Patient's question:
Boy, 6 years old, got water in his ear while learning to swim. Please ask: What are the symptoms of otitis media in children?Doctor's answer:
Otitis commonly presents with symptoms such as a feeling of fullness or blockage in the ear, hearing loss, and dizziness. It often recurs after a cold or occurs unnoticed. At times, changes in head position may stabilize hearing. There may be increased self-perceived sound. Some patients experience mild ear pain. In children, it is often inattentiveness or sluggishness.1. Hearing Loss: Hearing impairment accompanied by increased self-perceived sound. When the head is tilted forward or to the healthy side, hearing may temporarily stabilize due to fluid returning to the cochlea (positional hearing stability). If the fluid is viscous, hearing may not change with head position. Children often show delayed responses to sound, inattentiveness, and declining academic performance, leading parents to bring them for medical attention. If only one ear is affected while the other is normal, it may go unnoticed for a long time and only be discovered during a health check.