Middle Ear Infection Symptoms

A middle ear infection is quite a common phenomenon, if you didn't already know. The technical term for this condition is Otitis Media and it affects the middle ear, which is the portion behind the eardrum. In the following article, we shall be studying about the varied symptoms that make way due to this infection. These symptoms will let you know whether there is a chance of ear infection and you can take the required measures for it thereafter.

Types of Middle Ear Infections

There are 3 conditions or stages of the middle ear infection. Let us first understand these before getting into the details about the varied symptoms.

Acute Otitis Media
In this condition, the infection comes about rapidly and passes on quite fast as well. There is fluid accumulation and it causes an ear infection.

Recurrent Acute Otitis Media
This infection lasts several weeks and might leave in its wake fluid accumulation in the middle ear.

Chronic Otitis Media
As the name suggests, this is a persistent condition which affects the ear. It usually follows the stage of recurrent acute otitis media because it comes about as a reaction to the fluid retention and the negative pressure that is formed. This infection can last for a month or more and can even cause damage to the ears and eardrums and can even result in loss of hearing.

Symptoms in Children

Although this condition is a common occurrence among all age groups, it has been known to affect children the most. Here are some symptoms that make way in babies and children:

• Earache
• Tugging or pulling at ears
• Inability to respond to sounds.
• Draining of a clear fluid form the ear/ears.
• Experiencing headaches.
• Difficulty in sleeping.
• A fever of 100 Fahrenheit or more.
• Difficulty in taking feeds (for babies).
• Crying more than usual and often.
• Showing irritation.
• Being fussy.
• Runny and stuffy nose.
• Coughing.
• Congestion in chest.
• Pus buildup causing temporary hear loss.
• Change in appetite is experienced. This happens because actions like chewing, sucking and swallowing will cause tremendous pain and they will want to avoid that at any cost.
• Nausea and dizziness.
• Vomiting.
• Loss of concentration.

Symptoms in Adults

Even though the middle ear infection symptoms are a more common occurrence among children, they can also develop in adults. The cause of ear problems in adults need not necessarily be a viral infection, it could be caused due to an infection in the Eustachian tube or due to the trickling of fluid into the ear and causing an infection and ear infection pain. Here are some of the symptoms that are common in adults.

• Blockage in the ears.
• Hearing loss (permanent or temporary).
• Ear ache and ear pain.
• Fever that is a hundred degrees or more.
• Dizziness.
• Nausea.
• Vomiting.
• Tinnitus - A ringing in the ear.
• Headaches.
• Vertigo - Whirling and spinning in the head.
• Pressure in the ears.
• The tympanic membrane gets inflamed and blistered and causes intense pain.
• Formation and accumulation of pus.

Treatment

Usually, the ear infection will pass after its normal time and there is no need for any form of treatment to be administered. Yet in some cases the infection festers onto something more and it could cause permanent damage. That is why ear infection treatment becomes necessary.

The most common form of treatment is the administration of antibiotics. Ear infection antibiotics are only used after the ear is seen not to heal on its own. This is a more common prescription for adults than children. Along with that prescription, ear drops are also given to drain the ear and heal the infection and inflammation that is caused.

Surgery is also one of the options used if the infections continue to be chronic and recurrent. But this is used as a last resort. This option is also made use of if there are any inner ear infection symptoms noticed.

And now that you know what some of the symptoms are and what sort of ear problems they can lead to, make sure that you do not neglect any pain or try to administer self treatment. Consult an ENT doctor immediately.