What Is An Ear Infection?
Ear Infection or acute otitis media is an infection of the middle ear. Ear infection or inflammation causes fluid build up in the middle ear.Middle ear infections or inflammation is the most common in childhood condition.Young children will have these symptoms and signs as well as fussiness and feeding problems.
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Signs and symptoms of an ear infection include
Fever of 100 degree Fahrenheit.
Ear pain
A feeling of fullness in the ear
Symptoms of fluid in the ear are typically mild and usually only consist of muffled hearing and a sensation of water inside the ear.Children with fluid in the ear may also tug on the ears. The condition is also referred to as Otis media with effusion.
Causes Of Ear Pain
The most common causes of ear pain include colds, infections, tonsillitis, wax imp action and internal fluid accumulation.Infected hair follicles, eczema and dental abscesses also cause ear pain.
Common cold viruses cause ear pain when they infect the ear drum. The pain usually develops quickly and fades when the cold dissipates.
Ear pain that remains after cold symptoms disappear is often caused by a bacterial infection. These infections develop when blood, pus and other fluids accumulate behind the ear drum. Fever and temporary hearing loss often accompany bacterial infections.What causes an ear infection?
Ear infections occur when one of your Eustachian tubes becomes swollen or blocked and fluid builds up in your middle ear. Eustachian tubes are small tubes that run from each ear directly to the back of the throat. The causes of Eustachian tube blockage include:
How do You Treat an Ear Infection?
Prompt treatment reduces the severity and duration of ear pain.Gentle cleansing sweeps away drainage and debris, and removing piercings minimizes the chance of allergic reactions. It is also prudent to remove hearing aids and to keep the ear dry. Treatments such as ear drops and over-the-counter pain medication are effective home remedies for many types of external ear pain. Painful boils and hair follicle infections respond well to warm compresses.
Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are used to control the pain. In some cases, decongestants may be used to reduce pressure and eliminate feelings of fullness in the ear. People with high blood pressure should not take decongestants without talking to a doctor first.
Anyone with an ear infection should get plenty of rest and avoid scuba diving and other activities that might increase the amount of pressure in the ear canal. Keeping the head elevated may also relieve pressure, according to Parenting magazine. If a child has ear pain that is not controlled by over-the-counter medications, applying a heating pad or warm, moist towel to the side of the head reduces discomfort.Routine childhood and yearly flu vaccinations may help prevent middle ear infections.
