Ear ache |
Overview Ear ache is a common condition associated with pain either within the ear or in the canal that leads to the ear drum. This is often caused by an infection of the outer or inner ear. Earaches are especially common among infants and children between 6 months and 5 years of age but can affect people of all ages. Symptoms Though common in children ear aches are far less frequent in adults. Often what is assumed to be an ear infection is actually pain from another part of the body such as the neck back or teeth. Symptoms of an ear infection include:
Children may temporarily lose their hearing during and after an ear infection. This is because the tympanic membrane (the ear drum) gets inflamed and becomes less mobile which makes it less able to register sounds. As well the Eustachian tube the tube that runs from the ear to the throat becomes clogged and changes the pressure around the ear drum and makes you feel like you are in a plane. Permanent hearing loss is rare although multiple ear infections will increase the risk of permanent hearing loss. Although most ear aches heal themselves you should see a doctor if you suffer a bad earache lasting more than a few hours or a mild earache lasting longer than a day. If the ear ache is due to an infection then the sooner you see a doctor the easier it will be to treat. Ear aches and infections are usually treatable in a clinic or your doctor's office and generally don¹t require hospitalization. Exceptions include:
Causes Earaches are most commonly a result of fluid build up in the middle ear - the area behind the eardrum. The middle ear is connected to the nasal passages by the eustachian tube. When this tube becomes swollen fluid builds up in the middle ear and the resulting pressure causes pain difficulty hearing and infection. Because this tube in so small in young children it is more prone to swelling. Causes of earaches include:
Treatment There are a number of ways to treat pain caused by earache. Antibiotics? In the past we have typically given antibiotics for ear infections inside the ear. We now know that this is not always necessary. If we take 100 children over 2 years of age with ear infections and give them antibiotics and compare them to 100 children who did not about 12 will get better a little quicker. However about 10 children may have problems with the antibiotics such as a rash or upset stomach. Now many parents elect to watch and wait and treat with acetaminophen or ibuprofen as that helps with the two major symptoms of ear infections; fever and pain you're your child is still ill after a few days some decide to treat with antibiotics then. Obviously this is something you should discuss with your doctor or nurse. There is less data on adults but ear infections are much more prevalent in children. At home:
In cases involving children call the doctor if there are signs of:
Many doctors are hesitant to prescribe antibiotics and will wait and see how the symptoms develop. Most ear infections will right themselves within one day. However if antibiotics are prescribed then it is important to follow the directions exactly. In order to prevent earaches:
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