult because the pediatrician does not always have the appropriate equipment. In case of doubt, he will send the little patient to an ENT consultation. Otolaryngology uses an impedance meter that tests the mobility of the eardrum thanks to a probe. If nothing moves, this indicates that there is indeed a serous otitis.
The pediatrician may have to think of a serous otitis when the child has a series of episodes ofacute otitis media. The multiplication of infections is an evocative sign. However, it is also possible to have serous otitis without having had acute otitis media before… An additional difficulty for the practitioner to make the diagnosis.
There are a few signs that can alert parents: the child has language delay and / or hearing problems. In this case, do not hesitate to consult. Prevention is better than cure !
Treatments for serous otitis
Most OSMs (serum-mucous otitis) heal spontaneously, most of them are not very symptomatic. Only complicated MSOs (retraction of the eardrum, auditory repercussions, or those responsible for repetitive AOM) should be treated. The ENT or the pediatrician first checks that the otitis serosa has persisted for more than 2 months before starting treatment. Because, in general, it heals on its own after about 3 months. As a first step, the doctor may recommend simple nose washes. If the serous otitis is associated with a hearing loss, that it causes a retraction of the eardrum (which then risks being damaged), the doctor decides in first intention to prescribe a medical treatment which associates antibiotics (during 7 days) and corticosteroids (of 5 days). Your child will have another check-up with the doctor shortly afterwards to monitor his eardrums. If all goes well, the treatment stops there. Regular monitoring is necessary in order to check the absence of recurrence at a distance. But sometimes serous otitis is more aggressive. If the eardrums are still in danger despite the first-line treatment, the ENT may suggest surgery. This consists of the installation of transtympanic aerators (the famous “yoyos” or “diabolos”). These are small, hollow tubes placed through the tympanic membrane and placed so as to form a small hole in the eardrum. This makes it possible to permanently ventilate the eardrum and prevent recurrence of ear infections. There are several models of trans-tympanic ventilators, which stay in place for a longer or shorter time depending on their shape. Short aerators spontaneously expel after ten months (6 to 12 months). In general, some ENTs also take advantage of this to remove adenoids (which normally disappear around the age of 8), in order to limit the risk of recurrence of OSM after the aerators fall.
Factors that increase the risk of ear infections
- Passive smoking
- The climate in winter
- The frequentation of places of collectivities
- Iron deficiency
- An allergic ground
- A baby GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)