Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content
Menu

Ear Otitis Media

Ear Otitis Media - How to prevent?

Ear Otitis Media - Treatments

​When Should Otitis Media With Effusion Be Treated?

When symptoms of hearing loss persist, particularly at a time when a child is learning to speak, medical evaluation and treatment are recommended. Hearing loss is the single most important cause of a child having delayed speech.

Treatment Options

To improve eustachian tube function, a variety of medication may be used. Antibiotics, decongestants and nasal sprays are the more common ones. If this fails, surgical options will then be explored. For children, the operations performed are Myringotomy & Tube insertion (M&T) with or without adenoidectomy.

Surgery

Surgery to treat otitis media with effusion at KKH 

M&T is done under general anaesthesia as a day surgery. This simple procedure generally takes about 15 minutes and involves making a cut on the drum and placing a tiny ventilation tube through it. This thus allows ventilation of the middle ear. Admission to the hospital is required only when adenoidectomy is done as well. Generally, a total of 48 hours' stay is required.

Shortly after admission, blood tests will be carried out. The child will be required to fast overnight i.e. no food or drink after 12 midnight before the operation. For a younger child, a shorter period of fasting might be sufficient, depending on the anaesthetist's assessment.

Ear Otitis Media - Other Information

The information provided is not intended as medical advice. Terms of use. Information provided by SingHealth

TOP
Discover articles,videos, and guides afrom Singhealth's resources across the web. These information are collated, making healthy living much easier for everyone.