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EarInfectionFacts.com is brought to you by AllNetHealth.com and is intended to provide basic information that you can use to make informed decisions about important health issues affecting you or your loved ones. We hope that you’ll find this information about Ear Infections helpful and that you’ll seek professional medical advice to address any specific symptoms you might have related to this matter. In addition to this site, we have created the "Healthpedia Network" of sites to provide specific information on a wide variety of health topics.
What is a middle ear infection? How do I get an ear infection? What are the signs and symptoms of an ear infection? Are ear infections contagious? How long do ear infections last? How are ear infections diagnosed? How are ear infections treated? Can ear infections be prevented? Where can I buy home test kits for contributing factors of this condition?
What is a middle ear infection? (also called otitis media)? (top) Middle ear infections are one of the most common childhood problems. An infection happens when germs like bacteria and viruses get inside the body and cause trouble. Germs can get into your ears. The ear is divided into three parts: outer, middle, and inner. When the germs bother your outer ear, it's called swimmer's ear. The middle ear is a small pocket of air behind the eardrum. You have a middle ear infection when germs get into the middle ear and the area fills up with fluid (pus), which contains germ-fighting cells. When the pus builds up, your ear starts to feel like a balloon that is ready to pop, which can really hurt.
How do I get an ear infection? (top) Between your middle ear and your throat there is a passage called the eustachian tube. The eustachian tubes (you have one on each side) keep pressure from building up by letting air move in and out of your middle ear. When you were young, especially before you turned 3, the eustachian tubes were very small and less able to keep germs out. The eustachian tubes get longer and usually work better in older kids, but they can still cause problems. If you have allergies or catch a cold, the eustachian tubes can get blocked up and let germs get in the middle ear. Then the number of germs can grow inside your middle ear and cause an infection. You do not catch ear infections from other people, though you might catch a cold that then leads to an ear infection. If you have an ear infection, you might have ear pain, a fever, or trouble hearing. If you have any of these problems, tell your parent so he or she can take you to the doctor. Ear infections usually start with a cold, which can cause fluid to build up behind the eardrum. The fluid itself isn't necessarily a problem. But it's an ideal breeding ground for bacteria or viruses that can cause infection.
What are the signs and symptoms of an ear infection? (top) The signs and symptoms of acute otitis media may range from very mild to severe: The fluid in the middle ear may push on the eardrum, causing ear pain. An older child may complain of an earache, but a younger child may tug at the ear or simply act irritable and cry more than usual. Lying down, chewing, and sucking can also cause painful pressure changes in the middle ear, so a child may eat less than the normal amount or have trouble sleeping. If the pressure from the fluid buildup is high enough,
it can cause the eardrum to rupture, resulting in drainage of fluid from
the ear. This releases the pressure behind the eardrum, usually bringing
on relief from the pain. • not respond to soft sounds • turn up the television or radio • talk louder • appear to be inattentive at school Other symptoms of acute otitis media may also include: • fever • nausea • vomiting • dizziness However, otitis media with effusion often has no symptoms at all. In some children, the fluid that's in the middle ear may create a sensation of ear fullness or "popping." As with acute otitis media, the fluid behind the eardrum can block sound, so mild temporary hearing loss can happen, but it may not be obvious. Ear infections are also frequently associated with upper respiratory tract infections and, therefore, with their common signs and symptoms, such as a runny or stuffy nose or a cough.
Are ear infections contagious? (top) An ear infection is not contagious, though the cold that may lead to it can be.
How long do ear infections last? (top) Middle ear infections often go away on their own within 2 or 3 days, even without any specific treatment. If your child's doctor decides to prescribe antibiotics, a 10-day course is usually recommended. For children 6 years of age and older with a mild to moderate infection, a shortened course of antibiotics (5 to 7 days) may be appropriate. But even after antibiotic treatment for an episode of acute otitis media, fluid may remain in the middle ear for up to several months.
How are ear infections diagnosed? (top) If you suspect that your child has an ear infection, he or she will need to visit the doctor, who should be able to make a diagnosis by taking a medical history and doing a physical exam. To examine the ear, doctors use an otoscope, a small instrument similar to a flashlight, through which they can see the eardrum.
How are ear infections treated? (top) There's no single best approach for treating all middle ear infections. In deciding how to manage your child's ear infection, a doctor will consider many factors, including: • the type and severity of the ear infection • how often your child has ear infections • how long this infection has lasted • how old your child is • risk factors your child may have • whether the infection affects your child's hearing The parents' wishes are also factored in to this decision, so an open line of communication between you and the doctor is very important. The fact that most ear infections can clear on their own has led a number of physician associations to recommend a "wait-and-see" approach, which involves giving the child pain relief without antibiotics for a few days. There are other important reasons to consider this type of approach. Antibiotics: • won't help an infection caused by a virus • won't eliminate middle ear fluid • may cause side effects • typically do not relieve pain in the first 24 hours and they have only a minimal effect on pain after that Also, frequent use of antibiotics can lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which can be much more difficult to treat. However, children who get a lot of ear infections may be prescribed daily antibiotics by their doctor to help prevent future infections. And younger children or those with more severe illness may require antibiotics right from the start. The "wait-and-see" approach also might not apply to children with other concerns, such as cleft palate, genetic conditions such as Down syndrome, underlying illnesses such as immune system disorders, or a history of recurrent acute otitis media. Children with persistent otitis media with effusion (lasting longer than 3 months) should be reexamined periodically (every 3 to 6 months) by their doctors. Often, though, even these children won't require treatment. Whether or not the choice is made to treat with antibiotics, you can help to reduce the discomfort from your child's ear infection by using acetaminophen or ibuprofen (which you can buy over the counter at your local pharmacy or grocery store) for pain and fever as needed. Your child's doctor may also recommend using pain-relieving eardrops, as long as the eardrum hasn't ruptured. But certain children, such as those with persistent hearing loss or speech delay, may require ear tube surgery. In some cases, an ear, nose, and throat doctor will suggest surgically inserting tubes (called tympanostomy tubes) in the tympanic membrane. This allows fluid to drain from the middle ear and helps equalize the pressure in the ear because the eustachian tube is unable to.
Can ear infections be prevented? (top) Although certain factors associated with the development of ear infections can't be changed (such as family history of frequent ear infections), there are certain lifestyle choices that can minimize the risk of children developing ear infections: • breastfeeding infants for at least 6 months, which helps to prevent the development of early episodes of ear infections. If a child is bottle-fed, holding the infant at an angle rather than allowing the child to lie down with the bottle is best. • avoiding exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke, which can increase the frequency and severity of ear infections. • reducing exposure, if possible, to large groups of children, such as in child-care centers. Because multiple upper respiratory infections may also lead to frequent ear infections, limiting exposure to large groups of kids may result in less frequent colds early on and, therefore, fewer ear infections. • hand washing for both parents and children. This is one of the most important methods of decreasing person-to-person transmission of the germs that can cause colds and, therefore, ear infections. • keeping children's immunizations up-to-date, because certain vaccines can help prevent ear infections. So, what doesn't prevent ear infections? Research has shown that cold and allergy medications such as antihistamines and decongestants are not helpful in preventing them.
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