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Ear Infection
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Otitis media (also known as glue ear) is an inflammation of the middle ear, usually associated with a buildup of fluid and frequently causes an earache. The fluid may or may not be infected.
There are several kinds of otitis media:
- Acute otitis media is an infection that produces pus, fluid, and inflammation within the middle ear. It is frequently associated with signs of upper respiratory infection, such as a runny or stuffy nose.
- Otitis media with effusion is the presence of middle ear fluid for six weeks or more from the initial acute otitis media.
- Chronic otitis media may develop when the infection persists for more than two weeks.
The typical progress of Otitis Media is: the tissues surrounding the Eustachian tube swell due to an infection and/or severe congestion. The Eustachian tube remains blocked most of the time. The air present in the middle ear is slowly absorbed into the surrounding tissues. A strong negative pressure creates a vacuum in the middle ear. The vacuum reaches a point where fluid from the surrounding tissues accumulates in the middle ear. This is seen as a progression from a Type A tympanogram, to a Type C, to a Type B tympanogram. The fluid may become infected. It has been found that dormant bacteria behind the Tympanum (eardrum) multiply when the conditions are ideal infecting the middle ear fluid.
Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae are the most common bacterial causes of otitis media. Still, antibiotics are rarely effective in shortening disease duration. Tubal dysfunction leads to the ineffective clearing of bacteria from the middle ear.
Children below the age of seven years are much more prone to Otitis Media since the Eustachian tube is shorter and at a different angle to that of the adult ear. They also have not developed the same resistance to viruses and bacteria as adults. What is Adult Ear Infection?
Though adults are not affected as frequently as children, it is important for adults to be aware of how adult ear infection can affect them. Adult ear infection is caused by infection in the Eustachian tube, near the inner ear. The Eustachian tube connects the inner ear to the nasal passages in order to drain fluid from the ears and equalize pressure between outside and inside of the body, but when fluid or mucous builds up in the Eustachian tube, it is an easy target for infection.
There are many situations in which adult ear infection can surface. A cold can cause fluid build up and infection in the Eustachian tube. Post nasal drip may also contribute. An adult does not necessarily need to be sick to get adult ear infection. Often, the infection is caused by mucous being blown into the Eustachian tubes by blowing the nose or failing to clean the liquid out of the ear with a cotton swab after showering.
In one of every four cases in children, ear infection is not caused by a bacterial infection but by a viral infection. Viruses often cause adult ear infection as well. Viral infections are much more difficult to eliminate.
Adult Ear Infection Complications
However adult ear infections are contracted there are complications to be aware of. If these complications are caught early, the infection can be more easily dealt with. Complications associated with adult ear infection include fluid in the ear, pressure, and pain.
Part of the reason for the pressure and pain is that the tissue in the inner ear swells due to infection or trapped fluid. Often, the adenoids also swell due to infection. The swelling pushes into the ear.
Other complications include temporary hearing loss. The sound is obstructed due to the swelling, but no damage is actually done to the inner ear when the infection is treated. Even after the pressure is relieved and the infection has subsided, fluid may build up permanently in parts of the ear.
Adult Ear Infection Treatments
Whether bacterial or viral, adult ear infection may be treated and any buildup removed. With bacterial infections, antibiotics are necessary. Fortunately, bacterial infections can be very simple to treat.
Viral infections are more complicated to treat and may necessitate a myringotomy, which is a minor surgery in which a small plastic tube is inserted into the eardrum. This acts as a vent to relieve the pressure of the buildup or infection. It also drains the fluid remaining in the ear. This little tube is not permanent; it falls out automatically after a short time.
If the adenoids have caused the build up and the infections in the ear, they may need to be removed. They are just like tonsils in that they aren’t necessary and can easily be removed without complications.
Adult Ear Infection Prevention
Prevention of adult ear infection is simple. Nasal spray flushes out bacteria and pollutants which could cause build up and infection. Even allergens can be washed out. The important element necessary in effective nasal spray is xylitol, which naturally repels bacteria before it has a chance to settle into the nasal tissue.
Chewing gum containing xylitol may also loosen and relieve pressure in the ear while at the same time releasing xylitol into the mouth and throat and preventing bacteria to move up to the nasal passages and into the ear. Studies have proven the use of xylitol-rich gum reduces the risk of ear infection.
