Ear Infection
Ear infection or also called acute otitis media is an infection that occurs in the middle ear area. This condition occurs in the air-filled space behind the eardrum, where there are small bones of the ear that vibrate.
Children are more likely to experience ear infections than adults. Ear infections usually resolve on their own.
Treatment may also be done to manage pain and monitor the problem. Antibiotics are helpful in clearing the infection. Ear infections can lead to hearing loss and other serious complications.
Ear Infection Symptoms
Some symptoms that can be observed in ear infections include:
- Moderate pain and discomfort in the ear.
- Feeling of constant pressure inside the ear.
- The baby or child becomes fussy.
- There is fluid coming out of the ear.
- Loss or reduction of hearing.
These symptoms may persist or be temporary. Symptoms may appear in one or both ears. The pain is usually more severe if the infection occurs in both.
Ear Infection Risk Factors
Middle ear infections are common in young children and adolescents, this is because they have narrow, short and more horizontal eustachian tubes in relation to the ear.
So, a small buildup of fluid in the nose and back of the throat can cause an ear infection.
Some risk factors for ear infections include:
- Age. Children between the ages of 6 months and 2 years are more susceptible to ear infections. This is because of the size and shape of their eustachian tubes and because their immune systems are still developing.
- Infant Feeding. Babies who drink from bottles, especially while lying down, are more likely to have ear infections than babies who are breastfed.
- Seasonal Factors. Ear infections are most common during the fall and winter. People with seasonal allergies may also be at greater risk for ear infections when pollen counts increase.
- Poor Air Quality. Exposure to tobacco smoke or air pollution can increase the risk of ear infections.
- There is a Cleft Palate. Differences in bone and muscle structure in children who have a cleft palate can make it more difficult for the eustachian tube to drain.
Other factors that increase the risk of ear infections include:
- Change in elevation.
- Changes in weather and temperature.
- Recent medical history, such as upper respiratory tract infections, or a history of previous ear infections.
The Role of the Eustachian Tube
The Eustachian tubes are a pair of narrow tubes that extend from each middle ear up into the back of the throat, just behind the nasal passages.
The throat end of the tube opens and closes to:
- Regulates air pressure in the middle ear
- Refreshing the air in the ears
- Drains normal secretions from the middle ear.
Swollen eustachian tubes can become blocked, causing fluid to build up in the middle ear. This fluid can become infected and cause symptoms of an ear infection.
In children, the eustachian tubes are narrower and more horizontal, which makes them more difficult to drain and more likely to become blocked.
The Role of Adenoid Glands
The adenoids are two small pads of tissue high behind the nose that are believed to play a role in immune system activity.
Because the adenoids are located near the opening of the eustachian tubes, swelling of the adenoids can block the tubes.
This can also cause middle ear infections.
Swelling and irritation of the adenoid glands plays a role in ear infections in children.
This is because children have relatively larger adenoid glands compared to adults.
Related Conditions
Middle ear conditions that may be associated with ear infections or cause similar middle ear problems include:
- Otitis media with effusion, or swelling and fluid buildup (effusion) in the middle ear without a bacterial or viral infection. This may occur because the fluid buildup continues after the ear infection has cleared up. It can also occur because of some noninfectious dysfunction or blockage of the eustachian tube.
- Chronic otitis media with effusion occurs when fluid remains in the middle ear and keeps returning without a bacterial or viral infection. This makes children susceptible to new ear infections and can affect hearing.
- Chronic suppurative otitis media, an ear infection that does not go away with regular treatment. It can cause a hole in the eardrum.
Causes of Ear Infections
Ear infections occur when the eustachian tubes become blocked or inflamed, causing fluid to build up in the middle ear.
In addition, this condition can also be caused by bacteria or viruses in the middle ear.
The eustachian tube is a small channel that connects the middle ear to the back of the throat.
So, the causes of eustachian tube blockage are:
- Allergies.
- Fever, flu.
- Infection of the sinuses.
- Excessive production of mucus and phlegm.
- Smoke.
- Infection of the adenoids or tonsils.
- Changes in air pressure (e.g. when diving or in flight).
Ear Infection Diagnosis
Diagnosing an ear infection is a relatively simple procedure, and can even be determined based on symptoms alone.
The doctor will usually use an otoscope, which is a tool with a light attachment to examine the fluid behind the eardrum.
In addition, tools such as pneumatic otoscopes can also be used to test for infections. This tool checks for trapped fluid by blowing air into the ear.
Any fluid behind the eardrum will cause the eardrum to move less than normal.
To be more certain, the doctor may also need to use other methods to confirm a middle ear infection. These methods are:
1. Tympanometry
The doctor uses an instrument that seals and adjusts the pressure inside the ear canal.
This instrument measures the movement of the eardrum. This allows the doctor to determine the middle ear pressure.
2. Acoustic Reflectometry
This method works by bouncing sound off the eardrum. The amount of sound bounced back indicates the level of fluid buildup.
A healthy ear will absorb most of the sound. An infected ear will reflect more sound waves.
3. Tympanocentesis
If the ear infection does not respond well to medication, then this procedure may be performed.
This procedure involves making a small hole in the eardrum and draining a small amount of fluid from the inner ear.
The fluid can then be tested to determine the cause of the infection.
Ear Infection Treatment
Mild ear infections can be cured without intervention. The following methods are used to relieve ear infection symptoms, namely:
- Apply a warm towel to the affected ear.
- To relieve pain, sufferers can take paracetamol or ibuprofen.
- Decongestant medications such as pseudoephedrine can be used to relieve symptoms of nasal or ear congestion.
If symptoms worsen and there is no change, antibiotics can be given taking into account various conditions in the sufferer.
Ear Infection Complications
Ear infections can heal without causing serious complications.
However, prolonged infections that are not treated properly and completely can cause the following:
- Hearing impairment.
- Permanent hearing loss.
- Speech disorders in children.
- Mastoiditis, or infection of the mastoid bone around the ear.
- Meningitis, or infection of the lining of the brain, because the infection spreads to the brain area.
- Ruptured eardrum.
Ear Infection Prevention
The following actions can be taken to prevent ear infections, including:
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Avoid using pacifiers on babies.
- Giving breast milk to the baby directly from the mother’s breast.
- If bottle feeding, position the baby upright.
- Don’t smoke and stay away from cigarette smoke.
- Complete immunization, including influenza immunization.