Ear infection can be bacteria or viral. There are many ear infection symptoms and the treatment for each infection depends on the severity of the infection. The ear infection symptoms can occur in the middle ear behind the eardrum or also in the inner or outer ear. These symptoms often clear up on their own. But, it can be painful due to inflammation or fluid buildup.
Patients with ear infections should not ignore its symptoms, leading to hearing loss problems. You can consult an ENT specialist at Deccan hospital for severe ear pain or discomfort.
Ear infection symptoms
Ear infection can be acute and chronic. Acute ear infections are painful but short in duration. There can be chances that ear infections and their symptoms don’t go by themselves or may recur many times. Ear infections can damage the middle and inner ear and frequently be permanent.
Common ear infection symptoms include:
- mild pain
- discomfort inside your ear
- a feeling of pressure inside your ear
- pus-like ear drainage
- hearing loss
These symptoms may come and go in intervals. Symptoms may also occur in one or both ears. The pain usually doubles when the symptoms occur in both ears.
Chronic ear infection symptoms are less noticeable than those acute ear infection symptoms.
Ear infection symptoms in children
The symptoms may differ in adults and children. Adults may face ear pain and drainage while young children may suffer the signs of infection, including
- Pulling the ear frequently
- fever
- not able to listen to the voices or may get confused to recognition
- frequently losing balance
- headache
- fussiness or restlessness
- loss of appetite
Ear infection lasts longer than 3 days, but it can persist for weeks. Children younger than 6 months may have a fever and develop different ear infection symptoms. You may be required to seek immediate medical attention if your child’s fever is higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit or 39 degrees celsius along with severe ear pain.
What are the ear infections causes and what are their risk factors?
Ear infections can be caused because of viruses and bacteria. They often result in the blockage of Eustachian tubes, which causes fluid build-up in the inner ear. Eustachian tubes are the tubes running from each ear and connect directly with the throat.
Causes of Eustachian tube blockage include:
- Allergies or allergens like dust particles, pollen, and crystals of spices or others
- colds
- sinus infections
- excess mucus
- smoking
- changes in air pressure causing the eardrums to feel the pressure of air, giving a different feel of irritation to the ears and sensations
Ear infections can also develop because of the infected adenoids. Adenoids are the glands on the roof of the mouth behind the nose. They protect the body from infections. If there is any occurrence of infection, it spreads first from these glands and goes near the end of eustachian tubes.
Ear infections and their risk factors
Ear infections can also affect young children. This is because children are small and possess narrow Eustachian tubes or the developing immune system that is still under development of creating strength against diseases or disorders. It affects nearly 80% of children at some point. Infants are bottle-fed and develop higher incidences of ear infections.
Other factors that cause the increase in the development of risk are:
- altitude changes
- Change in humidity and temperature
- cigarette smoke or secondary exposure
- pacifier use
- recent illness or previously ill by an ear infection
- low birth weight
- lack of access to healthcare
Development of ear infections and their potential complications
Ear infections usually clear up without any intervention. But, there can be chances that it may recur. These are rare but appears with most serious complications and may have the following symptoms:
- Hearing loss
- Speech or language delay
- Mastoiditis
- Meningitis
- Ruptured eardrum
How are ear infection symptoms treated?
While most ear infections occur without any intervention, they can be treated with the following remedies:
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Home treatment
These are the effective treatments that help in relieving the mild symptoms of ear infection:
- Use a cloth dipped in warm water and put it on the ear
- Take over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen
- Use a doctor’s prescription and ear drops to relieve pain.
- Avoid sleeping on the side of the affected ear.
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Medical treatment
If your symptoms get worse or don’t improve, see a doctor. They may prescribe antibiotics if your ear infection is bacterial, chronic, or doesn’t appear to be improving.
Antibiotics don’t help treat viral infections.
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Medical treatment in children
Your doctor may wait and see the approach while treating the child with ear infection symptoms. They may prescribe you antibiotics that may provide you with bacterial resistance. Your doctor may prescribe you even higher doses of your antibiotics for your severe medical condition that may resolve within 2-3 days. Antibiotics may require 2-3 days to produce effects. It is important to follow the entire prescription. It may take 7-10 days. Most often, amoxicillin is prescribed. Also, if your child is going through ear pain because of ear infection symptoms, do not directly give your child aspirin or any other medicine with your doctor’s prescription.
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Surgery
Surgery can be the final option for ear infection symptoms and their severe risk factors. In such a case, ear tubes are placed where the ear tubes allow the fluid to drain out of the ear. These tubes are surgically inserted into the eardrum. They eventually fall out of the ear and sometimes they may require to be surgically closed.
When is the right time to see a doctor?
If you are going through any of the following symptoms, refer immediately to the doctor’s help:
- a fever over 102.2°F
- Pus, or fluid leaking from your ear
- symptoms that are persistent for more than 2 to 3 days
- hearing loss
- other concerning symptoms like frequent pain and sleepless nights
For adults, it is a good idea to look for a doctor’s help if the symptoms are longer than 2-3 days or if you are going through fever or severe pain.
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