Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Otitis Media
Otitis Media
Otitis Media
Otitis media is the medical term for middle-ear disease. It comes from the Greek
word otitis which means inflammation of the ear and the Latin word media which
means middle. Thus, otitis media simply means inflammation or infection of the
middle ear. This disease is a common childhood ailment which may affect many
children before the age of five years. Seventy-five per cent of all children will have at
least one episode of Otitis Media by the age of five (Board of Studies, 1994).
ABS Statistics 2012-13
Comparison between Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander to non-Indigenous people.
Risk Factors
Macro-Social Level: Influences that are developed and
lead from a national and state perspective; factors
typically driven by government priorities that are often
the levers used to address the health needs of the
population, improve equity and add quality to services
and outcomes.
Community Level: Factors surrounding the individual in
their immediate natural and build environment; factors
that are not in the individual's control to influence but a
person's access to these factors is paramount for these
protective factors to be effective and enable an
individual behaviour to be carried out.
Individual Behaviours: Individual behaviours that are
required to protect ears and promote good hearing;
behaviours that an individual has control over and the
ability to directly influence.
Pulling at the
Dizzy/Clumsy
ear
Signs of
Fever Middle Ear Grizzly/Grumpy
disease
Signs of hearing loss associated with
middle ear disease might include:
decreased asking to
asking to alertness repeat things
turn
sounds up
watching
signs of others for
boredom cues
behaviour
problems
poor
concentration
How is Otitis Media treated?
Antibiotic treatments and Haemophilus influenzae
type b (Hib) vaccination can help reduce the
number of otitis media episodes. Although, the
benefit of antibiotics must be weighed against the
cost and inconvenience of the treatment and the
risk of occasional side effects. There are questions
about which antibiotic is most appropriate, the
optimal length of the treatment, and the number
of episodes required. There is also a risk that the
use of antibiotics could promote the emergence of
antibiotic resistance in otitis media.
Neonatal screening for early identification of
congenital malformations and early intervention
enables timely treatment and management.
Routine child health checks that incorporate ear
and hearing assessments allow for early
identification, management and treatment, and if
necessary, fitting of hearing aids.
Treatments continued
A variety of treatment programs to improve the ear health of
Indigenous children has been developed and implemented,
including screening, surveillance, and medical and surgical
therapy. These strategies require coordination of multiple health
service providers, including Aboriginal health workers, general
practitioners, audiologists and ear, nose and throat specialists.
The development and use of Indigenous-specific clinical care
guidelines are important components of effective treatment.
Prevention
The best way to prevent children getting ear disease is to have
their ears checked every time they see the health worker,
nurse or doctor. The following are also recommended:
Keep children clean (wash their hands and
faces regularly)
Ensure children eat healthy foods like fruit and vegetables.
If unavailable, use frozen or canned fruit and vegetables.
Make sure children get all their vaccinations; get children to blow their nose,
then wash their hands. Nose blowing opens up the Eustachian tube. This
helps get fresh air into the middle ear space. (balloon activity)
Australian Hearing
Marathon Health Dubbo Healthy Ears Better Hearing, Better Listening Program
(primary health for Indigenous children and youth (0-21yrs) for diagnosis, treatment
and management of ear and hearing health.