Ear Infection – Overview, Symptoms & Treatments

Ear infection occurs in the middle ear & the portion behind the eardrum due to viral or bacterial infection. Ear infection can either be chronic or acute. Acute ear pain stays for a short duration but very painful. Whereas, chronic ear infection recur often which can affect & damage the middle & inner ear.

If you are facing severe pains inside your ears, then the cause of the pain need to be detected first and to avail the accurate treatment. Fluid build-up and inflammations inside the Eustachian tube are the two instant consequences of painful ear infections.

If you are experiencing the pain on and often then be serious & take necessary precautions to reduce the severity of the issue. There are advanced treatments available today to overcome hearing difficulties & any kind of hearing disorders. It is recommended to have regular medical check-ups to keep your ears healthy & clean.

Causes of ear infection

• Allergies
• Sinus infections
• Colds
• Tobacco smoking
• Excessive mucus accumulation
• Swollen or infected adenoids

Common signs of ear infection

• Severe pain is one of the most prominent ear infection symptoms. You should never neglect this symptom at all rather you are requested to visit the nearest ENT specialist immediately. Though pulling or tugging ears can cater you temporary relief but if you want to eliminate the root cause, then doctor consultation is a must.
• Sometimes, fever might occur due to chronic ear-pains.
• Bloody or yellowish thick fluid discharge can be another commonest symptom of ear infection. This mostly indicates burst or hole within eardrums.
• Grumpy behaviour, vomiting and appetite loss.
• Trouble sleeping.
• Dizziness and balance disorder.
• Trouble hearing or extreme sensitiveness towards loud noises.
• Pressure or fullness feeling within eardrums. Popping or ringing of ears can also be experienced. Ear-rubbing can help in releasing pressure to some extent.
• Hear-loss causes in extreme cases.
• Severe headache from time to time.

Children are more prominent to get ear infection than adults as their Eustachian tube is short & narrow. When you notice the symptoms in your children then do consult a Paediatric ENT. The incident rate is much higher in infants. Climatic changes, altitude changes are the risk factor leading to ear infection.

Best treatments for ear infection

• Ear infection medication is one of the best treatments and you will get instant relief by choosing the same. In most of the cases, antibiotics are being prescribed by ENT specialists so that quick recovery can be ensured. Some medicines that can be safely used in this regard are ibuprofen and acetaminophen. Children having ear pains are often recommended Aspirin & ear drops for immediate pain relief.

• Warm-compress is an easiest means that can cater immediate results. It can be practiced at home by using moist and warm washcloth. The washcloth needs to be placed over your ears for minimizing the painful sensations. You are free to repeat this procedure for three to four times in a day whenever you are facing a chronic ear pain due to infections.

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