Ear infection – symptoms and treatment

Ear infections are relatively common in humans, especially in young children and infants. They most often occur as a result of a cold in which fluid can start to accumulate behind the eardrum. Although this fluid in itself is not necessarily a problem, it is fertile ground for the development of viruses and bacteria that cause ear infections. Otitis with respect to pathogens it can thus be bacterial or viral, and depending on what causes it, it is treated differently. Ear infections can be extremely painful and can be accompanied by fever, which in turn leads to lethargy or, in some cases, irritability.

This fluid can sometimes put so much pressure on the eardrum that it bursts in the middle of that pressure, that is, it perforates and the fluid starts to come out, which can bring some relief. Young children are very susceptible to such inflammations, but fortunately, as children grow older, ear infections occur less frequently, although adulthood is no guarantee that it will not happen again.

Symptoms of ear infection

Inflammation of the ear, in addition to severe pain, may be accompanied by fever. In addition to pain and fever, which can be indicators of some other difficulties, you can recognize ear inflammation by monitoring your child’s behavior. The child he is torturing otitis they will often pull on their ears or rub them, some will be irritated or listless, while some children will lose their appetite.

 

Older children and adults may complain of dizziness or balance disorders because one of the balance centers is located right in the ears, and symptoms such as a feeling of full ears or the appearance of pressure in the ears can be described. Impaired hearing is also one of the symptoms, so this should also be considered. Sometimes ear infections are almost imperceptible and resolve on their own, but most often they are somewhat longer lasting and require medical attention. If you suspect an ear infection, it is best to consult your doctor from whom you will learn how to treat the problem.

Ear infection and treatment

Earlier in the text we mentioned that otitis it can be caused by viruses and bacteria. The cause of the inflammation is difficult to identify from the fluid that collects in the ears, so doctors ask many questions to get a clearer picture of the causes. Treatment also depends on how often the ear infection occurs, whether it affects the hearing of the person suffering from the inflammation, and the like. The most common ways in which ear infections are treated are waiting, treatment with antibiotics, or fluid drainage tubes.

Treatment depends on the frequency of inflammation and how it affects a person’s health. If infections are frequent, antibiotics are the most common solution because it tries to destroy the bacteria that cause inflammation. If the fluid in the ear affects the hearing and the inflammation does not go away even after antibiotics, the drainage tubes help to squeeze the fluid out of the ear and help balance the pressure between the middle and outer ear. Drainage tubes are an operative procedure and are used only in cases where it is really necessary.