In children this tube is small and straight which allows infection to pass through easier. Inside this space are three small bones that pick up sound vibrations from the ear drum and move them to the inner ear where the brain reads nerve impulses as sound. Air is an important part of moving these vibrations through the middle ear. When a child has a cold, bacteria or virus can move to the ear through the small tube that connects it to the nose. This tube swells and fluid produced by the infection gets trapped in the middle ear.
Pressure builds as the fluid increases and pushes against the ear drum causing pain.
Until the infection is cured and the fluid drains out, your child may also have temporary hearing loss. In children with normal hearing , their hearing almost always returns after the infection clears up. After the infection is gone, fluid can stay in the middle ear for weeks or months and continue to interfere with proper hearing. Middle ear infections are treated with antibiotics in pill or liquid form several times a day for up to 10 days. Your healthcare provider will decide which drug is right for your child.