Glue ear
A build up of fluid in the middle ear without any pain.
Symptoms:
- Partial or inconsistent deafness, likely to follow reapeated ear infections that have been treated with antibiotics.
- There is seldom pain involved.
Seriousness:
- This is not an emergency, but is best diagnosed by a doctor.
Treatment:
- General anaesthetic may be required so that a doctor can withdraw fluid from the middle ear.
- In some cases, a small cut is made in the eardrum for a tiny plastic tube (grommet) to be inserted.
- The grommet falls out on its own at a later stage.