Otitis media is
inflammation or infection located in the middle ear
. Otitis media can occur as a result of a cold, sore throat, or respiratory infection.
Is Otitis Media serious?
Otitis media
not only causes severe pain
but may result in serious complications if it is not treated. An untreated infection can travel from the middle ear to the nearby parts of the head, including the brain.
What are the symptoms of otitis media in adults?
- Ear pain.
- Feeling of fullness in the ear.
- Fluid draining from the ear.
- Fever.
- Hearing loss.
What are the symptoms of an inner ear infection?
- Vertigo, a sensation that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving around even when everything is still.
- Having trouble balancing or walking normally.
- Dizziness.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Problems with your hearing.
- Feeling like the ear is full or blocked.
- Tinnitus or ringing in your ears.
How do you get rid of otitis media?
- Antibiotics, taken by mouth or as ear drops.
- Medication for pain.
- Decongestants, antihistamines, or nasal steroids.
- For chronic otitis media with effusion, an ear tube (tympanostomy tube) may help (see below)
What is the best treatment for otitis media?
High-dose amoxicillin (80 to 90 mg per kg per day)
is the antibiotic of choice for treating acute otitis media in patients who are not allergic to penicillin.
What happens if acute otitis media is untreated?
While there is fluid in the middle ear, there can be temporary hearing loss. Very rarely, an untreated acute otitis media
can lead to permanent hearing loss
. If your child shows signs of ear infection, he or she should be seen by a doctor as soon as possible.
Does Otitis media go away by itself?
Otitis media with effusion means there is fluid (effusion) in the middle ear, without an infection. Fluid in the middle ear can have few symptoms, especially if it develops slowly.
It almost always goes away on its own in a few weeks to a few months
.
How do you test for otitis media?
- Hearing tests. …
- Tympanometry. …
- Tympanocentesis. …
- Blood tests.
How do you remove fluid from your inner ear?
- You may also consider using an over-the-counter (OTC) decongestant nasal spray. …
- Earwax can be removed by using solutions such as mineral oil or hydrogen peroxide to dissolve earwax that’s accumulated in the ear canal.
What happens if an inner ear infection goes untreated?
Untreated chronic ear infections can also
cause tears in the eardrum
. These tears will typically heal within a few days, though in more extreme cases, surgical repair might be required. The other primary risk of leaving an ear infection untreated is that the infection could spread beyond the ear.
What medicine is good for inner ear infection?
Adults may use OTC drugs, such as
acetaminophen (Tylenol)
and ibuprofen (Advil), to treat any pain that results from their inner ear infection.
What is the symptoms of otitis media?
- Unusual irritability.
- Difficulty sleeping or staying asleep.
- Tugging or pulling at one or both ears.
- Fever, especially in infants and younger children.
- Fluid draining from ear(s)
- Loss of balance.
- Hearing difficulties.
- Ear pain.
How long does it take for otitis media to go away?
Most middle ear infections (otitis media) clear up within
three to five days
and don’t need any specific treatment. You can relieve any pain and a high temperature using over the counter painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen. Make sure any painkillers you give to your child are appropriate for their age.
How do you open a blocked ear?
If your ears are plugged, try
swallowing, yawning or chewing sugar-free gum
to open your eustachian tubes. If this doesn’t work, take a deep breath and try to blow out of your nose gently while pinching your nostrils closed and keeping your mouth shut. If you hear a popping noise, you know you have succeeded.
What are the five risk factors for otitis media?
- Prematurity and low birth weight.
- Young age.
- Early onset.
- Family history.
- Race – Native American, Inuit, Australian aborigine.
- Altered immunity.
- Craniofacial abnormalities.
- Neuromuscular disease.
