What is it?
Infection of the ear.
- Behind the ear drum is a small space that’s usually filled with air (the middle ear).
- To let air in and out, a small channel called the Eustachian tube connects this space to the throat. When germs (such as viruses or bacteria) enter during a cold, an ear infection can develop.
- Middle ear infection is very common, mostly affecting small children aged between six and 18 months.
- More than half of all children suffer at least one middle ear infection by the time they’re seven.
- What are the symptoms?
- Older children usually complain of ear ache, while younger children often pull or rub their ears.
- Symptoms of middle ear infection tend to develop quickly and usually last an average of four days.
- Fluid leaking from the ear: A hole may form in the ear drum (tympanic membrane) and cause infected thick fluid (pus) to run out of the ear.
- This usually relieves the ear pain as it reduces the pressure on the ear drum (tympanic membrane).
Adults:
- Ear infections are not as common in adults unless one has a known cause or history of infections.
- Some Ear pain could be due to wax build up, this needs to be examined before one treats it.
- Most infection will clear up within 8 days, with rest and plenty of water, however if one is having fluid leaking out of the ear and/or decreasing hearing loss and/or a new deafness, this needs to be checked during the 0 – 8 days, this may indicate an infection.
If one uses ear medication in particular
corticosteroids ear drops, one may have a fungal infection of the ear, this can be seen as white deposits in the ear via an otoscope or if antibiotics have not helped
- The ear drum/tympanic membrane may heal within a few weeks and might not need any treatment, however if it can cause tinnitus symptoms for four weeks as it completely heels.
- Please not once the ear drum/tympanic membrane is damaged/perforated one can fly on an airplane (its is when there is pressure on the tympanic membrane that causes ear pain).
If your healthcare professional notice a hole of the tympanic membrane/ear drum via otoscope on top corner, this needs to be further investigated as there could be pressure from another source other than sinus
Cause
- Mastoditis – common in children and should be diagnosed and treated quickly, the patient need to see a Medical Doctor on the same day, if not possible go to hospital.
- Any recent blow/burn or injury to head or ear
- Using cotton buds forcing wax to move down the ear, causing loss of hearing and/or ear pain
- Symptoms occurred after having their ears syringed two to three days ago
- Recent ear infection
- Reaction to ear drops
- Used expired ear drops
Middle ear infections (Otitis media)
- Cold and flu
- (Streptococcal bacteria, Haempohilus influenza bacteria, M.cattarahlis bacteria)
- Measles
- Allergies
- Sore throat
- Babies who drink formula milk rather than breast milk
- Outer ear soreness and infections Otitis externa (known as swimmers ear)
- Foreign particles entering the ear (Streptococcal bacteria, Staphylococci bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria).
- Ear injury (Perichondritis)
- Fungal infections
- Viruses include cold viruses (rhinoviruses), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza virus, and enteroviruses.
- Exposed to a moist environment i.e. after swimming (Aspergillosis, Candida fungus)
- Exposure to chemical irritants, especially cigarette smoke
- Eustachian tube disorders and build up fluid in eustachian tube (the tube is passage is narrower in babies and children and it doesn’t have the slant it does in adults, so it doesn’t drain as well) and or physical changes in the eustachian tube.
- Craniofacial (head/face) disorders that cause palatal muscle weakness like cleft palate.
- Enlarged structures in your ears, nose, or throat:
- The adenoids (Adenoids are small lumps of tissue at the back of the nose, above the roof of the mouth and help to fight infections- if they get infected they can swell)
- Turbinates (bony plates inside your nose. become irritated mainly due to allergies or long term cold)
- Nasal polyps
- Those not breastfed
- Recurrent chest infections
- Allergies
- Long term runny nose (allergic rhinitis)
- Cleidocranial dysplasia
- Congenital type 1 plasminogen deficiency
- Mouth disease
- Mouth cancer
- Multiple sulfatase deficiency
- Pierre Robin sequence
- Primary ciliary dyskinesia
- TLK2-related neurodevelopmental disorder
- Trismus
- Wegener’s granulomatosis
Syndromes
Medication
Symptoms
- Mild Pain in the ear (when outer ear is touched or pulled gently)?
- Pain in the ear made worse by movement of jaw?
- Mild fever?
- Ear block, discomfort and/or itchiness?
- Difficulty in hearing (if a child, call their name or clap your hands and see if they react?
- Sickness feeling?
- Feeling slightly dizzy?
- Discharge watery pus like from ear?
- Had any pus or fluid (white/yellow/green or blood) seeping out of ear (Is there spot left on pillow when getting out of bed)?
- Small red pimple in ear canal?
- Boil (lump) in ear?
- Severe pain when moving your ear?
- Hot, red, swollen outer ear (pinner) and in ear hole?
- Lack of ear wax?
- When one moves their head when lying down or sitting or standing and one feels very dizzy?
- Difficulty in talking or vocal quality?
- Difficultly in opening the mouth, chewing and swallowing (can lead to weight loss)?
- Symptoms for more than four days?
- Sore throat longer than seven days or more?
- Symptoms occur repeatedly?
- Tried over the counter treatment or prescribed medication and it has not helped?
Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:
Medical Emergency Condition
And/or do not wait, phone for an ambulance if have or develop:
It’s more common in children and should be diagnosed and treated quickly, the patient need to see a Medical Doctor on the same day, if not possible go to hospital.
General tips on children with ear condition:
- Do not wait, all children under the age of one years old should be checked a Healthcare professional.
- If your child is generally unwell or doesn’t start to improve after four days and/or fluid leaks out of the ear should be checked by a healthcare professional.
Painkillers and Temperature conditions tips
- Giving painkillers: You can give either paracetamol or ibuprofen (if suitable) if your child unwell or appears distressed.
- Neither should be given routinely just to reduce body temperature.
- Do not give your child paracetamol and ibuprofen at the same time unless advised to do so by a health professional. Instead, give the alternative medicine if your child does not respond to the first one you start with.
- Keep your child cool: Avoid over- or under-dressing your feverish child.
- Keep your central heating down.
- Tepid sponging is no longer recommended.
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
- If you’re a breastfeeding mother, offer as many feeds as she/he will take. Avoid dummies and feeding while lying flat.
This condition should be first confirmed by a medical doctor as it can misdiagnosed for:
Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice
Detailed Information
Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Ear Infection in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).
- NHS
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- Medscape
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- Pharmaceutical Journal
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- Medical News Today
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- WebMD
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- National Organisation of Rare Diseases
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- Verywell Health
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