{"id":168,"date":"2019-10-15T14:30:18","date_gmt":"2019-10-15T21:30:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entsalem.fm1.dev\/ear\/ear-infection\/"},"modified":"2020-02-11T14:15:31","modified_gmt":"2020-02-11T22:15:31","slug":"ear-infection","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/entsalem.com\/ear-nose-throat\/ear\/ear-infection\/","title":{"rendered":"Ear Infection"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ear infections can occur in the outer or middle ear.  An ear infection occurs in the middle ear when fluid becomes trapped following a viral or bacterial infection. This painful affliction is most common in children, but can affect people of all ages. Infections can also occur in the outer ear.  They are most common when the skin in the outer ear is dry and cracked. Ear infections can be either acute (of short duration) or chronic (persisting or reoccurring frequently).  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What Causes Ear Infections? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Otitis media is the medical\nterm for an inflammation of the middle ear, commonly referred to as an ear\ninfection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The majority of ear infections\nare viral or bacterial in nature, usually occurring after a cold or upper\nrespiratory infection. These conditions cause swelling of the Eustachian tube,\na small canal that connects the middle ear to the nostrils and provides an\noutlet for fluid drainage, trapping germs and fluid in the middle ear and\nleading to infection.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because children are still growing\nphysically, some of their internal organs may also be temporarily\nunderdeveloped. This is true of the Eustachian tube, the vertical canal\nthat connects the middle ear to the nostrils, providing an outlet for fluid\ndrainage. Eustachian tubes in children are still horizontal and\ntherefore don\u2019t drain the fluid efficiently. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because the Eustachian tube is smaller\nin children, it is more prone to swelling; when this occurs, fluid is trapped\nin the middle ear. This fluid presses against the eardrum, causing pain, and\ncan harbor germs that lead to infection. The result is an earache and, in some\ncases, loss of hearing. When the infection does not completely go away or\nreturns often, it is referred to as chronic.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Are the Symptoms of an Ear Infection?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The hallmark signs of otitis media are pain and pressure in the ear and fluid drainage. These may be accompanied by a low-grade fever and hearing loss. Infants are often fussier than usual, and may cry inconsolably, refuse to eat and have trouble sleeping. They may also pull or tug on the ear. Symptoms may be milder in chronic ear infections. Should your child display any of these symptoms, bring them to the doctor; the sooner an acute ear infection is treated, the lower the chances of it developing into a chronic condition.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Are Ear Infections Treated? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Treating\nan ear infection begins at home. To help soothe symptoms, gently press a warm\nwashcloth against the affected ear. You may give your child eardrops and\nover-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help relieve\npain. Avoid aspirin, which can be dangerous to young children.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your child\u2019s doctor will likely\nprescribe antibiotics to treat a chronic ear infection. These should be taken\nuntil used up, even if your child\u2019s symptoms appear to be improving; otherwise,\nthe infection could worsen.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When medication is not effective, a\nsurgical solution involving ear tubes may be considered. These are inserted in\nthe middle ear and provide ventilation and fluids, keeping the ear clear and\npreventing infection. Most ear tubes remain in place anywhere from six to 18 months\nand eventually fall out on their own. If not, surgery to remove them is\nperformed.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can Ear Infections Cause Complications? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If\nleft untreated, chronic ear infections can lead to a variety of complications\nincluding hearing loss, damage to the bones in the middle ear, balance\nproblems, a middle ear cyst called a cholesteatoma, facial paralysis and inflammation\nof the brain. For these reasons, early detection and treatment are crucial.\nBetter still is prevention.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can\u2019t always stave off an ear infection, but there are steps you can take to reduce the chances of your child developing one. These include breast-feeding your baby, making sure they are up-to-date on vaccinations, practicing good hygiene (e.g., regular hand-washing), keeping your child away from tobacco smoke, and enrolling them in as small a day care or preschool facility as possible. Simply put, fewer children mean fewer germs.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Otitis media is the medical term for an inflammation of the middle ear, commonly referred to as an ear infection. It is the result of fluid becoming trapped behind the eardrum, and is usually caused by a virus or bacteria. People of all ages can develop ear infections, but they are far more common in children than older adults: three out of four children will experience at least one ear infection by the time they are three years old.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Otitis media is characterized as being either acute or chronic. Acute cases are most common; they come on suddenly but last for only a short duration. Chronic otitis media occurs when fluid remains in the middle ear or returns repeatedly.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Causes Otitis Media?  <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Bacteria and viruses are the leading causes of ear infection, which often follows on the heels of a cold, sore throat, or upper respiratory infection. Colds, flu, and strep throat frequently lead to otitis media. Germs can spread to the middle ear and become trapped when the Eustachian tube, which is responsible for draining fluid, becomes swollen or blocked due to a cold or other illness.