With more than 25 years of experience, Dr. Lamont Tyler serves as the medical director of OSF Medical Group in Bloomington, Illinois. Dr. Lamont Tyler specializes in family and urgent care medicine. Ear infections among children are one of the most commonly diagnosed conditions in a family practice or urgent care setting. Infections of the middle ear result when viruses or bacteria become trapped in the space behind the eardrum. Often, these viruses or bacteria are introduced into the body by a cold, sore throat, or upper respiratory infection. The eustachian tubes swell, hindering the body’s ability to drain the infected mucus. The three most common types of middle ear infections are: - Acute otitis media. The most common ear infection involves an infected and swollen middle ear. Fluid is trapped behind the eardrum, resulting in pain and possible fever. - Otitis media with effusion. Though the ear infection has been resolved, fluid is still trapped behind the eardrum. - Chronic otitis media with effusion. Fluid remains behind the eardrum for a long time or returns repeatedly. The ability to hear is affected. Treatment for a middle ear infection varies depending on the age of the child, the severity of the symptoms, and the frequency of infection. Physicians may recommend over-the-counter pain medications while they wait and see if the infection will resolve itself. In other cases, antibiotics may be prescribed. When infections occur repeatedly, the physician may recommend that a child have tubes inserted into their eardrums, which helps improve airflow and prevent fluid buildup.
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorAs Medical Director of OSF St. Joseph Medical Center’s PromptCare, Dr. Lamont Tyler takes pride in the diverse array of services offered to all individuals on a walk-in basis. Archives
August 2017
Categories
All
|