Protracted Ear Infection

In an ear infection, fluid builds up behind your middle ear, allowing bacteria to grow. An infection will often clear on its own. If it does not, there is a risk it could become a protracted ear infection.

Identification

• A chronic ear infection occurs when the fluid or the infection in your ear remain. This can be caused by repeated acute ear infections or by an ear infection that has not fully cleared up.

Symptoms

• According to the National Institutes of Heath, the symptoms of a protracted ear infection can grow more intense and fade. They include earache, drainage from your ear and hearing loss.

Complications

• Chronic ear infections can cause permanent hearing loss. They can also lead to a form of sinus infection called mastoiditis, which can travel to other parts of your head, warns the Mayo Clinic.

Treatment

• Antibiotics taken over a long period of time or given intravenously or through eardrops can clear a protracted earache. You might also need surgery to remove built-up tissue.

Considerations

• Delaying treatment of a chronic ear infection can lead to serious health problems including facial paralysis, balance problems and inflammation of the brain.