Ear Infection – A Thorough Guide to Understanding this Illness
An otitis media, most commonly known as an ear infection, is a condition that keeps doctors, especially pediatricians, very busy. Although most assume that this is a childhood illness since three out of four children have them, they can also plague adults as well.
The ear is a delicate and complex part of the body. When you get the flu, cold, sore throat or other respiratory illnesses, an infection often occurs in the middle ear as well. This happens because germs growing in the sinus cavities are able to travel up the Eustachian tube to the middle ear.
Parts of the Ear
• Inner Ear – There is a labyrinth in the inner ear that allows you to keep your balance. The cochlea is a snail-shaped organ that’s part of the labyrinth; it converts the sounds that occur in the middle ear into signals that are carried to the brain by the auditory nerve.
• Middle Ear – The middle ear is between the inner ear and eardrum. There are three very tiny bones in this part of the ear called the incus, stapes and malleus; they transmit sound vibrations to the inner air from the eardrum. These bones are surrounded by air and it is this area where an ear infection generally takes place.
• Outer Ear – Also called the pinna, this basically includes everything you see from the curved flap to the earlobe to the canal.
• Eustachian Tube – This very small passageway connects the middle ear to the upper part of your throat. Its purpose is to drain fluid and provide the middle ear with fresh air, all while maintaining proper air pressure.
• Adenoids – These are small pieces of tissue found near the Eustachian tube above the throat and behind the nose. Adenoids contain immune system cells and although they are supposed to fight infection, sometimes bacteria get trapped inside them and they can be the culprit behind an ear infection.
Causes
The middle ear should be dry and well ventilated at all times. When there is a blockage in the Eustachian tube, air can’t flow through and drainage can’t occur. That makes the area a haven for germs because the middle ear becomes warm, damp and stagnant.
The cold, flu or respiratory infections are common causes because they can swell the Eustachian tube, blocking air flow. Bacterial infections are also often to blame because they seek out warm, moist locations so even if you have a virus, an earache can be a secondary infection. In this case, high fevers traditionally accompany the ear infection.
When bacteria are to blame, it’s often the same variety responsible for pneumonia and sinusitis. It is important to note that the flu vaccine does not protect against an ear infection.
Other factors that can cause the Eustachian tube to swell include fumes, smoke and allergens including dust, pollen, food or animal dander.
Who’s at Risk?
Children are at high risk because their Eustachian tubes are level and narrow. Therefore, it is harder for the middle ear to drain and even a small amount of swelling can cause a blockage. Not to mention, their immune system is not all that effective at fighting infection yet. That being said, although everyone is at risk for an ear infection, some are more susceptible to them including:
• Bottle-fed babies
• Males
• Smokers or those living with smokers
• Children who attend daycare
• Individuals with a cleft lip or palate
• Individuals who work in environments with smoke or fumes
• People with asthma, cystic fibrosis or other chronic respiratory diseases
• Individuals with weakened immune systems
Classifications
There are varying degrees of ear infections, such as:
Acute
This is the most common variety that is uncomfortable and can be accompanied by high fevers. Some bacterial cases can result in eardrum perforation, mastoiditis infection and even bacterial meningitis. Acute otitis media traditionally goes through three phases including:
• Exudative inflammation which lasts up to 2 days. Symptoms include severe pain, muffled noise in ear, rigors, fever, meningitis, ringing in ears, sensitive mastoid process and deafness.
• Resistance and demarcation can last 3 to 8 days. Fever and pain decrease after discharge has been expelled from the middle ear. Topical therapy is generally used.
• Healing phase lasts up to 4 weeks. Hearing becomes normal and discharge clears up.
Serous
Serous otitis media, also known as otitis media with effusion is a collection of fluids in the middle ear caused by negative pressure being produced by the Eustachian tube. This often includes no bacterial infection or pain but can cause conductive hearing impairment due to fluid thickening into a glue-like substance.
Chronic Suppurative
This illness is characterized as a hole within the tympanic membrane that allows an active bacterial infection for several weeks. This disease is almost always accompanied with hearing impairment and an abundance of pus drainage.
Signs and Symptoms
There is a buildup of pressure that accumulates behind the middle ear when there is an acute infection. It may result in an inflamed and blistered tympanic membrane as well as mild to intermediate pain.
In untreated or severe cases, the tympanic membrane can rupture which causes pus to drain out into the ear canal. Adults and children old enough to speak are able to communicate that there is pain in the ear however, infants, babies and toddlers may be extra fussy, pull at their ears or have trouble sleeping.
Prevention
Infants who are given the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine have a 7 percent decreased risk of getting ear infections, and breastfeeding decreases their risk by 19 percent. Avoiding smoke fumes, allergens and other triggers can help as well.
An ear infection should always be taken seriously. Children with recurring episodes have an increased risk of developing conductive hearing loss. In return, this can have an adverse effect on speak development.