Ear infections are a problem that most children and adults alike commonly face. Ear infections not only lead to sharp pains or muffled hearing but also general fighting discomfort that can spoil the enjoyment of the day. Such statistic indicates that the causes of these infections should be known in order to prevent or to initiate treatment as soon as possible. In this article we shall address the most frequent causes of ear infection and possible preventive measures aimed at securing the health of your ears.

What is an Ear Infection ?

An ear infection refers to the inflammation of the ears caused primarily by germs. As such, the segments of the ear are broken into three categories namely outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear and the respective infections are in the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear. Common cold with respiratory disease usually results in the common middle ear infection otitis media. Typically referred to as swimmer’s ear, outer ear infection (otitis externa) affects the external auditory canal when it is invaded by bacteria.

Ear infection includes the following:

• acute pain in the inner ear region, which may be intermittent.
• drainage of pus and blood from the ear.
• loss of hearing for a limited time
• mild to high grade fever mostly in the kids.
Early recognition of these symptoms will alert you to go for medical care and enable you to avoid letting the disease get worse.

Common Causes of Ear Infections

Now that we know what an ear infection is, let’s dive into the five most common causes.

• Bacterial or Viral Infections The most common source from which people suffer diseased ears is either bacterial or viral infections, as an accompaniment of colds or flu. It is however a chain of events, when the upper respiratory gets infected; there is a blockage and inflammation of the eustachian tubes which are a passage between the ears and the throat. Because of this obstruction, fluids tend to accumulate which creates a good atmosphere for the ants and those fluid evokes a mid ear inflammation.

 

• Allergies Ear infection disorders can be caused by seasonal allergies or hay fever where there is increased swelling of the nasal membranes, throat and middle ear. But, if they are treated appropriately, you will cut down on the chances of experiencing ear infections.

 

• Eustachian Tube Dysfunction The primary role of eustachian tubes is that they provide a drainage mechanism from the ear to the throat- causing the elimination of any fluids from the ears- thus preventing any kind of infections. These tubes can malfunction due to colds, infections, altitude change amongst a number of reasons and this leads to fluid pooling inside the ear, hence an infection.

 

• One of the less recognized causes of ear infections, especially in the outer ear, is poor ear hygiene. In general ears are touched using cotton swabs, sharp objects or fingers, which can be irritating or even small cuts in the ear canal. Outer ear infections (otitis externa) happen when these small injuries in the ear lead to openings for bacteria to get in. However, there’s also often a reference to this condition as swimmer’s ear: exposure to bacteria from dirty or untreated water can also cause an infection.
  
  You need to properly clean the outer ear to prevent these infections, but don’t insert anything into the ear canal. It is also advisable that you wear ear plugs so you can avoid going wrong from listening to the notes inside your ear dragged by the water, or you should make sure your ears are properly dried after swimming.

 

• A weak immune system is why you are more prone to all types of infections including ear infections. Depending on your disease, medications you take, or another factor, people with compromised immune systems may have trouble fighting off bacteria and viruses. Unusual shape creates too small a space for the eustachian tube to drain — making the eustachian tube prone to repeated middle ear infections.

 

In other words, children, especially, are more prone to ear infections because their immune systems are still developing. Written for adults with autoimmune diseases or who are undergoing treatments that suppress immunity, such as chemotherapy, a text for self-examination is provided by doctors at Dell Medical School.

To have a strong immune system, you should eat healthy, sleep enough and handle stress. Sometimes your doctor will suggest taking supplements or meds to bolster up your immune system.

Risk Factors for an Ear Infection

As with any illness, certain factors make someone more likely to acquire an ear infection. Understanding these risk factors can help you take precautions to avoid infections:

• Age: This is especially true for children, whose eustachian tubes are shorter, and more horizontal, making drainage less effective. The fact is that most children will have at least one ear infection by the time they go to school age.

 

• Family History: But if there’s a history of ear infections in your family, you might be at greater risk. Certain families are genetically more likely to frequent infections.

 

• Second hand Smoke Exposure: Tobacco smoke exposure typically makes the immune system weaker and causes inflammation in the eustachian tube resulting in ear infections more likely in adults and children.

 

• Cold Weather or Seasonal Allergies: Sometimes ear infections happen in the fall and winter, which is when colds and flu are most common. Other causes of infection include fluid buildup in the ear canal during inflammatory ear problems caused by seasonal allergies.

If you know these risk factors, you can be more careful such as ensuring your home is smoke free, controlling your allergies and seeking medical help when you need it.

