EAR – NOSE – THROAT
Ear Infections
What is an Ear Infection?
Most of the time when we talk about ear infections, we are referring to the middle or inner ear, just behind the eardrum. You can also have infections of the outer ear canal but this page is about inner ear infections (otitis media). The inner ear can get infected when germs from the nose and throat get trapped behind the eardrum. Although ear infections can happen at any age, they are most common in children.
What Causes Ear Infections?
Bacteria and viruses are responsible for middle ear infections. The "plumbing" behind your eardrum is connected to your thoat and nose. When you get all stuffy from a cold or flu, the "plumbing" gets blocked up and germs can accumulate, leading to an infection.
Symptoms of an Ear Infection
An earache is the number one sign of an ear infection. It can be mild, dull, aching pain but it can also be severe, intolerable pain. In babies or young children who cannot tell us what is wrong, the only symptoms may be fussiness and/or tugging at their ears. It is common to have a fever with an ear infection.
Diagnosis of Ear Infection
If your symptoms sound like those of an ear infection, your doctor or nurse practitioner will look into your ears with a special instrument called an otoscope. With this device they can determine if you have signs of an ear infection.
Treatment
Not everybody will need antibiotics to treat their ear infection. Left untreated, most ear infections will resolve on their own within a few days. You can treat the pain and fever with over-the-counter medication like Tylenol and Advil.
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Some people do need antibiotics however. Your doctor and you can discuss the risks and benefits of antibiotics and come to a treatment decision together.
Children who get recurrent ear infections may need minor surgery to put tubes in the ears as a method of prevention. If your doctor thinks this is needed, they may refer you to an ears nose and throat doctor (ENT).
A Few More Things to Consider
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Ear infections are more common in children of parents who smoke around them
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Breastfed babies are slightly less likely to get ear infections than bottle fed babies
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Babies who use pacifiers (soothers) after 12 months of age are more likely to get ear infections