Why Do Kids Get Ear Infections
Kids get ear infections more than adults do for several reasons:
- Their shorter, more horizontal eustachian tubes let bacteria and viruses find their way into the middle ear more easily. The tubes are also narrower, so more likely to get blocked.
- Their adenoids, gland-like structures at the back of the throat, are larger and can interfere with the opening of the eustachian tubes.
Other things that can put kids at risk include secondhand smoke, bottle-feeding, and being around other kids in childcare. Ear infections are more common in boys than girls.
Ear infections are not contagious, but the colds that sometimes cause them can be. Infections are common during winter weather, when many people get upper respiratory tract infections or colds .
How An Ear Infection Can Cause Pain When Swallowing
Ear infections can develop when you have a virus, a sinus infection, or allergies. While the eustachian tubes normally drain fluid from the ears, these tubes can become clogged and cause fluid to build up in the ears, leading to ear pain and pressure. When you yawn, sneeze or swallow, the tubes open up to relieve that pressure, which can be painful. Call your ENT doctor if you experience ear pain for a week along with a fever or drainage from the ear.
Oral Health Problems That Lead To Ear Pain
Sometimes, an ear infection can cause tooth pain. In other instances, dental problems can lead to earaches. When determining the cause of your pain, Dr. Mortensen will examine your mouth, and discuss your symptoms and medical history with you.
For the majority of patients, these dental conditions can be the source of ear pain.
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Are There Other Signs I Should Watch For
Vomiting and nausea may occur during the acute phase of otitis interna. If the facial nerve, which is located in the area of the inner ear, is damaged by an inner ear infection, your dog may develop some of the following symptoms:
- drooling from the side of the mouth
- difficulty eating and dropping food
- inability to blink
- development of dry eye in the unblinking eye or Dry Eye in Dogs)
- eye discharge
- drooping of the eyelids, lips, and nostrils on the affected side
- signs of Horners syndrome which include uneven pupil size, called anisocoria, prominent third eyelid, and drooping upper eyelid on the affected side
With long-term facial nerve paralysis the face may actually twist toward the side of the ear infection.
Additional signs include redness in the affected ear and discharge with a foul odor. The outer ear canal may become thickened and hard to the touch from chronic inflammation and the lymph node at the base of the chin on the affected side may become enlarged. Your dog may become reluctant to move at all, preferring to sit or lay in one spot and his head may swing from side to side, even at rest. You may also notice short, rapid, side-to-side movements of the eyeballs called nystagmus.
Treatments And Tips For Ear Infections
To help your little one feel better and recover quickly from ear infections there are a few things you can do. Whether they are teething or not, these are the best ways to soothe an earache.
Make sure that your child gets lots of rest and sleep, it will be easier for them to fight an infection when they aren’t overtired, and keep giving fluid regularly to your child if they are suffering from an ear infection. This should help improve itchy ears and eardrum pain in the middle ear.
If your baby is over three months of age, you might be able to use baby Paracetamol or Ibuprofen Suspension to help ease the pain and reduce fever in your little one. Make sure to check the packet carefully and ask your doctor or pharmacist how much to give your child.
In some cases, a doctor might prescribe antibiotics for ear infection treatment. Antibiotics will help children heal fluid in the ear caused by the bacteria, and reduce their fever, but it is important to speak to a doctor to know what they recommend. Often with viral ear infections, the antibiotics won’t actually help your child feel less ear pain, so the doctor might not recommend them for all children.
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Symptoms And Types Of Ear Infections In Dogs
The symptoms apparent in cases of otitis media or interna are largely dependent on how severe and extensive the infection is. Signs may range from no visible symptoms whatsoever, to apparent nervous system involvement. If symptoms appear, they may include pain when opening the mouth, reluctance to chew, shaking the head, pawing at the affected ear, tilting the head, leaning to the side of the affected ear, and an altered sense of balance . If both ears are affected by inflammation, further symptoms may include wide swinging movements of the head, wobbly uncoordinated body movement, and deafness.
Additional symptoms may include vomiting and nausea, unequally sized pupils, redness of the ears, ear discharge, a grey bulging eardrum , and in severe cases, signs associated with nervous system damage such as facial nerve damage .
Use Olive Oil To Relieve Swelling In The Ear
One of the main causes of a swollen ear canal and a subsequent ear infection is wax in the ear catching some fungal or bacterial growth leading to a blockage in the Eustachian tubes. You can easily clear the obstruction with the help of olive oil.
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Ear Pain Is A Common Symptom Of An Infected Rear Molar
It is fairly common for patients to experience ear pain before root canal therapy. If you have an infected upper molar, the bacteria may cause damage and pain in nerves that are very close to your ear.