When to See an ENT Specialist

On their own, most ear infections will go away, but some will need a medical professional to look after if symptoms persist or worsen. If you experience any of the following signs, it’s time to visit an ENT specialist (Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor):

• Severe or prolonged ear pain: If the pain doesn’t get better within 48 hours or gets worse over time, you may have some other more serious infection or complications.

 

• Hearing loss: If temporary hearing loss occurs with ear infections, it is usually nothing to worry about, although if the loss persists or becomes worse it may mean that the ear infection has spread out from the ear drum or spread into the middle ear.

 

• Fever: The infection may have reached beyond the ear if the fever is higher than 100.4°F (38°C) or higher or lasts for more than a day.

 

• Fluid drainage: A red flag for yellow or bloody discharge from the ear. This may be a sign of ruptured eardrum.

 

• Recurrent ear infections: If you or your child has had repeated ear infections, an ENT specialist will be able to diagnose an underlying condition that causes the infection and suggest treatment to prevent future infections.

In such cases your doctor may recommend antibiotics or other treatments to prevent any further problems. As a result, delaying medical attention could result in permanent hearing loss, eardrum damage, or more serious infection which could spread to adjacent tissues.

Treatment Options for Ear Infections

There are several treatment approaches for ear infections, depending on the severity, cause, and whether it’s a bacterial or viral infection. Here’s an overview of the most common ear infection treatments:

1. Bacterial ear infections are a common cause of some bacterial infections and are usually treated with antibiotics. Most mild ear infections will go away by themselves, but if symptoms persist, more serious cases may require a course of antibiotics to get rid of the infection. Antibiotics are ineffective against viral ear infections, however.

• When to Use Antibiotics: Your ENT specialist will determine if you need antibiotics. Antibiotics are over prescribed and over use can lead to antibiotic resistance.

 

2. Patients with ear infections are generally seeking pain relief. Acetaminophen, or ibuprofen taken over the counter can help reduce discomfort and fever. In the case of outer ear infections (swimmer’s ear) your doctor may also suggest ear drops to help with the pain.

• At-home Relief: Another way to help ease pain and pressure in your ear is to apply a warm compress once or twice a day.

 

3. Drainage tubes (Tympanostomy Tubes) are small tubes worn in the eardrum for persons with chronic ear infections or eustachian tube dysfunction. By relieving fluid buildup in your middle ear and reducing the risk of infection again, these tubes were designed to help. Children who have recurrent infections tend to have the more common treatment.

4. Antibiotic Treatment If the ear infection is caused by a bacterial infection, then antibiotic treatment could rid the person of the infection. Maintaining clear eustachian tubes can help keep allergy symptoms under control and thereby reduce the risk of fluid build up in the ear.

5. Rarely, surgery may be required when ear infections have caused structural damage to the ear or when they have resulted in chronic hearing problems. Repair of the eardrum, (tympanoplasty) is sometimes the only thing that is involved, but other structures within the ear can be repaired as well.

Future Prevention Tips for Ear Infections

It’s important to treat an ear infection, but prevention of future issues is just as important. Here are some additional tips to help you or your child avoid recurrent ear infections:

• Keep ears dry: But when you’re done swimming or bathing, dry your ears thoroughly so bacteria can’t grow in the moisture. Earplugs use can also help while swimming.

 

• Treat allergies promptly: Neural supplementation with cholinergics, such as Baclophen, will also keep allergies under control, and also helps prevent nasal congestion and eustachian tube dysfunction with antihistamines and nasal sprays.

 

• Vaccinate against flu and pneumonia: In children, vaccinations can help prevent respiratory infections that often result in ear infections.

 

• Avoid second hand smoke: Cigarette smoke can make your child more prone to ear infections. Reducing infection depends on maintaining a smoke free environment.

 

• Practice good hygiene: As colds and flu lead to ear infections, keep yourself safe and avoid close contact with other people who are experiencing the colds or flu.

 

While common, ear infections can be prevented and treated as effectively as all other infections if the right knowledge and care are brought to bear on them. Bacteria, viruses or underlying conditions such as allergies or eustachian tube dysfunction all cause similar effects, but root cause treatment helps guide the best treatment. Keeping your ears healthy and infection free is possible with regular ear hygiene, managing allergies, avoiding secondhand smoke and seeking prompt medical attention for symptoms. Doing this usually results in treatment for persistent or severe symptoms, and an accurate diagnosis.