About the author:
Joe Miller is a specialist in online advertising. More information on adult ear infection, visit Xlear.com.
Circulated by Article Emporium
You could use sea-salt water spray to clear stuffed nose. My GP suggested to suck in (yes, I know it is yucky, but you'll get used to it fast) a runny nose rather than blow out, thus avoiding pressure on nasal ways and sinuses.
Gum may help with bacteria, however you'll ruin your teeth with the sugar, increase your appetite (get fatter!!!) due to false chewing activity, or damage your health with sugar substitutes. Better chew on licorice. See here for immune-system boosting treatment aids.
EFT can often help lessen or even eliminate pain. Sometimes a pain and ear infection can go away once the emotional underlying issue is resolved. EFT is an easy to learn free tool.
For example, my girl once got a sever attack of ear infection as we were on our way to a summer day camp. I realized she must be worried about one of the care takers who was mean hearted and verbally humiliated and discouraged the children. I had a discussion with my girl the day before and suggested to her things she could say and do (I had paid a lot of money for this 1 week camp and aside from this caretaker the others were very nice, I had work to do and couldn't take her back home that day... oh, the guilt I felt!). However, subconsciously she didn't want to hear that negative woman. After a few short EFT rounds we cleared this issue and her pain was completely gone!
Most Ear Infections Clear Up Without Antibiotics
A newly released report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) suggests that children may not always need antibiotics to treat a middle ear infection (otitis media).
Researchers from the Southern California/RAND Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) found some interesting findings, including:
- Nearly two-thirds of children with uncomplicated ear infections recover from pain and fever within 24 hours of diagnosis without antibiotic treatment
- Over 80% recover within 1 to 7 days.
- Approximately 93% of children treated with antibiotics recover within 1 to 7 days.
- Researchers also found that the newer and more costly antibiotics, such as cefaclor, cefixime, azithromycin, or clarithromycin, provided no additional benefit to children than amoxicillin.
- Amoxicillin caused fewer side effects than the other antibiotics as well.
- The EPC also found no evidence that short-duration (5 days or less) versus long-duration therapy (7-10 days) made a difference in the clinical outcome for children over 2 years of age.
- More than 5 million cases of acute ear infections occur annually, costing about $3 billion.
The report points out that in other countries otitis media is not always treated with drugs at the first sign of infection. Rather, in children over the age of 2 years, the norm is to watch and see how the infection progresses over the course of a few days.
The report notes that in the Netherlands the rate of bacterial resistance is about 1%, compared with the US average of around 25%.
The Summary of the findings of this study, entitled Management of Acute Otitis Media Summary, Evidence Report/Technology Assessment 15, is available by calling the AHRQ Publications Clearinghouse at 1-800-358-9295.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD, August 9, 2000
Dr. Mercola's Comment:
The treatment of ear infections in this country is a HUGE problem. Most of the chronically sick children I see were given antibiotics frequently for recurrent ear infections. The sad tragedy is that nearly all of these are preventable by simply changing the diet. Avoiding milk and dairy is the single largest issue, but clearly other food allergens contribute (CLICK HERE for diet info).
Even with the best diets though a child may get an infection. This does not mean that the child needs antibiotics. The simple solution is to put a few drops of breast milk in the ear canal every few hours. This usually works to clear up the infection within 24-48 hours and is far safer, less expensive and a better solution than putting the child on antibiotics. If the mother is not breastfeeding, it is likely she knows someone who is. All that is required for the treatment is about one half ounce of breast milk, so obtaining that from a friend will work just as well. If you know someone who has a child with ear infections PLEASE forward them this article. You may make a huge impact on the future health of that child.
Thank you, Dr.Mercola! When my little one had ear infection attacks I hadn't heard yet of Dr. mercola, but at least knew enough to avoid antibiotic treatments. What my alternative healers recommended was chopping up a small amount of fresh onion and stuffing it into a thin stocking, and this little bundle was put into my child's ear (not into canal), so that the onion juice would drip or somehow or another effect the ear. usually this helped, especially over night. For night-time I'd suggest a thin cotton hat or head band around child's head to keep the onion in place.
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