Ear infections
Ear infections are common and easily managed by your local family physician. Fortunately, the majority of infections settle without ill effects whether the problem is in the outer, middle or inner ear, although sometimes longer term problems can arise.
The ear is divided into three parts: outer, middle and inner (see diagram). Infection in each part will give rise to certain patterns of symptoms and the type of symptoms which may occur with ear infections include:
The only sign of an ear infection in young children may simply be a fever and some tugging of the ear by the child.
Dependent on which features are predominant, it is possible to identify the infection as arising within one of the three parts of the ear.
Ear infections are common and easily managed by your local family physician. Fortunately, the majority of infections settle without ill effects whether the problem is in the outer, middle or inner ear, although sometimes longer term problems can arise.
The ear is divided into three parts: outer, middle and inner (see diagram). Infection in each part will give rise to certain patterns of symptoms and the type of symptoms which may occur with ear infections include:
- pain or earache
- discharge which may be blood-stained or smelly
- hearing loss including deafness
- dizziness
- ringing noises (tinnitus)
The only sign of an ear infection in young children may simply be a fever and some tugging of the ear by the child.
Dependent on which features are predominant, it is possible to identify the infection as arising within one of the three parts of the ear.
Acute mastoiditis
(Image from wikipedia)
Middle ear infections (otitis media)
Middle ear infections are extremely common, particularly in children. The most common is acute otitis media which is characterised by a severe earache and high temperature, generally in a child, with associated hearing loss.
Like an abscess, once the eardrum bursts and the pus comes out of the ear the pain eases. Happily, the eardrum almost always heals once the infection settles and the hearing also returns to normal.
Longer term problems can occur when such infections are frequent, because there can be damage to the eardrum, or perhaps persistent deafness due to fluid remaining behind the eardrum (glue ear). In such cases referral to a specialist is appropriate.
A second but more serious form of middle ear infection is when it becomes chronic or long-lasting. Generally, chronic middle ear disease is associated with a smelly ear discharge and deafness, but rarely with pain.
Other significant symptoms such as tinnitus, weakness of the face or dizziness can occasionally occur. In these cases referral to an ear nose and throat surgeon is very important as the treatment usually involves surgery to remove the infection from the middle ear and mastoid bone. To ignore such disease can be potentially dangerous.
Mastoiditis is an acute infection of the mastoid bone which surrounds the ear. It is much less common than in previous decades, but certainly still occurs, especially in toddlers, and it needs urgent treatment with antibiotics once the child is admitted to hospital.
Middle ear infections are extremely common, particularly in children. The most common is acute otitis media which is characterised by a severe earache and high temperature, generally in a child, with associated hearing loss.
Like an abscess, once the eardrum bursts and the pus comes out of the ear the pain eases. Happily, the eardrum almost always heals once the infection settles and the hearing also returns to normal.
Longer term problems can occur when such infections are frequent, because there can be damage to the eardrum, or perhaps persistent deafness due to fluid remaining behind the eardrum (glue ear). In such cases referral to a specialist is appropriate.
A second but more serious form of middle ear infection is when it becomes chronic or long-lasting. Generally, chronic middle ear disease is associated with a smelly ear discharge and deafness, but rarely with pain.
Other significant symptoms such as tinnitus, weakness of the face or dizziness can occasionally occur. In these cases referral to an ear nose and throat surgeon is very important as the treatment usually involves surgery to remove the infection from the middle ear and mastoid bone. To ignore such disease can be potentially dangerous.
Mastoiditis is an acute infection of the mastoid bone which surrounds the ear. It is much less common than in previous decades, but certainly still occurs, especially in toddlers, and it needs urgent treatment with antibiotics once the child is admitted to hospital.
Inner ear infections
Infections of the inner ear are fortunately less common and are generally caused by viruses, although occasionally by secondary bacterial infection. They tend to cause problems with sudden hearing loss or dizziness.
The common cold virus is perhaps the most common cause of inner ear infections but many other viruses have also been associated with sudden deafness such as mumps, measles and herpes.
Infections of the inner ear are fortunately less common and are generally caused by viruses, although occasionally by secondary bacterial infection. They tend to cause problems with sudden hearing loss or dizziness.
The common cold virus is perhaps the most common cause of inner ear infections but many other viruses have also been associated with sudden deafness such as mumps, measles and herpes.
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Treatment
Your family practitioner should be able to manage most infections of the ears. Middle ear infections that do not settle with treatment may warrant a referral for specialist help. Most ear infections will initially be treated with either antibiotic ear drops or antibiotics taken by mouth. Acute mastoiditis is a medical emergency and should be referred to the nearest ENT centre for admission. Treatment would involve antibiotics via a drip and in some complicated cases, surgery may be the best form of treatment. (Adapted from www.entuk.org) |
Serous otitis media
(Couretsy of Hawke Library) |