In fact, itâs not unheard of for patients to think they have an earache when they actually have an infected rear tooth, since a severe toothache can cause similar pain and discomfort. If your root canal is successful, this pain will be completely eliminated. So, what might it mean if you still have ear pain after a root canal?
Is Your Ear Pain An Infection Or Tmj
TMJ is sometimes called the great imposter because it shares so many symptoms with other conditions. Thats partly because TMJ symptoms are so numerous, diverse, and widespread that its hard to see them as connected with each other or with your jaw joint.
One common confusion is that people with TMJ may think they just have an ear infection. Ear symptoms are common in TMJ nearly 80% of people with TMJ report ear symptoms. But if you have symptoms of ear infection that recur, persist, or dont respond to usual treatment, you should consider that you might have TMJ.
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Serious Ear Pain After Your Root Canal Indicates That Treatment Has Failed
If you are experiencing serious pain and discomfort near your ear and your treated tooth after your root canal, chances are that your root canal treatment has failed. This indicates that the pulp and root canal of your tooth may not have been cleaned properly. If your tooth is not completely disinfected, the infection can continue to attack your tooth structure.
Itâs also possible that there is a crack or damage to the filling or crown that was used to restore and protect your tooth. This could lead to re-infection and decay of the root canal site.
Contact us right away for an oral exam and to get endodontic retreatment to eliminate the infection. If you suspect your root canal treatment has failed and you need a second opinion or want a different dentist to treat you, Dr. Annese is always here to help.
When Else Are Antibiotics Needed
Antibiotics can be the right treatment for kids who get a lot of ear infections. Their doctors might prescribe daily antibiotics to help prevent future infections. And younger children or those with more severe illness may need antibiotics right from the start.
The “wait-and-see” approach also might not apply to children with other concerns, such as cleft palate, genetic conditions such as Down syndrome, or other illnesses such as immune system disorders.
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How Are Ear Infections Treated
To treat an ear infection, health care providers consider many things, including:
- the type and severity of the ear infection
- how often the child has ear infections
- how long this infection has lasted
- the child’s age and any risk factors
- whether the infection affects hearing
The type of otitis affects treatment options. Not all kinds need to be treated with antibiotics. Because most ear infections can clear on their own, many doctors take a “wait-and-see” approach. Kids will get medicine for pain relief without antibiotics for a few days to see if the infection gets better.
Antibiotics aren’t routinely prescribed because they:
- won’t help an infection caused by a virus
- won’t get rid of middle ear fluid
- can cause side effects
- usually don’t relieve pain in the first 24 hours and have only a minimal effect after that
Also, overuse of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which are much harder to treat.
If a doctor does prescribe antibiotics, a 10-day course is usually recommended. Kids age 6 and older who don’t have a severe infection might take a shortened course for 5 to 7 days.
Some children, such as those with recurrent infections and those with lasting hearing loss or speech delay, may need ear tube surgery. An ear, nose, and throat doctor will surgically insert tubes that let fluid drain from the middle ear. This helps equalize the pressure in the ear.
Hematoma Of The Ear In Cats
Ear hematomas are a collection of blood, either fresh or clotted, within the pinna. Excessive or violent shaking causes one or more blood vessels to break, resulting in bleeding into the space between the ear cartilage and skin on the inner surface of the ear. There is often an underlying cause which must be treated but additionally, surgery or drainage should be done to help relieve discomfort. Failure to treat will lead to a misshapen ear caused by damage from inflammation.
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Treatment And Prevention Tips For Ear Pain When Chewing
Painkillers, antibiotics, ear drops, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can all help reduce pain in the ear while chewing, but there are a few natural things you can do to improve discomfort as wellmost specifically a change in diet. Avoid eating food products that require a lot of chewing. Opt for soft foods, such as dairy products, tofu, fruits , and well-cooked ground meat.
Since the most common cause of ear pain in adults comes from TMD, here are a few measures you can take to resolve flare-ups:
- Apply an ice pack to the side of your face that is in pain and leave it on for about 10 minutes. After you remove the ice pack, perform a few simple jaw stretches. Afterward, hold a warm towel to the area for five minutes. Repeat a few times daily.
- Keep yawning and gum-chewing to a minimum
- Dont yell or sing and avoid anything that requires you to open your mouth wide.
- Avoid resting your chin on your hand for too long.
- Try not to hold your phone between your shoulder and ear, as it puts unnecessary pressure on the jaw.
- If you clench or grind your teeth during the day, stick your tongue between them to avoid doing it. Use a mouth guard at night to prevent involuntary teeth grinding.
- Use caution when chewing by consuming soft food and avoid crunching on candy or ice chips.
