Question
What are the effects of not treating pediatric otitis media promptly?
Answer
If otitis media is not treated in time, the fluid in the ear may not be absorbed, leading to secondary diseases such as tympanic sclerosis, adhesive otitis media, and cholesterol granuloma, resulting in permanent hearing loss and making treatment very difficult. The infant and toddler period is a great time for language learning. If hearing difficulties cause language learning disorders, it’s as if a window to the child’s recognition and perception of the world is closed, severely affecting the child’s mental development. Experts point out that some parents have misconceptions about secretory otitis media; some believe that as long as the ears do not come into contact with unclean water, they will not get otitis media; others think that only when the ears have pus does it indicate secretory otitis media, thus delaying the treatment. Otitis media has many types and is one of the common ear diseases during winter and spring. Parents must be vigilant about their child’s behavior and seek medical treatment at an ear, nose, and throat hospital as soon as they discover any abnormalities.