Symptoms and Causes of Ear Infection in Adults

Ear infections, though more common in children, can develop in adults as well. But when compared to childhood ear infections, adult infections are often a sign of a serious health problem. They occur when a bacterial or viral infection affects the middle ear, causing inflammation and fluid build-up in the middle ear. These infections can either be acute or chronic. Acute infections are more painful but are comparatively of shorter duration. Chronic infections, on the other hand, do not clear up completely and can recur many times. If not treated well, they can cause permanent damage to the ear. It is therefore important to not ignore the symptoms of an ear infection and see a doctor immediately.

Listed below are the most common symptoms of an ear infection:

1-Mild pain or discomfort inside the ear

2- Feeling of pressure inside the ear that stays for time

3-Fussiness in young infants

4-Pus-like drainage in the ear

5-Hearing loss

If there is inflammation inside the ear, the symptoms may also include dizziness, nausea, and fever, headache, vomiting and swelling of the year.

Causes of an Ear Infection

Infection in ears occurs when one of the eustachian tubes becomes blocked or swollen. This causes the fluid to build up in the middle ear. The blockage in the eustachian tubes (small tubes that run from ear directly to the back of the throat) could be due to an allergy, cold, sinus infection, excess mucus, and smoking, changes in air pressure or because of infected or swollen adenoids.

1-Causes of middle ear infection: Infection in the middle ear originates because of a cold or a respiratory problem. It can move from one ear to the other through the eustachian tubes. In this, the eustachian tubes swell up which prevent fluid to drain properly. When the fluid is not able to drain out, it get buildup against the eardrum.

 2- Causes of outer ear infection: In the outer ear, moisture is often the breeding ground for bacteria to grow. If a person scratches the outer ear by putting an object or fingers in the ear, it can result in a bacterial infection.   

It is important to know that in many cases an ear infection can go away on its own if it is a minor one. However, you must consult a doctor if the symptoms persist for more than 3 days. Doctors have an equipment called Welch Allyn digital otoscope that helps in detecting, treating and managing ear conditions. The equipment must be of best quality to ensure precise and accurate treatment. Doctors can get quality equipment online from places like Smart Medical Buyer that offer a range of medical equipment, from thermometer to the best BP monitor, ophthalmoscope and stethoscope. 

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Created on Nov 6th 2020 03:14. Viewed 158 times.

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