Did you know that Otitis Media with Effusion (OME), also known as Glue Ear, affects around 200,000 children every year in the UK? It is most common in children under the age of ten. The exact cause of Glue Ear is unknown and we still know little about this common childhood condition. One of the main causes is dysfunction of the Eustachian tube. Eustachian tube is a narrow tube that runs from the middle ear to the back of the throat:
It has been found that children are more affected by adults because their Eustachian tube is smaller and more horizontal and is less efficient in draining fluid from the middle ear. Other suggested causes include:
- Changes in air pressure inside the middle ear
- Ear infections
- Inflammation of the Eustachian tube caused by allergic reactions
- Swollen adenoid glands
Мiew our infographic and learn more about the causes, symptoms and treatment of Glue Ear:
