Ear Infection

What is an Ear Infection?

An ear infection happens through inflammation of the middle ear which lies behind the eardrum. Viral infections are often severe and hard to treat compared to bacterial infections. Otitis means inflammation of the ear.

Otitis media and otitis externa are two common types of ear infections which occur when a virus or bacteria invades various parts of the ear. Infections can occur when there is a fluid buildup inside the Eustachian tube.

Often, an infection in the Eustachian tube (connecting middle ear to the throat) is the primary cause for ear infection in children.

Causes of Ear Infection

Infections in the outer ear can spread through disease such as skin infections or can be an explicit ear infection. Inner ear infections can be caused due to common cold.

Middle ear inflammation is more common in children as their Eustachian tube is narrow which encourages blockage of fluids, this leads to infection of the middle ear.

What causes an ear infection?

• Can occur through viruses like herpes.
• Bacteria such as staphylococci.
• Fungi named Candida, which causes thrush.
• Common cold can give you inner ear infection.
• Scratching skin in the outer area of the ear can cause infections too.
• Inserting objects like pencils or cotton buds for cleaning earwax can damage skin and invite infection.
• Can be caused through a burst eardrum.
• Swimming without ear plugs can give you a condition called swimmer’s ear.

Additionally - Other infections, allergy, unhygienic ear conditions and cold climates can also be probable causes of ear infection.

Symptoms of Ear Infection

Adults suffer less frequently from ear infections as compared to children. Severe and recurrent ear infections can result in impaired hearing or deafness.

It is very important to monitor a child’s hearing and any signs of difficulty in hearing sounds should be referred to an audiologist (hearing assessment professional). Read more on Ear Infection Symptoms.

Treatment for Ear Infection

Antibiotics are frequently prescribed as medication for ear infection cure. Most ear infections occur due to a viral attack. Recent studies have shown that patients suffering from ear infections recover quickly without antibiotics.

Treatment for ear infection that involves antibiotics may have varying degrees of negative side effects. Intake of vitamin C helps boost your immune system to fight the infection. Take appropriate rest. This will energize your immune system to fight off the infection.

These conditions need professional ear infection treatments:

1. If you detect any severe signs of ear infection.
2. You have a persistent severe earache lasting more than an hour.
3. If you suffer from swimmer’s ear and the condition persists even after a week of applying home treatments.
4. In addition to earache, if you have stiffness, headache and fever (it can be signal of meningitis).