Chronic Ear Disease

Chronic Ear Infection Treatment in Chirag Enclave, Delhi

Chronic ear disease is a medical condition wherein the infection in your ear is recurring and does not heal completely. This infection usually occurs in the middle ear and involves blockage of the eustachian tube. 

An ear infection is more common in children than in adults. Many factors such as allergies, colds and sinus infections can cause chronic ear disease. Today, there are various treatments for chronic ear diseases. These include antibiotics, flushing out the ear wax or antifungal ear drops and ointments. 

What are the types of chronic ear disease?

There are three types of chronic ear disease. They are:

• Acute Otitis Media (AOM) - The most common infection of the three types. It involves fluid building up in the middle ear and causing immense earache. 
• Otitis Media with Effusion (OME) - Mostly found in children, this type of disease occurs when the fluid accumulates in the middle ear after an ear infection heals. 
• Chronic Otitis Media with Effusion (COME) - This is the type of infection that is chronic and keeps coming back. This condition can lead to hearing trouble and make it difficult for a person to fight new ear infections. 

What are the symptoms?

• Pressure in the ear
• Fever
• Pain in the ear
• Fluid coming out of the ear
• Problem sleeping

What causes chronic ear disease?

• Allergies
• Flu
• Bacterial infection
• Sinus
• Swollen adenoids
• Accumulation of excess mucus

When do you need to visit a doctor? 

If your child or you are experiencing any of the following signs and symptoms, then it is time you visit a doctor:

• Immense pain in the ear
• A recurring ear infection that is not responding to treatment
• Low fever
• Fluid accumulating in the ear
• Hearing loss

Request an appointment at Apollo Spectra Hospitals, Chirag Enclave, New Delhi.

Call 1860 500 2244 to book an appointment.

What are the risk factors?

• Respiratory tract infection
• Recurring ear infection
• Family history of chronic ear disease
• Down syndrome
• Constant change in climate and altitude

What are the complications?

If an ear disease keeps coming back or if it is not given proper medical treatment, there might be some complications like:

• Loss of hearing
• Damage in the ear bones
• Facial paralysis
• Fluid draining from a hole in the eardrum
• Loss of balance
• Cholesteatoma - a growth or cyst found in the middle ear

How is a chronic ear disease prevented?

Avoid smoking or coming in contact with secondhand smoke because it irritates the ear.
Regularly clean the ears and wash hands.

How is a chronic ear disease treated?

Today, modern medicine provides a variety of treatments for chronic ear disease. These include:

• Medication - If you or your child suffers from chronic ear disease, your ENT specialist will prescribe antibiotics or pain medication to help reduce the infection and ear pain.
• Anti-fungal treatment - If you suffer from a fungal infection causing ear disease, then your doctor will prescribe anti-fungal drops or ointment to help alleviate the symptoms.
• Tympanocentesis - This is a treatment procedure where a pressure-equalizing tube is inserted in the ear to drain the liquid and relieve the pain and pressure in the ear. 

Conclusion

Chronic ear disease is a medical condition that involves an ear infection that keeps recurring and does not respond to any treatment. Factors such as sinus, flu, season changes and infections can cause chronic ear disease.

References

https://www.healthline.com/health/ear-infection-chronic

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322913#chronic-ear-infections