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Children have smaller Eustachian tubes than adults, and their immune systems are still developing, making it more difficult for them to fight off infections. For these reasons, they are more likely to suffer from ear infections.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Are the Symptoms of Otitis Media?  <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In addition to a painful earache, those suffering from otitis media may experience a discharge from the ear, fever, difficulty hearing, irritability, loss of appetite, trouble sleeping, vomiting, and diarrhea.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Is Otitis Media Treated?  <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Treating otitis media often involves antibiotics such as amoxicillin, coupled with over-the-counter pain relievers and eardrops. Children should never be given aspirin, as it can lead to a potentially fatal disease called Reye\u2019s syndrome. Pressing a warm compress against the affected ear can bring relief, as well.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most ear infections run their course in a matter of days. If your child suffers from chronic otitis media that doesn\u2019t respond to medication, surgically implanted ear tubes may be recommended.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These provide ventilation and prevent fluid from accumulating in the middle ear. They remain in place anywhere from six months to two years, usually falling out on their own. If ear tubes don\u2019t do the trick, surgery to remove the tonsils and\/or adenoids may be considered. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Causes Earaches?  <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ear pain, commonly\nreferred to as an earache, is a common complaint and can result from infection,\npoor Eustachian tube function, or temporomandibular joint problems (TMJ). Other causes\ninclude ear trauma, perforated eardrum, sinus infection, sudden changes in\npressure, excess buildup of earwax, sore throat, shampoo or water in the ear,\ntooth infection, arthritis of the jaw, and a foreign object in the ear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Are the Symptoms of an\nEarache?  <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ear pain is a pain in one or both ears\nthat may be dull, sharp, or burning. It can be constant or intermittent, and is\nmost common in children. Symptoms will vary depending up on the cause of the\near pain; however, symptoms may include redness, swelling, fever, fullness or\npressure, itching, drainage, decreased hearing, tinnitus (ringing in one or both ears) and\ndrainage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are experiencing severe ear\npain, dizziness, headache, a discharge of blood or pus from the ear, swelling,\nand facial muscle weakness, seek medical attention. If pain does not dissipate\nin 24 to 48 hours or worsens, or your symptoms continue, see a doctor. A sudden\ndecrease in severe pain also warrants medical attention, as it may indicate a\nruptured eardrum.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Are Earaches\nTreated?  <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since there are many causes of\nearaches, treatment will depend on the cause. Treating the cause should relieve ear pain\nin most situations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the meantime, there are steps you\ncan take to treat ear pain at home. Apply a cold, wet washcloth to the ear for\nat least twenty minutes. Lay on the side with the ear that doesn\u2019t hurt\nclosest to the ground.  Sit in an upright position to reduce ear pressure,\nchew on something to help relieve pain, and use over-the-counter pain\nrelievers. Eardrops can also be administered, unless you suspect an eardrum\nperforation.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To help prevent earaches, refrain from\ninserting objects in your ears. Dry your ears thoroughly after bathing or\nswimming, avoid tobacco smoke, and reduce your exposure to allergy triggers\nsuch as pollen and dust.  <\/p>\n\n\n

Call Willamette ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery<\/span> at (503) 581-1567<\/span><\/a> for more information or to schedule an appointment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ear infections can occur in the outer or middle ear.  An ear infection occurs in the middle ear when fluid becomes trapped following a viral or bacterial infection. This painful affliction is most common in children, but can affect people of all ages. Infections can also occur in the outer ear.  They are most common when the skin in the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":167,"menu_order":4,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","schema":"","fname":"","lname":"","position":"","credentials":"","placeID":"","no_match":false,"name":"","company":"","review":"","address":"","city":"","state":"","zip":"","lat":"","lng":"","phone1":"","phone2":"","fax":"","mon1":"","mon2":"","tue1":"","tue2":"","wed1":"","wed2":"","thu1":"","thu2":"","fri1":"","fri2":"","sat1":"","sat2":"","sun1":"","sun2":"","hours-note":"","footnotes":""},"service_tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/entsalem.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/168"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/entsalem.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/entsalem.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entsalem.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entsalem.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=168"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/entsalem.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/168\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entsalem.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/167"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/entsalem.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=168"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"service_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entsalem.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/service_tags?post=168"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}