What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of An Inner Ear Infection
Ear infections can happen anywhere in your outer, middle or inner ear. The symptoms can be very different depending on where the problem is located. If the infection is in your inner ear then it can have a particularly dramatic effect on your senses of balance and hearing. Read on to learn more about inner ear infections and how they can affect you.
Will An Ear Infection Go Away On Its Own
Parents of a child suffering from a middle ear infection raleigh nc are likely curious about treatment options or if the illness will go away on its own.; To better understand these concerns, and because middle ear infections are the most common cause of ear-related illness in children, this article will examine the characteristics, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of middle ear infections.
Natural Remedies Tend To Be Less Expensive Than Prescription Medications And Homeopathic Treatments
However, if you have the money, you can save more by trying them on your own. As with all natural remedies, they dont come with any side effects. Most of them are fairly inexpensive, and they may even be free depending on where you get them from.
Another thing you can do to treat ear infections treatment necessary is to try to stop it from happening in the first place.
If you have a noisy environment, you might want to consider using some sort of noise masker or earplugs, but dont forget to use the medication for pain until theyre gone.
Ear infections can be incredibly frustrating, but theyre not life threatening. If you get one, take action immediately to make sure that you can treat it. Youll be glad that you did when you get the medicine for pain, too!
If your ear infections treatment necessary is medication for pain, you can find many different options on the Internet today. Just be sure that you read through all the information available, and that you do the research thats needed, to get the right medicine for your pain.
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How To Prevent Ear Infections In Dogs And Puppies
Regular grooming, ear cleaning, and ear maintenance are important parts of pet care. Routine ear cleansing is especially important if your dog swims often.
Cleaning is best accomplished with a professional dog ear cleaning product. These typically have been specifically formulated for effective pH ranges for dogs and contain drying agents.
When Should I Call The Doctor About An Ear Infection
- You or your child develops a stiff neck.
- Your child acts sluggish, looks or acts very sick, or does not stop crying despite all efforts.
- Your childs walk is not steady; he or she is physically very weak.
- You or your childs ear pain is severe.
- You or your child has a fever over 104° F .
- Your child is showing signs of weakness in their face .
- You see bloody or pus-filled fluid draining from the ear.
- The fever remains or comes back more than 48 hours after starting an antibiotic.
- Ear pain is not better after three days of taking an antibiotic.
- Ear pain is severe.
- You have any questions or concerns.
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When Should I Return To My Healthcare Provider For A Follow
Your healthcare provider will let you know when you need to return for a follow-up visit. At that visit, you or your childs eardrum will be examined to be certain that the infection is going away. Your healthcare provider may also want to test you or your child’s hearing.
Follow-up exams are very important, especially if the infection has caused a hole in the eardrum.
Ear Infection Signs And Symptoms
The telltale sign of an ear infection is pain in and around the ear. Young children can develop ear infections before they are old enough to talk. That means parents are often left guessing why their child appears to be suffering. When your child can’t say “my ear hurts,” the following signs suggest an ear infection could be the culprit:
- Tugging or pulling the ear
- Crying and irritability
- Fever, especially in younger children
- Fluid draining from the ear
- Loss of balance
- Difficulty hearing or responding to auditory cues
Signs that require immediate attention include high fever, severe pain, or bloody or pus-like discharge from the ears.
Johns Hopkins Pediatric Otolaryngology
Our pediatric otolaryngologists are committed to providing compassionate and comprehensive care for children with ear, nose, and throat conditions. As part of the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, you have access to all the specialized resources of a children’s hospital. Your child will also benefit from experts who use advanced techniques to treat both common and rare conditions.
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What Causes An Outer Ear Infection
Swimming can lead to an outer ear infection. The water left inside the ear canal can become a breeding ground for bacteria.
An infection can also occur if the thin layer of skin that lines the ear canal is injured. Intense scratching, using headphones, or placing cotton swabs in your ear can damage this delicate skin.
When this layer of skin becomes damaged and inflamed, it can provide a foothold for bacteria. Cerumen is the ears natural defense against infection, but constant exposure to moisture and scratching can deplete the ear of cerumen, making infections more likely.
Severe pain in the face, head, or neck can signify that the infection has advanced considerably. Symptoms accompanied by a fever or swollen lymph nodes may also indicate advancing infection. If you have ear pain with any of these symptoms, see your doctor right away.
Is A Dog Ear Infection An Emergency
If your dog’s head is tilted or it seems to be hearing less than usual, it is possible that the infection may have migrated into the middle or inner ear and the tympanic membrane may have ruptured. This is therefore a more urgent condition.
A swollen, red, warm ear is also more worrying, as it could be an ear hematoma.
Such symptoms should be discussed with a vet.
