When fluid becomes trapped in the middle ear, it leads to swelling and pain. Commonly referred to as an ear infection, this inflammatory condition – also known as otitis media – strikes people of all ages, but is especially common in children.
Infection can also occur in the ear canal causing hearing loss, severe pain and drainage. This is often referred to as otitis externa or Swimmer’s ear.
Causes and Symptoms
Ear infections may be either acute – lasting for a short duration – or chronic, occurring frequently or hanging around for a long time. They occur when fluid builds up in the middle ear, most often as the result of colds, allergies, or infections of the throat or sinuses. Normally, the Eustachian tube drains fluids from the middle ear, but these conditions can cause the tubes to swell, trapping the fluid and giving it no place to go. This results in a painful middle ear infection.
Swimming or moisture exposure can lead to inflammation or drainage and pain in the ear canal. Often this is caused by bacteria but fungal infections are extremely common in humid environments such as Florida and Georgia.
An earache is the main symptom of an ear infection. There may also be a thick, yellow discharge of fluid coming from the ears or hearing loss can also occur due to fluid and inflammation of the ear canal.
Other symptoms associated with ear infections include fever, irritability, loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Treating Otitis Media and Otitis Externa
An otoscope is used to examine the ear for signs of infection. Your ENT Specialist uses this instrument to check for swelling and redness in the ear canal or ear drum, and any fluid that may have accumulated in the middle ear. When the diagnosis comes back as an ear infection, treatment usually requires topical or oral antibiotics or antifungal medication depending on the cause. A microscope and suction techniques may also be used to treat your infection and make the proper diagnosis.
If you have symptoms of recurring or persistent ear infections, please contact our office for a consultation with one of our board-certified ENT Specialists.
