Ear infections are often painful, they can affect your hearing, and they can also affect your balance, causing dizziness and headaches. The good news is your ENT specialist can help you get relief from an ear infection.
What You Need To Know About an Ear Infection
Ear infections are most common in children, but they can affect adults too. They can develop after a viral or bacterial illness, due to bacteria spreading into the ear. The most common signs and symptoms of an ear infection in both adults and children include:
- Having a fever
- Difficulty hearing sounds
- Difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep
- Balance issues and dizziness
- Fluid draining out of an ear
Additional signs and symptoms of an ear infection in a child include:
- Pulling and tugging at the ears
- Excessive crying and fussiness
- Not responding to sounds
Ear infections are caused by bacterial transfer, so it’s important to prevent bacteria in your ears. You can do this by:
- Washing the hands frequently to prevent spreading germs
- Getting vaccinated against influenza and pneumonia
- Avoiding exposure to cigarette smoke
- Avoiding contact with people who are ill
Ear infections should be treated by an ENT specialist, who may prescribe a course of antibiotics to take for a full 7 to 10 days, or as prescribed by your ENT doctor. Prescription ear drops may also be prescribed to decrease inflammation, swelling, and pain.
For children, you can administer Children’s Tylenol and place a warm washcloth on your child’s ear to ease painful symptoms. Chronic ear infections in children are often treated with the placement of ear tubes in your child’s eardrum to prevent fluid from accumulating and to promote better airflow.
Want To Know More About Ear Infections and How Your ENT Specialist Can Help?
To find out more about how the causes, signs, symptoms, and treatments for an ear infection, talk with your ENT specialist today.