3. Viral Infection
Otitis media occurs due to bacterial or viral infection of the middle ear. Viral infections present similar symptoms to bacterial infections, but they are not as persistent as the bacterial type, and most cases clear up on their own, without the need for medical intervention. In some cases, viral infections can pave the way for a more serious bacterial infection.
Rhinovirus is an example of a virus that’s responsible for the development of the common cold, and medical science identified this virus as a leading cause of otitis media as well. Rhinovirus causes inflammation and swelling in the membranes of the airways, resulting in a disruption of breathing.
Should the virus find its way into the throat, it may start to migrate up the Eustachian tube that connects to the middle ear, causing a blockage that leads to the buildup of fluids and pus in the space behind the eardrum – leading to the onset of otitis media.