As many as five out of six children will have at least one ear infection by their third birthday. Many people remember ear infections and the feelings of exhaustion and crankiness that accompany them to be a recurring factor of their childhood. Because ear infections as an adult are far less common than as a child, many people may not consider them when they’re having ear pain or trouble.
To help prevent an adult ear infection from ruining your first fall picnic at Fonthill Park, let’s examine why ear infections happen and what you can do to manage them.
Why Do Ear Infections Occur?
An ear infection, or acute otitis media, is an infection of the middle ear. With an ear infection, the eustachian tubes that run from the middle ear to the back of the throat become swollen and blocked, leading to mucus build-up. When mucus builds up, it can become infected and cause the symptoms of ear infections, which, in adults, may include but are not limited to:
- Ear pain
- Trouble hearing
- Fluid drainage from the ear
- Sore throat
- Fever
Acute cases of adult middle ear infections may be accompanied by a high fever, severe pain and facial paralysis or weakness. If you begin exhibiting symptoms of an acute ear infection, make an appointment with an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist immediately.
How Are Ear Infections Diagnosed?
Your ENT specialist will likely gather your medical history and perform an examination of your outer ear and eardrum with an otoscope, a lighted device that lets them see inside your ear. They may blow a puff of air into your ear using a pneumatic otoscope to check how well the eardrum moves. If its movement is restricted, you may have an ear infection.
How Can Your Ear Infection Be Managed?
Mild ear infection symptoms will likely go away on their own within 72 hours, but acute cases occasionally require medical intervention. For acute cases, your ENT specialist may recommend treatment with antibiotics, pain management medication, decongestants, antihistamines or nasal steroids.
If you’re prone to acute ear infections, or the fluid remains in your ear after the infection is gone, your specialist may recommend an ear tube. Ear tubes are placed at the opening of the eardrum and help prevent fluid from building up, lessening the likelihood that ear infections will reoccur.
For more information on managing your ear infections, contact Pinnacle ENT today to make an appointment with one of our specialists.