{"id":178,"date":"2019-06-06T16:24:55","date_gmt":"2019-06-06T20:24:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/greenwoodent.fm1.dev\/ear\/ear-infection\/"},"modified":"2020-01-29T19:41:57","modified_gmt":"2020-01-30T00:41:57","slug":"ear-infection","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/greenwoodent.com\/ent\/ear\/ear-infection\/","title":{"rendered":"Ear Infection"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Ear infections can occur in the outer or middle ear. An ear infection occurs in the middle ear when fluid becomes trapped following a viral or bacterial infection. This painful affliction is most common in children, but can affect people of all ages. Infections can also occur in the outer ear. They are most common when the skin in the outer ear is dry and cracked. Ear infections can be either acute (of short duration) or chronic (persisting or reoccurring frequently). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Otitis media is the medical\nterm for an inflammation of the middle ear, commonly referred to as an ear\ninfection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The majority of ear infections\nare viral or bacterial in nature, usually occurring after a cold or upper\nrespiratory infection. These conditions cause swelling of the Eustachian tube,\na small canal that connects the middle ear to the nostrils and provides an\noutlet for fluid drainage, trapping germs and fluid in the middle ear and\nleading to infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because children are still growing\nphysically, some of their internal organs may also be temporarily\nunderdeveloped. This is true of the Eustachian tube, the vertical canal\nthat connects the middle ear to the nostrils, providing an outlet for fluid\ndrainage. Eustachian tubes in children are still horizontal and\ntherefore don\u2019t drain the fluid efficiently. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because the Eustachian tube is smaller\nin children, it is more prone to swelling; when this occurs, fluid is trapped\nin the middle ear. This fluid presses against the eardrum, causing pain, and\ncan harbor germs that lead to infection. The result is an earache and, in some\ncases, loss of hearing. When the infection does not completely go away or\nreturns often, it is referred to as chronic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The hallmark signs of otitis media are pain and pressure in the ear and fluid drainage. These may be accompanied by a low-grade fever and hearing loss. Infants are often fussier than usual, and may cry inconsolably, refuse to eat and have trouble sleeping. They may also pull or tug on the ear. Symptoms may be milder in chronic ear infections. Should your child display any of these symptoms, bring them to the doctor; the sooner an acute ear infection is treated, the lower the chances of it developing into a chronic condition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n