Purulent Otitis: What It Is, Symptoms, and How Long It Lasts

A familiar picture: a child cries half the night and pulls at their ear, and in the morning there is a stain from yellow discharge on the pillow. This is the very purulent otitis that parents of young children encounter quite often. Let's calmly sort out what is happening inside and how long this usually lasts.

What purulent otitis is

Purulent otitis is an inflammation of the middle ear, the cavity behind the eardrum where the auditory ossicles are located. The inflammatory process in the middle ear, as a rule, is purulent: purulent exudate accumulates in the cavity, pressing on the eardrum and nerve plexuses. Acute otitis media is one of the most common reasons parents bring a child to the doctor.

Why purulent otitis develops

The middle ear connects to the nasopharynx via the Eustachian tube, which normally drains fluid. If the tube swells and becomes blocked, fluid accumulates and becomes infected. Most often this is preceded by an acute respiratory infection: the virus damages the mucosa of the tube, and pathogenic flora penetrates from the nasopharynx into the tympanic cavity. Among the causative agents are streptococci, staphylococci, pneumococci, and Haemophilus influenzae. Allergies, a runny nose and sinusitis, enlarged adenoids, tobacco smoke, and bottle-feeding while lying on the back also contribute to this.

Symptoms of purulent otitis

Symptoms usually appear within a few hours. In children and adults, these are ear pain, sometimes quite severe, a feeling of fullness and pressure, hearing loss, elevated temperature, general malaise, a runny nose, cough, and loss of appetite. In infants, the main sign is restlessness and crying that is hard to soothe, and disturbed sleep. If the eardrum ruptures, ear discharge appears and the pain subsides.

• Pain and pressure inside the ear
• High temperature and general malaise
• Hearing deterioration on the affected side
• Yellow or green ear discharge
• In young children — restlessness, crying, refusal to eat

Stages of acute purulent otitis and how long it lasts

The inflammation goes through several stages: first swelling and serous exudate, then it becomes viscous, and as the purulent process develops, the air spaces fill with pus. When the eardrum perforates, otorrhea begins, after which the inflammation subsides and recovery processes take place. In terms of timing, most ear infections resolve on their own within 3 days, although sometimes symptoms persist for up to a week. The diagnosis of acute otitis media is made when pain begins within 48 hours and the eardrum bulges.

Possible complications and diagnosis

Most often this is not a serious problem that ends in recovery, but infections can recur, and children may have a slight temporary hearing loss. With inadequate treatment, acute otitis sometimes becomes chronic. The doctor examines the ear with an otoscope: redness, bulging of the eardrum, fluid, or perforation are visible. With recurrent otitis, a hearing test may be suggested.

When to see a doctor urgently

You should see a doctor if ear pain does not go away within 3 days, if otitis recurs, and also if otitis is suspected in a child under one year of age. You should seek urgent medical attention if, against the background of otitis symptoms, the person feels very unwell, has a very high temperature or chills, swelling around the ear, ear discharge, changes in hearing, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, or severe sore throat.

Purulent otitis in itself is not a reason to call an ambulance; 103/112 — if the condition sharply worsens against the background of otitis, urgent help is needed.

This material is for reference: it helps to understand what is happening, but does not replace a doctor's examination — it is better to entrust the ear to a specialist.

This content is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation. Medical disclaimer