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Inner Ear Infections

When there is an infection or a disorder that affects the inner ear, it is called labyrinthitis. An inner ear infection can cause balance and hearing problems. It can affect one or both ears, and the cause can be either viral or bacterial. The bacterial type can be treated effectively with antibiotics, but the viral type has to run its course. It is important to understand a few things about the functions of the ear, why ear infections occur and how to treat them.

  1. Anatomy of the Ear

    • When a person develops an inner ear infection, it is important to note that inner ear infections are unlike other kinds of ear infections. The inner ear is made up of a number of small canals and various tubes. The technical term for this is the labyrinth, and it has two jobs: interpret sound and find out the movement and position of your head. Sometimes the labyrinth can develop an infection.

    Symptoms

    • When an infection of the inner ear develops, symptoms can include a feeling that the room is spinning, which is called vertigo. Some people will become nauseous and vomit, usually from vertigo. Other symptoms include an unsteadiness, headache, a ringing in the ears and possibly altered hearing or a hearing loss, which is temporary. These symptoms often get worse with head movements such as rolling over in bed, sitting up or looking up.

    Treatment

    • Doctors treat inner ear infections differently. Some doctors prefer to wait and see if the infection goes away on its own before they prescribe an antibiotic. It is common for the doctor to wait no more than 72 hours before he tries the next approach. The reason for this is because antibiotics do nothing for infections that are viral, which makes up the largest percentage of inner ear infections, according to the Mayo Clinic. These kinds of infections usually clear up on their own.

    Medication

    • When doctors prescribe antibiotics for an inner ear infection, they usually prescribe amoxicillin first. If this is the case, then most symptoms will subside in a few days. It is important to finish the full round of medication so the infection does not return. If the infection is caused by a build-up of inner ear fluid, antibiotics will not help. The next approach might be to insert drainage tubes in the ears through a minor surgical procedure.

    Self Help

    • There are some things that you can do at home if you or a child is having discomfort from an inner ear infection. Over-the-counter pain relievers can reduce pain or fever associated with the infection. Warmth usually helps relieve an inner ear infection, so many people find comfort in either a warm compress or a heating pad. Adults often find comfort in antihistamines such as allergy medications or decongestants if the inner ear infection is a result of a sinus problem.

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