Communicated Content- An ear infection can be caused by a virus or a bacteria and is often painful and inflamed. Here are the different ear infections that you might be experiencing, along with their respective symptoms, causes, and treatments.
Inner Ear Infection
If you are diagnosed with an inner ear infection, it may only be inflammation and not an actual infection. Following are the symptoms that you will experience if you have an inner ear infection:
- Pain in the ear
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Dizziness
An inner ear infection is often an indication of a more severe illness. It is why you should neglect this condition and better consult a doctor. Viral infection is the most common cause of an inner ear infection. Viruses that are often linked to the inner ear infection are
- Influenza
- Herpes
- Polio
- Epstein-Barr Virus
Bacterial infection can still cause an inner ear infection. However, the chances of bacteria causing inner ear infections are meager. If you think that you are experiencing an inner ear infection, here are the treatments that will help you manage your condition:
- Prescription medications
- Over the counter drugs
- Warm Compress for the pain
You can also opt for some natural remedies at home, but you have to make sure that you know the leading cause of the inner ear infection and treat it accordingly.
Middle Ear Infection
Just as mentioned earlier, the middle ear infection is the most common ear infection of all. Therefore, watch out for the symptoms below, as these indicate that you are suffering from a middle ear infection.
- Earache
- You will feel fullness in the ear
- Fluid drainage from the infected ear
- Fever
- Trouble hearing
Once you experience these symptoms, you should immediately seek medical help so that the physician can provide you with the best types of ear infection treatment. There are many treatments you can undergo for the middle ear infection, such as:
- Pain medications
- Antibiotic therapy
- Ear tubes
- The wait-and-see method
Some middle ear infections go away on their own after two weeks. This is why ear doctors also use the wait-and-see approach as a treatment. You will wait for two weeks and see whether the infection has cleared out on its own without any medication.
Once the infection continues, that will be the time to try other treatments such as antibiotic therapy and ear tubes.
Different factors cause a middle ear infection. The middle ear infection is caused by a fluid trapped at the back of your eardrum, which causes it to bulge. This fluid can be a result of a cold or a respiratory problem. The virus can travel from one ear to the other through the eustachian tubes.
The infection irritates your eustachian tubes that causes them to swell. This swelling then prevents the draining of fluid. If the tubes can’t be drained, the fluid will start to build upon the eardrum.
Outer Ear Infection
The next type of ear infection you might experience is the outer ear infection. As the name suggests, this infection happens in the outer part of your ears. The outer part of your ear is the one that extends from the eardrum to the outside.
An outer ear infection is medically referred to as otitis externa. Otitis externa usually begins as a rash that is extremely itchy until you will notice:
- Pain in the ears
- Tenderness
- Swelling
- Redness
- Itchiness
- Ear discharge
- Difficulty hearing
- Rashes around your ear canal
Despite its medical name, an outer ear infection is commonly called the swimmer’s ear. The reason behind this is that the infection is often a result of water trapped inside your ear during swimming or taking a bath. If you do not entirely get rid of this water, it will become a breeding ground for bacteria.
The bacteria that is starting to breed inside your ears will then cause the infection. The infection will start if the outer part of your ear gets scratched and wounded by your fingernails or any object you insert into your ear. Treatments for the outer ear infection are:
- Ear drops and sprays
- Antibiotic
- over the counter medications for pain
- Ear canal cleaning (dry swabbing, irrigation, micro-suction)
The mentioned treatments are only performed when the infection is already severe. If your condition is just mild, you can do simple self-care at home.
For example, you can take pain killer medicines or paracetamol to manage the pain. It is also discouraged to use cotton buds or any objects to clean your ears.
Moreover, avoid itching your ear canal no matter how itchy it can be. You can also use a warm cloth and press it against the infected ear to reduce the pain. Additionally, acidic ear drops can help you treat the mild infection occurring in your ear.
Schedule An Appointment to Your Doctor
Even though you’re now informed of symptoms, causes, and treatments of the mentioned ear infections, it is still best to consult a professional. This way, you can rest assured that you are appropriately diagnosed and prescribed the proper medications.
