Question
My daughter is 4 years and 4 months old. She said her ear hurts, so I took her to get checked and the doctor said she has otitis media. After treatment, her ear doesn’t hurt anymore, but the doctor said there is still fluid inside. It’s only been two months and it has recurred. I know that frequent otitis media can lead to hearing problems. What treatment methods can solve this issue?
Answer
The main cause of secretory otitis media is adenoid hyperplasia, which may block the orifice of the eustachian tube, leading to drainage obstruction and fluid accumulation in the middle ear cavity. Adenoid hypertrophy is a source of infection that can cause retrograde infection of the eustachian tube. Obstructions in the ventilation of the nasal cavity and nasopharynx may also lead to retrograde flow of the eustachian tube, affecting its physiological function. The onset age of pediatric secretory otitis media coincides with the age of lymphoid tissue hyperplasia in the nasopharynx, proving the importance of adenoid hypertrophy in pediatric secretory otitis media. Currently, surgical removal of the adenoids is the best treatment method, with good postoperative effects, generally suitable for children over 4 years old. However, if a child has a “adenoid facies,” recovery may be difficult, which is very regrettable. Whether to undergo surgery should be decided by an otolaryngologist. Adenoid removal under general anesthesia usually has no sequelae, and postoperative care can be referred to in my previous answers. I hope this information helps you.