Treating An Ear Infection
For many, there’s few pain worse than that of an ear infection. The fact that the pain is located down inside the ear canal where it can’t be touched seems to amplify this pain, especially for children. This infection, which can be either viral or bacterial, normally affects children more than adults, but some adults do get ear infections as well. The infection occurs in the middle ear, that area that sits behind the eardrum itself and is made up of a number of small bones that vibrate when exposed to sound. The inflammation and the fluid buildup combined make ear infections quite painful.
Signs of Ear Infections
Children who have an ear infection will often complain that their ear hurts, especially when they are lying down. They may pull at their ear, cry more than normal, or have difficultly balancing. Some may have a fever, show signs of not hearing noises, or actually have fluid drain out of their ear.
In adults, the common signs include pain, fluid drainage, and difficulty hearing.
The problem is that many of these signs are also signs of more serious ear conditions, which is why you should contact a doctor if your or your children’s symptoms last longer than a day, are very severe, or include the discharge of pus or other bloody fluid from the ear. Long-term problems related to severe or recurring ear infections can lead to hearing issues and other complications that need to be addressed quickly.
Treating an Ear Infection
The good news is that, most of the time, ear infections actually fade away on their own without the need for medication. In most cases, the ear infection begins to clear up within a couple of days. If the symptoms seem to get worse or last for longer, you should take your child to see a pediatrician.
Most of the medication taken with an ear infection is to deal with the pain itself. Over the counter pain relief medications usually do the job. However, for those who are too young to take these medications (including infants), antibiotics may be required. The same is also true in cases of severe ear infection. Children who have pain for more than 48 hours or have high fevers may be given antibiotics.
For those with recurring ear infections, a doctor may recommend putting tubes in their ears. These tubes are inserted into the eardrum and help ventilate the ear and prevent fluid buildup. Some tubes are designed to fall out after a certain amount of time has passed, while others may need to be removed surgically. The eardrum itself heals up after the tubes are removed.
There are some ways of dealing with ear infections naturally. A warm washcloth placed over the ear can help reduce the pain.
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These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to treat, diagnose, or cure any diseases.