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What Is An Outer Ear Infection
An outer ear infection is an infection of the outer opening of the ear and the ear canal, which connects the outside of the ear to the eardrum. This type of infection is medically known as otitis externa. One common type of otitis externa is referred to as swimmers ear.
This outer ear infection often results from exposure to moisture. Its common in children, teens, and adults who spend a lot of time swimming. Swimmers ear results in nearly
Watchful Waiting: Who Would Do It
Is watchful waiting ready for U.S. prime time? Harvard researcher Jonathan Finkelstein, MD, MPH, and colleagues note that some experts don’t think it’s a good idea, despite the new treatment guidelines.
To see whether watching and waiting might really work for U.S. kids with otitis media, Finkelstein’s team asked more than 2,000 parents and 160 doctors what they thought about holding off antibiotic treatment. Their findings:
- 38% of parents say they’d be satisfied or extremely satisfied with watchful waiting.
- 40% of parents say they’d be unsatisfied or extremely unsatisfied with watchful waiting.
- 38% of doctors say they never or almost never try watchful waiting.
- 39% of doctors say they “occasionally” try watchful waiting.
- 17% of doctors say they “sometimes” try watchful waiting.
- 6% of doctors say they recommend watchful waiting most of the time.
For parents, the results are clear.
“Parental opinions in a community are likely to change as experience with successful treatment of acute otitis media without antibiotics becomes more common,” Finkelstein and colleagues write.
For doctors, it’s not so clear. While there are community-wide benefits such as a reduction in antibiotic resistance, watchful waiting isn’t a very great benefit to an individual patient. Some experts don’t think it’s a good idea at all. And U.S. doctors tend to prefer active treatment over passive waiting.
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What Is A Middle
The middle ear is the space behind the eardrum, which is connected to the back of the throat by a passageway called the Eustachian tube. Middle ear infections, also called otitis media, can occur when congestion from an allergy or cold blocks the Eustachian tube. Fluid and pressure build up, so bacteria or viruses that have traveled up the Eustachian tube into the middle ear can multiply and cause an ear infection.
Middle ear infections are the most common illness that brings children to a pediatrician and the most common cause of hearing loss in children. Middle ear infections can also cause a hole in the eardrum or spread to nearby areas, such as the mastoid bone. Adults also can get middle ear infections.
Children in day care have an increased risk of middle ear infections. The increased exposure to other infected children increases your child’s chances of getting infected.
Signs That Your Yeast Infection Is Something Else
If you decide to let a yeast infection go away on its own, you should be especially wary of these symptoms which may indicate a more serious problem. If you experience any of the following symptoms, you should contact your doctor and seek treatment immediately.
- Vaginal discharge with a sour, pungent odor may indicate a sexually transmitted infection or disease, including herpes and trichomoniasis.
- Itching near your anus may be a sign of hemorrhoids or other genital infection.
- Blood in your stool/near your vulva is also a symptom of hemorrhoids. Contact your doctor immediately should you experience this.
- Fishy white or gray discharge is a strong odor associated with thin white or grey discharge could indicate Bacterial Vaginosis, a bacterial infection of the vagina.
- Prolonged itchinessis associated with use of a new hygiene product or detergentâallergic reactions to ingredients in soaps or detergents could cause itchiness in the vaginal area. Changing your hygiene regimen may relieve these symptoms.
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How Veterinarians Treat Ear Infections In Dogs
As you can see, cleaning the ears is the important part.
Your veterinarian must take a swab of your dogs ear discharge, look at it under the microscope, maybe even send a sample of it to the lab to be cultured for bacteria, before were able to prescribe the right kind of ear goo for your particular dogs particular infection.
Is it just wax? Or yeast? Or bacteria sensitive to penicillin? Or bacteria resistant to cephalexin? Who knows?! LET YOUR VET DO A SWAB and find out for sure.
Besides, what if your dogs ear infection is caused by allergies? If you and your vet dont treat the allergies, youre just treating the tip of the iceberg.
When Should You Call Your Doctor
- Your child has sudden hearing loss, severe pain, or dizziness.
- Your child seems to be very sick with symptoms such as a high fever and stiff neck.
- You notice redness, swelling, or pain behind or around your child’s ear, especially if your child doesn’t move the muscles on that side of his or her face.
- You can’t quiet your child who has a severe earache by using home treatment over several hours.
- Your baby pulls or rubs his or her ear and appears to be in pain .
- Your child’s ear pain increases even with treatment.
- Your child has a fever of 38.3°C or higher with other signs of ear infection.
- You suspect that your child’s eardrum has burst, or fluid that looks like pus or blood is draining from the ear.
- Your child has an object stuck in his or her ear.
