ENT
An ear infection also called as otitis media ( acute or chronic) which is an infection of the middle ear which is an air filled space containing tiny vibrating bones of the ear between the external and internal ear.
Treatment often begins with managing pain and treating the underlying problem after diagnosing the cause of infection by your treating ENT specialist.
Age – Ages between 6 months and 2 years are more susceptible to ear infections because of the developing Eustachian tubes
Group child care (pre Schools) - Colds and ear infections are more common in these children than children who stay home.
Seasonal - Ear infections are more common during winter and also in people with seasonal allergies.
Air pollution - Exposure to tobacco smoke or also high levels of air pollution can increase the risk of ear infections.
Cleft palate – Cleft lip or cleft palate is found to be associated with more ear infections .
Signs and symptoms common in children include:
Common signs and symptoms in adults include:
Your ENT surgeon usually diagnoses an ear infection whether it is acute otitis media / chronic otitis media or Otitis media with effusion based on the symptoms you have and a physical examination . The doctor uses an otoscope to look into the ears and examine the site and rule out few causes of ear infection
Tympanometry - This test measures the ear canal pressure by sealing off the ear drum and checking the movement of the ear drum.
Acoustic reflectometry - This test measures the fluid status in the middle ear by how much sound is reflected back from the eardrum . The more the sound , the more the fluid in ear drum.
Tympanocentesis - Your ENT surgeon may use a small tube that pierces the eardrum and drain fluid from the middle ear usually called as tympanocentesis which is then sent for examination for any infection.
Other tests - If you have a hearing problem or speech difficulty , your surgeon may refer you to a hearing specialist (audiologist), speech therapist for tests of hearing, speech skills.
Best treatment for your EAR INFECTION depends on many factors, including your child's age and the duration & severity of symptoms.
Indicated only in selected patients( all criteria to be present ) -
Your Surgeon will advise you on treatments to lessen pain which include
Pain medication - Your surgeon may advise you to take over-the-counter acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) to relieve pain.
Local Anesthetic drops - These may be used to relieve pain from infection only if the eardrum has not perforated after otoscopic examination.
Your doctor may recommend antibiotic treatment in the following situations:
Failure to take all the medicine advised by the surgeon can lead to recurring infection and resistance of bacteria to antibiotics.
Chronic infection that results in a hole in the eardrum ,also called chronic suppurative otitis media is difficult to treat. It is initially treated with antibiotics for a week and two and then planned for surgical intervention by repairing the eardrum with procedure called tympanoplasty.
Children get ear infections more often than adults because:
Ear infections aren’t contagious, but the virus and/or bacteria causing the infection are. Multiple types of bacteria and viruses cause ear infections, including ones that cause colds and the flu.
Depending on your child’s age, symptoms and temperature, they may need antibiotics to heal. If your child has ongoing or frequent infections, or if fluid remains in the middle ear and puts their hearing at risk, your child may need ear tubes.
Children can return to school or daycare when their fever is gone.
No, you don’t need to cover their ears to go outside.
Swimming is OK as long as your child doesn’t have a tear (perforation) in their eardrum or drainage from their ear.
Air travel or a trip to the mountains is safe, although you may feel temporary pain during takeoff and landing when flying. Swallowing fluids or chewing gum during descent can help with the pain. If your small child has an ear infection, have them suck on a pacifier to relieve discomfort during air travel.
Left untreated, an inner ear infection can damage your vestibular system, which controls balance. In these cases, recovery may last longer. Additionally, an unchecked inner ear infection could lead to permanent partial or total hearing loss.
Inner ear infections can last longer than other types of ear infections. When treated right away, most inner ear infections go away in one to two weeks.
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