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Ear infection - chronic

Middle ear infection - chronic; Otitis media - chronic; Chronic otitis media; Chronic ear infection

Chronic ear infection is fluid, swelling, or an infection behind the eardrum that does not go away or keeps coming back. It causes long-term or permanent damage to the ear. It often involves a hole in the eardrum that does not heal.

Images

Ear anatomy
Middle ear infection (otitis media)
Middle ear infection
Eustachian tube

Presentation

Ear tube insertion - series - Normal anatomy

Causes

The eustachian tube runs from the middle of each ear to the back of the throat. This tube drains fluid made in the middle ear. If the eustachian tube becomes blocked, fluid can build up. When this happens, infection can occur. A chronic ear infection develops when fluid or an infection behind the eardrum does not go away.

A chronic ear infection may be caused by:

Suppurative chronic otitis is a term used to describe an eardrum that keeps rupturing, draining, or swelling in the middle ear or mastoid area (the bone behind the ear) and does not go away.

Ear infections are more common in children because their eustachian tubes are shorter, narrower, and more horizontal than in adults. Chronic ear infections are much less common than acute ear infections.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a chronic ear infection may be less severe than symptoms of an acute infection. The problem may go unnoticed and untreated for a long time.

Symptoms may include:

Symptoms may continue or come and go. They may occur in one or both ears.

Exams and Tests

Your health care provider will look in the ears using an otoscope. The exam may reveal:

Tests may include:

Treatment

The provider may prescribe antibiotics if the infection is caused by bacteria. These medicines may need to be taken for a long time. They may be given by mouth or into a vein (intravenously).

If there is a hole in the eardrum, antibiotic ear drops are used. The provider may recommend using a mild acidic solution (such as vinegar and water) for a hard-to-treat infected ear that has a hole (perforation). A surgeon may need to clean out (debride) tissue that has gathered inside the ear.

Other surgeries that may be needed include:

Outlook (Prognosis)

Chronic ear infections often respond to treatment. However, your child may need to keep taking medicines for several months.

Chronic ear infections are not life threatening. However, they can be uncomfortable and may result in hearing loss and other serious complications.

Possible Complications

A chronic ear infection may cause permanent changes to the ear and nearby bones, including:

Hearing loss from damage to the middle ear may slow language and speech development. This is more likely if both ears are affected.

Permanent hearing loss is rare, but the risk increases with the number and length of infections.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Contact your provider if:

Prevention

Getting prompt treatment for an acute ear infection may reduce the risk of developing a chronic ear infection. Have a follow-up exam with your provider after an ear infection has been treated to make sure that it is completely cured.

Related Information

Ear infection - acute
Otitis
Mastoiditis
Cholesteatoma
Epidural abscess

References

Chole RA, Sharon JD. Chronic otitis media, mastoiditis, and petrositis. In: Flint PW, Francis HW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 140.

Ironside JW, Smith C. Central and peripheral nervous systems. In: Cross SS, ed. Underwood's Pathology. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 26.

Kerschner JE, Preciado D. Otitis media. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 658.

Pelton SI. Otitis externa, otitis media, and mastoiditis. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 61.

Rosenfeld RM, Tunkel DE, Schwartz SR, et al. Clinical Practice Guideline: Tympanostomy tubes in children (update). Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2022;166(1_suppl):S1-S55. PMID: 35138954 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35138954/.

Steele DW, Adam GP, Di M, Halladay CH, Balk EM, Trikalinos TA. Effectiveness of tympanostomy tubes for otitis media: a meta-analysis. Pediatrics. 2017;139(6):e20170125. PMID: 28562283 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28562283/.

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Review Date: 1/24/2023  

Reviewed By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Internal review and update on 02/03/2024 by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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