- Your child with an ear infection continues to have symptoms after 48 hours of treatment with an antibiotic.
- Your child with an ear tube develops an earache or has drainage from his or her ear.
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Living With An Ear Infection
If your child suffers from several ear infections each year, youll want to look out for symptoms every time they have a stuffy nose or congestion.
Never stick anything in your childs ear to relieve the pain of an ear infection, to remove the tubes or remove a foreign object. See your childs doctor to have it removed.
What Is An Ear Infection
An ear infection, officially known as otitis media is the inflammation of the middle ear. It is usually caused by bacteria that materializes when fluid builds up behind the eardrum.;
The three main types of ear infections are acute otitis media, otitis media with effusion, and chronic otitis media with effusion.;
Acute otitis media;is the most common and this is what typically causes an earache. Sometimes this can be a dull pain and sometimes it can feel like stabbing ear pain.;
In AOM, the middle ear becomes swollen and infected due to fluid behind the eardrum. AOM can also cause a fever. Sometimes this can be a dull pain and sometimes it can feel like stabbing ear pain.;
Otitis media with Effusion ;can happen if an ear infection doesnt totally clear up and fluid stays behind the eardrum. Kids who have these infections might not have any symptoms, but a doctor can see the fluid.;
Chronic otitis media with effusion ;occurs when fluid stays in the middle ear for an extended period of time or continues to return, even if there isnt an infection. This type of ear infection makes it difficult for kids to fight off new infections and can negatively impact their hearing.;
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Why Do Kids Get So Many Ear Infections
The NIH points to several reasons why kids are more likely to get ear infections:
- Childrens eustachian tubes are smaller and more level than those of adults. This means its harder for fluid to drain from the ear, so if a childs tubes get blocked by mucus from another respiratory infection, fluid may not drain properly.
- Childrens immune systems are still developing so it can be harder for them to fight infections.
- In children, if bacteria gets trapped in the adenoids , it can cause a chronic infection that gets passed to the eustachian tubes and middle ear.
How Long Does It Take To Recover From Yeast Infection
How long does a yeast infection last? Without treatment, it takes 3â7 days to recover from a yeast infection. It can take 1â2 weeks to recover from a moderate to severe yeast infection.
If you are experiencing symptoms of a yeast infection, it is important to seek medical treatment for the following reasons:
- It may not be what you think â Yeast infection symptoms are similar to those of other genital infections and sexually transmitted infections. Before you choose not to treat the problem, you need to know exactly what the problem is.
- It could get worse â Even if your symptoms start out mild, choosing not to treat them could make the infection worse. If the cause of your yeast infection is environmental or because of a lifestyle habit, not treating yourself could make your body more vulnerable to other infections.
- It could infect your partner â Choosing to opt out of treatment when you have a sexual partner can cause problems for the both of you. Yeast infections can be transmitted back and forth through genital contact. Without treatment and with continued sexual contact, your partner may develop a yeast infection. The infection may continue to be transmitted until one of you seeks treatment.
In mild cases of yeast infection, the problem may go away by itself. However, without knowing the cause of your yeast infection, choosing not to treat your infection may make it worse.
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Does My Child Need To Take Medicine
Even if your child does have an ear infection, they still might not need antibiotics. Many children will start to feel better within a day, and by the end of a week 75 percent will feel better without medicine. Instead of antibiotics, painkillers can help with any discomfort. That said, a lot of factors are considered before going this route. For example, if the child is younger than 6 months old, or their symptoms are severe, antibiotics are almost always prescribed.
A childs overall health is considered before choosing to hold off on taking medicine. A child prone to illness might not be a good candidate for waiting, CEENTA ENT doctorRoss Udoff, MD, said.
In some cases, a doctor will give parents a prescription, but tell them to wait two or three days before filling it. If the childs health improves, they dont need the prescription.
Also, ear infections might be caused by a virus. If thats the case, antibiotics wont work, since they are only effective against bacteria.
Many doctors will try to avoid prescribing antibiotics if not needed, because many strains of bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics. In fact, some bacteria have become immune to them.
This blog is forinformational purposes only. For specific medical questions, please consultyour physician. Dr. Udoff practices in our Monroe office. To make an appointment with him or any of CEENTAs ENT doctors, call 704-295-3000. You can also schedule an appointment online or through myCEENTAchart.
Immediate Antibiotics Vs Watchful Waiting
David McCormick, MD, of the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, led a study of 223 kids aged 6 months to 12 years with nonsevere otitis media. The kids had symptoms of a middle ear infection, had fluid in their ear but did not have a serious infection.
Half of the kids got antibiotics –10 days of twice-a-day amoxicillin. The other half were sent home, and their parents were told to wait to see if their children got better. If they didn’t, they came back for antibiotic treatment.
