How To Prevent Inner Ear Infections

What Causes A Middle

The middle ear connects to the throat by a canal called the eustachiantube. This tube helps even out the pressure between the outer ear and theinner ear. A cold or allergy can irritate the tube or cause the area aroundit to swell. This can keep fluid from draining from the middle ear. Thefluid builds up behind the eardrum. Bacteria and viruses can grow in thisfluid. The bacteria and viruses cause the middle-ear infection.

What Causes An Ear Infection

Ear infections are caused by bacteria and viruses. Many times, an ear infection begins after a cold or other respiratory infection. The bacteria or virus travel into the middle ear through the eustachian tube . This tube connects the middle ear to the back of the throat. The bacteria or virus can also cause the eustachian tube to swell. This swelling can cause the tube to become blocked, which keeps normally produced fluids to build up in the middle ear instead of being able to be drained away.

Adding to the problem is that the eustachian tube is shorter and has less of a slope in children than in adults. This physical difference makes these tubes easier to become clogged and more difficult to drain. The trapped fluid can become infected by a virus or bacteria, causing pain.

Medical terminology and related conditions

Because your healthcare provider may use these terms, its important to have a basic understanding of them:

Otitis Media With Effusion

Otitis media with effusion is a buildup of fluid deep inside the middle ear. The pressure of this fluid may cause pain and temporary hearing loss.

OME, which is sometimes called “glue ear,” may clear up on its own. Sometimes a minor procedure to place small tubes in the ear can help drain the fluid to provide relief.

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How To Prevent Ear Infections In Adults

This article was medically reviewed by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS and by wikiHow staff writer, Jessica Gibson. Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support , Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support , Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Tennessee in 2006.There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 16,747 times.

Ear infections are common in children, but ear infections in adults are just as painful. To prevent ear infections, maintain a strong immune system, address any underlying allergies, prevent swimmers ear, and practice good hygiene so your body can fight off bacteria and viruses. Remove dirt and grime from around your ears, but avoid sticking things into your ears which could introduce germs. In addition to keeping your ears dry, wash your hands frequently and avoid smoking, which can inflame the tissue in your ears.

Where Is The Middle Ear

The middle ear is behind the eardrum and is also home to the delicate bones that aid in hearing. These bones are the hammer , anvil and stirrup . To provide the bigger picture, lets look at the whole structure and function of the ear:

The ear structure and function

There are three main parts of the ear: outer, middle and inner.

• The outer ear is the outside external ear flap and the ear canal .
• The middle ear is the air-filled space between the eardrum and the inner ear. The middle ear houses the delicate bones that transmit sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear. This is where ear infections occur.
• The inner ear contains the snail-shaped labyrinth that converts sound vibrations received from the middle ear to electrical signals. The auditory nerve carries these signals to the brain.

Other nearby parts

• The eustachian tube regulates air pressure within the middle ear, connecting it to the upper part of the throat.
• Adenoids are small pads of tissue above the throat and behind the nose and near the eustachian tubes. Adenoids help fight infection caused by bacteria that enters through the mouth.

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How To Prevent Inner Ear Pressure

While there are many at-home remedies for inner ear pressure, there are also practical ways to prevent the condition from occurring. Avoid air travel if you have a cold, sinus infection, nasal congestion or ear infection. When flying, staying awake during takeoff and landing will allow you to take steps to help your ears adjust more comfortably. If flying with infants, give them a bottle during takeoff and landing to encourage swallowing, which will help their ears adjust.

Where Can I Find Additional Information About Ear Infections

The NIDCD maintains a directory of organizations that provide information on the normal and disordered processes of hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language.

Use the following keywords to help you search for organizations that can answer questions and provide printed or electronic information on ear infections:

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The Link Between Tinnitus And Vitamins For Ear Health

There are many ear health supplements that claim to treat tinnitus, but studies are mixed on whether taking supplements or vitamins for tinnitus can actually improve symptoms. That said, magnesium has been shown to relieve the severity of tinnitus symptoms. In another study, men with tinnitus who had a vitamin B12 deficiency experienced significant improvement after receiving intra-muscular injections of the vitamin. Zinc is another nutrient that is sometimes touted to improve symptoms of tinnitus, but studies have failed to demonstrate a significant link between zinc supplementation and tinnitus relief.

Its Not Just Kids Who Get Ear Infections Adults Can Have Them Too Heres How To Reduce Your Risk

If you feel pain or fullness in your ear, notice fluid leaking out or are having trouble hearing, you might have an ear infection. Although more common in children, adults can get them as well especially in the winter, when colds and flu lead to secondary infections.

Ear infections occur when your middle ear gets clogged and air cant get through, creating a moist breeding ground for bacteria.

