Lindenberg says. The Eustachian tube connects the upper part of the throat to the middle ear. If the Eustachian tube is swollen or blocked with mucus due to a respiratory illness like a cold, fluid may not be able to drain.
The most common ear infection is called acute otitis media, where parts of the middle ear are infected and swollen and fluid is trapped behind the eardrum. Lindenberg say. Make sure your child is up to date on vaccinations. Studies show vaccinated children have fewer ear infections. The pneumococcal vaccine protects against streptococcus pneumoniae, a common cause of middle ear infections.
The flu vaccine can also help prevent ear infections. Children and adults who wash their hands with soap and clean, running water can help prevent the spread of germs that can cause colds and ear infections. A child whose eardrum has ruptured might have ringing or buzzing in the ear and not hear as well as usual.
Very rarely, ear infections that don't go away or severe repeated middle ear infections can lead to complications. So kids with an earache or a sense of fullness in the ear, especially when combined with fever, should be seen by their doctors if they aren't getting better after a couple of days. Other things can cause earaches, such as teething , a foreign object in the ear, or hard earwax. Your doctor can find the cause of your child's discomfort and treat it.
Middle Ear Infections Otitis Media. Reviewed by: William J. Parkes, IV, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Are Middle Ear Infections? Ear pain is the main sign of a middle ear infection. Kids also might have: a fever trouble eating, drinking, or sleeping. Chewing, sucking, and lying down can cause painful pressure changes in the middle ear. How Do Ear Infections Happen? Kids especially in the first 2 to 4 years of life get ear infections more than adults do for several reasons: Their shorter, more horizontal eustachian tubes let bacteria and viruses find their way into the middle ear more easily.
The tubes are also narrower, so more likely to get blocked. Their adenoids , gland-like structures at the back of the throat, are larger and can interfere with the opening of the eustachian tubes. How Are Ear Infections Diagnosed?
How Are Ear Infections Treated? To treat an ear infection, health care providers consider many things, including: the type and severity of the ear infection how often the child has ear infections how long this infection has lasted the child's age and any risk factors whether the infection affects hearing The type of otitis affects treatment options.
Antibiotics aren't routinely prescribed because they: won't help an infection caused by a virus won't get rid of middle ear fluid can cause side effects usually don't relieve pain in the first 24 hours and have only a minimal effect after that Also, overuse of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which are much harder to treat.
When Else Are Antibiotics Needed? Can Ear Infections Affect Hearing? Kids having a problem might: not respond to soft sounds need to turn up the TV or radio talk louder seem inattentive at school In kids who have otitis media with effusion, the fluid behind the eardrum can block sound, so mild temporary hearing loss can happen, but might not be obvious. Can Ear Infections Be Prevented? Page last reviewed: 16 June Next review due: 16 June Ear infections.
Check if it's an ear infection The symptoms of an ear infection usually start quickly and include: pain inside the ear a high temperature being sick a lack of energy difficulty hearing discharge running out of the ear a feeling of pressure or fullness inside the ear itching and irritation in and around the ear scaly skin in and around the ear Young children and babies with an ear infection may also: rub or pull their ear not react to some sounds be irritable or restless be off their food keep losing their balance Most ear infections clear up within 3 days, although sometimes symptoms can last up to a week.
Differences between inner, middle and outer ear infections Differences between middle and outer ear infections Inner ear infection Middle ear infection otitis media Outer ear infection otitis externa Can affect both children and adults Usually affects children Usually affects adults aged 45 to 75 Caused by viral or bacterial infections Caused by viruses like colds and flu Caused by something irritating the ear canal, such as eczema, water or wearing earplugs Affects parts of the inner ear like the labyrinth and vestibular system, and can lead to labyrinthitis Affects the eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear area behind the eardrum to the back of the nose Affects the ear canal the tube between the outer ear and the eardrum.
Do use painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen children under 16 should not take aspirin place a warm or cold flannel on the ear remove any discharge by wiping the ear with cotton wool. Find a pharmacy. Non-urgent advice: See a GP if you or your child have:. Remove any visible discharge or earwax using cotton wool. Hold the bottle in your hand to warm it.
0コメント