Middle ear effusion, also known as glue ear, is caused by blockages in the Eustachian tubes and is more common in young children. It can result from respiratory infections, allergies, and sudden changes in air pressure. Symptoms include partial hearing loss and pressure in the ear.
Middle ear effusion is a condition in which a thick, sticky fluid builds up in the middle of the ear and is also known as otitis media with effusion (OME) or colloquially as glue ear. While this condition is not caused by the presence of bacteria or infection, recent bouts with an ear infection can make the individual more prone to middle ear effusion. The fluid buildup associated with middle ear effusion is actually the result of blockages in the Eustachian tubes.
Fluid in the middle ear can be the result of several sources. Blockages in the Eustachian tubes, the small tubes that connect the ears to the back of the throat and allow fluids to drain and air pressure to equalize, are the most common cause of middle ear effusion. When the Eustachian tubes become clogged or swollen, normal drainage of fluid in the middle ear is hampered.
Middle ear effusion is usually not painful and produces no obvious symptoms of disease, but there are some signs you should look out for. Individuals who complain of partial hearing loss or a feeling of pressure in the ear may experience the effects of middle ear effusion. Particularly in young children, the presence of OME may go unnoticed until a doctor does an ear exam.
Although Eustachian tube blockages and middle ear effusion can happen to anyone at any time, the condition appears to be more common in the winter or spring, times when airborne contaminants are often at their peak levels. The condition also tends to affect young children, 2 years of age and younger, more often than older children and adults. The commonly accepted medical explanation for this is the fact that younger children have Eustachian tubes and an incompletely developed immune system. Eustachian tubes are smaller, more flexible, and more easily blocked, and a child’s immune system hasn’t matured enough to ward off many of the diseases that older children and adults rarely suffer from.
Common causes of Eustachian tube blockages and subsequent middle ear effusion include smoking and other irritants, allergic reactions to airborne allergens, and respiratory infections. In addition to causes and airborne infections, blockage of the Eustachian tube can also be the result of sudden changes in air pressure, such as during takeoff and landing of an airplane. It can also be caused by the pressure encountered while scuba diving or other factors.
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