Simple acute ear infections can occur if the Eustachian tube, which connects the nose to the middle ear space, gets blocked and fluid builds up, says John S. Oghalai, MD, an otolaryngologist at Keck Medicine of USC, and chair and professor of otolaryngology head and neck surgery at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Children are more likely to get ear infections because their Eustachian tubes are shorter and more horizontal, they dont drain as well.

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What Is Middle Ear Infection

The ear is made up of three different sections: the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. These parts all work together so you can hear and process sounds. The outer and middle ear are separated by the eardrum a very thin piece of skin that vibrates when hit by sound waves.

This page deals with middle ear infection , which is the infection / inflammation of the air-filled space behind the eardrum that contains the tiny vibrating bones of the ear. This space can become blocked and filled with mucus , which can become infected, causing inflammation.

There are two types of middle ear infection:

• An acute infection that starts suddenly and lasts for a short period of time and
• A chronic ear infection that does not get better or keeps coming back. Chronic ear infection can result in long-term damage to the ear.

Sometimes gel-like fluid will remain in the middle ear after an ear infection, causing “glue ear“, a relatively common condition that is often undetected among New Zealand pre-schoolers. Glue ear can adversely affect hearing and may take several weeks to resolve.

Outer ear infection is characteristically different to middle ear infection. This is a skin infection in the outer ear canal, which may start as an itch and develop into infection causing inflammation. Sometimes referred to as swimmers ear, this kind of infection can normally be treated effectively with ear drops from your doctor or pharmacist.

Other Home Remedies For Nausea

Some other home remedies that a person can try to help reduce their nausea include:

• peppermint
• protein
• an electrolyte replacement sports drink

Most of the research into these home remedies focuses on their effectiveness in treating nausea related to pregnancy or chemotherapy. However, a person may wish to try for themselves to see if the remedies help with nausea related to inner ear infections.

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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 Are The Harms Of Fluid Buildup In Your Ears Or Repeated Or Ongoing Ear Infections

Most ear infections dont cause long-term problems, but when they do happen, complications can include:

• Loss of hearing: Some mild, temporary hearing loss usually occurs during an ear infection. Ongoing infections, infections that repeatedly occur, damage to internal structures in the ear from a buildup of fluid can cause more significant hearing loss.
• Delayed speech and language development: Children need to hear to learn language and develop speech. Muffled hearing for any length of time or loss of hearing can significantly delay or hamper development.
• Tear in the eardrum: A tear can develop in the eardrum from pressure from the long-lasting presence of fluid in the middle ear. About 5% to 10% of children with an ear infection develop a small tear in their eardrum. If the tear doesnt heal on its own, surgery may be needed. If you have drainage/discharge from your ear, do not place anything into your ear canal. Doing so can be dangerous if there is an accident with the item touching the ear drum.
• Spread of the infection: Infection that doesnt go away on its own, is untreated or is not fully resolved with treatment may spread beyond the ear. Infection can damage the nearby mastoid bone . On rare occasions, infection can spread to the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord and cause meningitis.

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When Should I Call The Doctor

• has other serious medical problems,
• seems ill,
• vomits over and over,
• is younger than 6 months old,
• is older than 6 months old and has had a fever for more than 48 hours,
• has swelling behind the ear,
• is very sleepy,
• has a skin rash,
• isnt hearing well or at all,
• remains in a lot of pain despite at least one dose of acetaminophen or ibuprofen, or
• still has an earache after 2 days of treatment with acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

How To Balance Crystals In Your Ear

For anyone who has ever found themselves with unexplained vertigo, crystals in your ear may be a likely cause for sudden dizziness. Often triggered by certain head positions, crystals in your ear can be debilitating. The good news is, you dont have to suffer. There is a way to balance the crystals in your ear and rid yourself of this dizzying condition.

So, what exactly are crystals in your ear?

The idea of crystals in your ear sounds very new age, if not farfetched. But for those who experience sudden and unexplained dizziness, it is very real and can be quite frightening. Crystals in your ear are one of the most common causes of vertigo or a false sensation of spinning.

Crystals are made of calcium, and theyll shift from either one or both of the otolith organs of the inner ear. From there, they fall into one of the semicircular canals, disrupting the flow offluid in that canal. The result is a condition called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

To break down this condition further, lets look at the name benign paroxysmal positional vertigo or BPPV for short. The Vestibular Disorder Association describes BPPV like this:

• Benign: means its not life threatening
• Paroxysmal: means it comes suddenly and lasts only briefly
• Positional: means it is triggered by certain head positions or movements
• Vertigo: describes a false sense of rotational movement

How do you know if you have crystals in your ear?

Heres what you can expect

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When To Call The Doctor For An Ear Infection

Some symptoms of an inner ear infection can be the same as a stroke. If you have vomiting, headache, vision changes, fever, weakness in one side of your body, slurred speech or are unable to walk, seek medical care right away.

