Severe Ear Infections

Ear infections, which can range from acute to severe, are a matter of great concern in the realm of public health. According to the National Institute of Health, this type of infection is more common in children and infants since the tube connecting the ear to the back of the throat can be easily clogged. However, severe ear infections can afflict people of all ages.

Facts

• Acute ear infection can be experienced for only a short time. One of the most common infections affecting children is called otitis media or the inflammation and eventual infection of the middle ear that is located behind the eardrum. Meanwhile, severe ear infection or chronic otitis media can last for a long period of time or can arise from time to time. Severe ear infections can cause permanent damage to the ear and the nearby bones.

Causes

• The part of the ear that is commonly infected is the Eustachian tube that connects the middle ear to the back of the throat. The role of the Eustachian tube is to drain the fluid that is produced by the middle ear. Whenever this tube becomes blocked for a long period of time, it can become the cause of swelling and blockage, leading to a severe infection. Chronic ear infections can be caused by a cyst of the middle ear or cholesteatoma, damage on the middle ear, and a hole in the eardrum that does not heal after a long time.

Symptoms

• Chronic ear infections---those which persist and cause permanent damage---may pose less severe symptoms than acute infections, which tend to last for short but painful periods of time. Chronic ear infections include the standard earache or discomfort in the ears, which is usually mild in nature and can feel like a light pressure inside the ear. Fever and hearing loss are some other symptoms, as the earlier indicates the body's reaction to the ear infection. Puss can also come outside of the ear, which is a result of the ear infection.

Hospital Tests

• To properly diagnose the patient with severe ear infections, the doctor may conduct specific tests. These tests may include the use of a pneumatic otoscope, which monitors reduction in eardrum motion. Tympanometry, which detects fluids inside the ear of the patient, can also be used to examine the ear.

Treatment

• According to the Mayo Clinic, antibiotics aren't necessary for treating many ear infection cases. It claims this is largely because antibiotics don't have any effect on ear infections caused by viruses and most conditions of this sort clear up on their own within a few days. However, antibiotics are recommended for infants under 6 months old as well as adults and children who have suffered from an ear infection within the past 30 days.