Why Does My Toddler Get Ear Infections Repeatedly
Toddlers have shorter, narrower, and horizontal eustachian tubes than adults, which makes it easy for bacteria to enter, but difficult for the middle ears fluids to exit. Toddlers also have weaker immune system than older children. These factors make them prone to repeated ear infections. However, if parents actively work on it, they can easily prevent chronic ear infections.
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It’s Easy To Get The Care You Need
See a Premier Physician Network provider near you.
Though an earache might be something most people remember from childhood, adults are not immune from this kind of health issue.
Ear pain in adults is less likely to be caused by an ear infection than ear pain in children, according to the National Institutes of Health .
In adults, the NIH states that the pain is more likely caused by one of a variety of issues, including:
- Arthritis of the jaw
- Ear injury from pressure changes
- Hole in the eardrum
- Object stuck in the ear
- Short-term ear infection
- Tooth infection
Symptoms of an earache can include pain, fever, ear drainage, nausea, and vomiting, according to the NIH.
When an adult has an earache, its important to treat the root cause of the problem, even if that problem isnt directly related to the ear, such as arthritis of the jaw, according to the NIH.
If you experience ear pain that doesnt go away or gets worse within 24 to 48 hours you should call your doctors office, according to the NIH.
Also call your doctor if you have severe pain that suddenly stops, according to the NIH. This could be a sign that your eardrum has ruptured.
The type of earache will determine the best treatment. The NIH recommends that:
Persistent Throat And Ear Pain
Throat and ear pain may come and go or it may be constant and persistent, depending on what is causing the symptoms.
For example, acid reflux is more likely to cause pain that is worse in the morning and subsides later in the day. Seasonal allergies, strep throat, and mononucleosis are more likely to come with throat and ear pain that does not go away until the conditions are treated.
See your healthcare provider if your sore throat lasts longer than two weeks.
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How Is Otitis Interna Treated
Otitis interna is a very serious condition. If your dog is unable to eat or drink normally due to nausea or disorientation, then hospitalization for intravenous fluid therapy is generally warranted. Nausea must be controlled and dehydration avoided. It may also be necessary to sedate or anesthetize your dog in order to adequately see the ear tissues, take samples for bacterial culture, and appropriately clean the ear.
Treatment of the underlying infection is very important, and your veterinarian will prescribe the appropriate medications. Medications will be administered directly in the ear and orally. Antibiotics will be used for a bacterial infection for 6-8 weeks minimum. If the infection is fungal in nature, an anti-fungal medication will be prescribed. Whatever medications are chosen, it is critical that they be given precisely as prescribed.
“If your dog has an altered balance, restrict his activity during treatment to prevent falling injuries.”
If your dog has an altered balance, restrict his activity during treatment to prevent falling injuries. These dogs should not have access to stairs as they may take a tumble. You may also need to hand feed your dog temporarily – reaching down into a dish may stimulate nausea.
Finding The Right Ms Doctor
My primary care physician referred me to a doctor at an affiliated hospital. After waiting a month for an appointment, that first doctors visit was awful. He gave me binders full of drug information and didnt answer any of my questions. I left the hospital in tears.
I had encountered four different people who had the exact same story. One person, a nurse who took care of me in the hospital, told me how he had gone to four different neurologists and ended up with one he loves. I finally made it to that doctor, and the people I talked to were absolutely right.
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Can Ear Infections Affect Hearing
Fluid buildup in the middle ear also blocks sound, which can lead to temporary hearing problems. Kids having a problem might:
- not respond to soft sounds
- need to turn up the TV or radio
- talk louder
- seem inattentive at school
In kids who have otitis media with effusion, the fluid behind the eardrum can block sound, so mild temporary hearing loss can happen, but might not be obvious.
A child whose eardrum has ruptured might have ringing or buzzing in the ear and not hear as well as usual.
Symptoms That Teething And Ear Infections Share
There are a lot of symptoms of teething and ear infections that are pretty similar, so it can be hard to tell them apart when your child is feeling unwell.
If your little one is waking more frequently in the night, then they might be teething, or have an ear infection. Fussiness during the day or at night can be a sure sign something is wrong with your baby, with many different causes.
Flushed red cheeks are another symptom that could point to either teething or an ear infection.
If your little one is restless, irritable, and has a reduced appetite, then it’s most likely that something is wrong. Check with the symptoms below to try to identify if this is an ear infection or if your child is teething.
Cheek rubbing is often something your child will do when they have ear pain or sore gums, so this could point to either cause. If your baby is ear pulling or hitting their ears, this could be because of pain in their ears, but it also could actually be caused by teething pains. Often babies can’t detect the exact place their pain is coming from, so they think that ear pulling will help. If they haven’t got a fever or any cold symptoms, then this is probably a symptom of their teething pain.
If your baby is refusing to lie flat on their back, it could be because they have an ear infection or because of teething pains.
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