Infections involving high fever, discharge or bleeding from the ear canal, headache, vomiting, dizziness, loss of hearing, or severe pain should be seen by a doctor. A doctor should see most people with an inner ear infection.

What Exactly Is Inner Ear Pressure

Inner ear pressure happens when the pressure inside the ear behind the eardrum is different from the pressure outside the ear. Inner or middle ear pressure is regulated by eustachian tubes, small tubes connecting the middle ear to the meeting of the nasal cavity and the throat. This pathway is how the inner ear remains connected to the outside environment.

The eustachian tubes can become narrowed or blocked, preventing proper pressure equalization and therefore causing inner ear pressure. The sensation of ear pressure creates the feeling of the ears being clogged or plugged up. It can consist of pressure only, but it can also involve pain and muffled hearing.

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Mighty Minerals For Ear Health

Minerals are substances found in water and soil, which plants then absorb. When we consume plant products , our bodies get to reap the benefits of these nourishing nutrients.

Magnesium and other minerals have been shown to help or improve common hearing conditions such as age-related hearing loss, ear infections and tinnitus . Heres a closer look at a few of those minerals.

How Can Otitis Externa Be Prevented

A dry ear is unlikely to become infected, so it is important to keep the ears free of moisture. Prevention tips include:

• Use ear plugs when swimming.
• Use a dry towel or hair dryer to dry your ears.
• Have your ears cleaned periodically by an ENT specialist if you have itchy, flaky or scaly ears, or extensive earwax.
• Do not use cotton swabs to remove ear wax. They may pack ear wax and dirt deeper into the ear canal, remove the layer of earwax that protects your ear, and irritate the thin skin of the ear canal. This creates an ideal environment for infection.

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How To Stop Cracking My Ears

Get to a dentist for an evaluation and possible i.Here is how to use a neti pot to help clear your sinuses and unclog your ears naturally:Holy basil can be made into a paste and put into the ear to help clear out any bacterial infections.Home remedies for crackling in the ears include:

Home remedies for ear crackling.How to irrigate your nasal passages and relieve ear crackling:I form a trigger finger with my forefinger and place it against my head in the top front corner of my ear, then hook over the top of my ear with my thumb and grip it between those two fingers.I have been having ear pressure problems for about 4 months also.

I usually wait until the child is old enough to ask for them.If you get a muscle spasm in the muscles that surround the eustachian tube, like for example in the roof of your mouth, it can cause a repeated clicking noise.If your baby does have earrings i recommend taking them out at night to reduce the risk of accidental swallowing/ choking.In order to prevent the ear from popping constantly, you must stop the difference in pressure from building up.

Moser , i have the crackling noices coming from my ear but it sounds like its all over my head too, shortly after that starts my ear will start hurting.Natural remedies to stop ringing in ears.Now let the hands reach over to where the palm cups the whole ear.One possibility is trauma to your jaw joint capsule which is immediately in front of your ear canal.

What Are The Symptoms Of Labyrinthitis

• Hearing loss, often in high frequency pitch range
• Tinnitus, or ringing or buzzing sensation in the ear
• Imbalance and unsteadiness, falling or swaying to one side while walking
• Vertigo, or feeling like you are spinning when you are still
• Involuntary twitching or jerking of the eyeball, called nystagmus
• Nausea and vomiting

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Symptoms Of A Middle Ear Infection

In most cases, the symptoms of a middle ear infection develop quickly and resolve in a few days. This is known as acute otitis media. The main symptoms include:

• a lack of energy
• slight hearing loss – if the middle ear becomes filled with fluid

In some cases, a hole may develop in the eardrum and pus may run out of the ear. The earache, which is caused by the build-up of fluid stretching the eardrum, then resolves.

Who Is Most Likely To Get An Ear Infection

Middle ear infection is the most common childhood illness . Ear infections occur most often in children who are between age 3 months and 3 years, and are common until age 8. Some 25% of all children will have repeated ear infections.

Adults can get ear infections too, but they dont happen nearly as often as they do in children.

Risk factors for ear infections include:

• Age: Infants and young children are at greater risk for ear infections.
• Family history: The tendency to get ear infections can run in the family.
• Colds: Having colds often increases the chances of getting an ear infection.
• Allergies: Allergies cause inflammation of the nasal passages and upper respiratory tract, which can enlarge the adenoids. Enlarged adenoids can block the eustachian tube, preventing ear fluids from draining. This leads to fluid buildup in the middle ear, causing pressure, pain and possible infection.
• Chronic illnesses: People with chronic illnesses are more likely to develop ear infections, especially patients with immune deficiency and chronic respiratory disease, such as cystic fibrosis and asthma.
• Ethnicity: Native Americans and Hispanic children have more ear infections than other ethnic groups.

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