Ear Infection Treatment in C-scheme, Jaipur

An ear infection is the most common problem faced by children that can cause inflammation or pain in the middle ear. An ear infection is also known as middle ear infection, glue ear, serious and secretory otitis media. “Otitis” is known as inflammation in the ear and “media” refers to the middle. The infection can be chronic or acute. In chronic conditions, it may permanently end up damaging the middle ear.

What is Ear Infection?

Ear Infection is caused by a bacterial or viral infection resulting in the inflammation of the middle ear. Both the ears can be affected during the same time showing common symptoms like ear pain, sore throats, fever, headache, or difficulty in hearing. Inflammation of the ear tissue and the eardrum might result in temporary hearing loss or deafness in severe conditions.

What Are the Types of an Ear infection?

Depending on the severity, the Ear Infection can be classified into three types

• Acute otitis media (AOM): This occurs for a shorter duration and is the most common among the three. It occurs when there is fluid trapped in the middle ear behind the eardrum. The eardrum is swollen and is recognized by the draining pus from the ears.
• Otitis media with effusion (OME): This occurs after the infection has run its flow but a considerable amount of fluid is left behind. There are usually no symptoms shown to indicate OME.
• Chronic otitis media with effusion (COME): This occurs when the fluid keeps returning to the middle ear with or without an infection present. This results in hearing impairment.

What are the symptoms of Ear Infection?

The adults have the following symptoms:

• Fever
• Headache
• Reduce hearing ability
• Ear pain
• Pressure in the ear
• Fluid or pus in the ear
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Vomiting

The children have a wide range of symptoms which include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Appetite loss
• Pulling the ear
• Frequent crying
• Ear pain
• Sleeping difficulty
• Decrease in the balance
• Vomiting

What Are the Causes of Ear Infection?

Eustachian tubes are the narrow canals that run from each ear to the nasopharynx. It connects the back of the throat to the middle ear. An Ear infection starts with the onset of cold or flu resulting in the swollen eustachian tube due to blockage of fluid in the middle ear.

The following are the causes that block the Eustachian tubes

• Changes in the air pressure.
• Smoking
• Mucus
• Sinus infections
• Cold
• Allergies
• Down’s syndrome
• Cleft palate
• Smoking
• Altitude changes
• Exposure to climate

When to See a Doctor at Apollo Spectra, Jaipur?

As severe cases of ear infections lead to hearing impairment, in the following cases it is recommended to go see a doctor in Jaipur:

• Conditions do not improve in three days
• Body temperature of 100.4 degrees
• Swollen ear lobes
• Redness of the ear
• Persistent headache

Request an appointment at Apollo Spectra Hospitals, Jaipur

Call 1860 500 2244 to book an appointment.

How is Ear Infection Diagnosed?

When you go to a specialist at Apollo Spectra, Jaipur, he usually asks for symptoms you have been experiencing. He will use an otoscope (instrument with attached light) to check for the trapped fluid behind the eardrum. If the doctor is unsure of the diagnosis, then he will use the below-mentioned methods to confirm any ear infection

• Acoustic reflectometry: It usually involves the reflecting of sound waves as opposed to the eardrum. The sound is bounced more if the ear is infected.
• Tympanocentesis: This method is used to determine the cause of the infection. A small procedure is performed by making a small hole in the eardrum and releasing a small amount of liquid from the inner ear.
• Tympanometry: This method allows the doctor to alter the pressure in the middle ear. It also measures the movement of the eardrum.

How can Ear Infection be treated?

Mild ear infections relieve within a couple of days. Consider applying a warm cloth to the infected region of the behind of the ear.

Antibiotic treatment is offered to infants under the age of 6 months. Antibiotics are prescribed over different doses depending on the severity of the infection.

In severe cases, the doctor performs a myringotomy which is making an incision in the eardrum to release all the trapped fluid. A small tube is inserted to clear the pressured air from the middle ear preventing any further fluid build.

Conclusion

Ear Infection is a common infection that goes on its own. Proper treatment under severe conditions reduces the complications of facing hearing loss or the risk of spreading the infection to other parts.