In the first 12 days, the children in the treatment group tended to get over their symptoms more quickly. They needed fewer doses of pain medication. However, these kids were also more likely to harbor drug-resistant germs. And early treatment did not keep some of these kids from having recurrent otitis media within 30 days.
Importantly, 66% of watch-and-wait kids did not need antibiotic treatment.
The researchers identified key factors to making the watch-and-wait strategy work:
- Doctors must assess otitis media severity.
- Doctors must educate parents about the risks of untreated otitis media and the risks of overprescribing antibiotics.
- Otitis media symptoms should be managed.
- Parents must have access to follow-up care.
- Effective antibiotics must be available when needed.
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Healing Time In Different Sections Of The Ear
The infections persist in the middle, the outer and inner part of the ear. Every part has its unique features. As a result healing time also depends on the section of the ear.
- Outer Causes of outer ear infection are different from a middle ear infection. The most common type of infection in the outer ear is bacterial infections. But fungal and viral infections can occur as well. It can last for a week or longer. Its symptoms are severe pain in the ear, purulent discharge, fever, etc.
- Middle The infection shouldnt last more than one or two days. After an ear infection clears up, fluid may remain in the middle ear and cause some of the more mild symptoms and can persist for several weeks to months. This condition is diagnosed as otitis media with effusion. Its symptoms are ear pain, feeling like your ear is clogged, Nausea, Reduced Hearing.
- Inner The infection exists for a long time in this section. Most commonly, viral is the reason for the inner ear infection. These viruses can be most of the flu and cold. Its symptoms are pain, fever, and reduced hearing. Nausea and tinnitus can also occur in an inner ear infection.
The Eustachian tube drains fluid and air from the middle ear. Blockage in the Eustachian tube may cause fluid to build up. This causes pain since it applies pressure on the eardrum. The fluid is also a fertile ground for bacteria growth and this leads to an ear infection.
Longer Term Effects Of Inner Ear Infections
Generally, the symptoms will clear up as soon as the infection is gone. However, the effects can sometimes last longer.
You might still feel dizzy and off-balance even when the other symptoms caused by the infection have gone. This can be a sign that the balance organs were damaged. Your brain can usually learn to work with these changes, so your sense of balance should usually come back by itself. However, if youre struggling to cope or the problem persists, you should see an ENT specialist. The doctor can check for any underlying causes and may refer you for vestibular rehabilitation therapy to help you to recover your balance.
Inner ear infections can also have a longer term effect on your hearing. This is more likely if you had bacterial infection, so your doctor might recommend a hearing test to check on your ears after the infection.
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What Should I Expect If I Or My Child Has An Ear Infection
Ear infections are common in children. Adults can get them too. Most ear infections are not serious. Your healthcare provider will recommend over-the-counter medications to relieve pain and fever. Pain relief may begin as soon as a few hours after taking the drug.
Your healthcare provider may wait a few days before prescribing an antibiotic. Many infections go away on their own without the need for antibiotics. If you or your child receives an antibiotic, you should start to see improvement within two to three days.
If you or your child has ongoing or frequent infections, or if fluid remains in the middle ear and puts hearing at risk, ear tubes may be surgically implanted in the eardrum to keep fluid draining from the eustachian tube as it normally should.
Never hesitate to contact your healthcare provider if you have any concerns or questions.
Ear Infections In Babies And Toddlers
Ear infections in babies and toddlers are extremely common. In fact, according to the National Institutes of Health, five out of six children will experience an ear infection before their third birthday.
“Many parents are concerned that an ear infection will affect their child’s hearing irreversiblyor that an ear infection will go undetected and untreated,” says David Tunkel, M.D., Johns Hopkins Medicine pediatric otolaryngologist . “The good news is that most ear infections go away on their own, and those that don’t are typically easy to treat.”
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Childhood Ear Infections Explained
Ear infections happen when there is inflammation usually from trapped bacteriain the middle ear, the part of the ear connects to the back of the nose and throat. The most common type of ear infection is otitis media, which results when fluid builds up behind the eardrum and parts of the middle ear become infected and swollen.
If your child has a sore throat, cold, or an upper respiratory infection, bacteria can spread to the middle ear through the eustachian tubes . In response to the infection, fluid builds up behind the eardrum.
Children are more likely to suffer from ear infections than adults for two reasons:
- Their immune systems are underdeveloped and less equipped to fight off infections.
- Their eustachian tubes are smaller and more horizontal, which makes it more difficult for fluid to drain out of the ear.
“In some cases, fluid remains trapped in the middle ear for a long time, or returns repeatedly, even when there’s no infection,” Tunkel explains.