Everything You Should Know About Ear Infections in Adults

Common symptoms of ear infections include:

Ear Infections Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Ear infections can be either bacterial or viral infections. They can occur in your middle ear, the part of your ear just behind your eardrum, as well as the outer and inner ear. They often clear up on their own but can be painful due to inflammation or fluid buildup.

Ear infections can be chronic or acute. Acute ear infections are painful but short in duration. Chronic ear infections either don’t clear up or recur many times. They can cause damage to the middle and inner ear, which is infrequently permanent.

Keep reading to learn about ear infections, including causes, symptoms, and treatment options.

Common symptoms of ear infections include:

• mild pain or discomfort inside your ear
• a persistent feeling of pressure inside your ear
• pus-like ear drainage
• hearing loss

These symptoms might persist or come and go. Symptoms may occur in one or both ears. Pain is usually more severe with a double ear infection, which is an infection in both ears.

Part of the reason for these long wait times and short appointments is due to a nationwide shortage of physicians that is only getting worse. A report by the Association of American Medical Colleges predicts that, due to population growth and specifically growth of the elderly population, the physician shortfall in the U.S. could reach 121,300 by the year 2030.

Chronic ear infection symptoms may be less noticeable than those of acute ear infections.

Symptoms of an ear infection in children

Along with symptoms seen in adults, such as ear pain and drainage, young children and babies may show other signs of an ear infection, such as:

• rubbing or pulling their ear
• fever
• not reacting to certain sounds
• frequently losing balance
• headache
• fussiness or restlessness
• loss of appetite

Usually, ear infections last fewer than 3 days, but they can persist for up to a week.

Children younger than 6 months who have a fever or other ear infection symptoms should see a doctor. Seek medical attention if your child has a fever higher than 102°F (39°C) or severe ear pain.

Ear infections are caused by viruses or bacteria, particularly the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae or Haemophilus influenzae. They often result from a blockage of your Eustachian tubes, which causes fluid to build up in your middle ear. Eustachian tubes are small tubes that run from each of your ears directly to the back of your throat.

Causes of Eustachian tube blockage include:

Ear infections can also develop from infected adenoids. Your adenoids are glands on the roof of your mouth behind your nose that help protect your body from infections. Infections can spread from these glands to the nearby ends of your Eustachian tubes.

Risk factors for ear infections

Ear infections occur most commonly in young children because they have short and narrow Eustachian tubes. About 80 percent of children develop an acute ear infection at some point.

Infants who are bottle-fed also have a higher incidence of ear infections than their breastfed counterparts.

Other factors that increase the risk of developing an ear infection are:

• altitude changes
• changes in temperature and humidity
• exposure to cigarette smoke
• pacifier use
• recent illness or ear infection
• being male
• low birth weight
• lack of access to healthcare
• being in daycare

Ear infections usually clear up without intervention, but they may recur. These rare but serious complications may follow an ear infection:

• hearing loss
• speech or language delay in children, which is more common when there is chronic fluid in the middle ear
• mastoiditis (an infection of the mastoid bone in the skull)
• meningitis (a bacterial infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord)
• ruptured eardrum

While most mild ear infections clear up without intervention, the following treatments can also help:

Home treatment

These methods are effective in relieving the symptoms of a mild ear infection:

• Apply a warm cloth to the affected ear.
• Take over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication such as ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol).
• Use OTC or prescription ear drops to relieve pain.
• Take OTC decongestants like pseudoephedrine (Sudafed).
• Avoid sleeping on the affected ear.

Medical treatment

If your symptoms get worse or don’t improve, see a doctor. They may prescribe antibiotics if your ear infection is bacterial, chronic, or doesn’t appear to be improving.

Antibiotics don’t help treat viral infections.

Medical treatment in children

Doctors often take a wait-and-see approach when treating ear infections in children to avoid over-prescribing antibiotics, which can lead to antibiotic resistance.

A doctor may sometimes write you a prescription for antibiotics if symptoms are severe or don’t resolve within 2 to 3 days. Alternatively, they may write you a prescription but recommend waiting first to see if your child’s symptoms get better after 2 to 3 days.

It’s important to finish your entire prescription. Often, a 7- or 10-day prescription of amoxicillin is prescribed.

You shouldn’t give children aspirin without their doctor’s instruction. Aspirin is a preventable risk factor for developing Reyes’ syndrome, a rare disorder that causes brain and liver damage.

Surgery

Surgery may be an option if your ear infection isn’t eliminated with the usual medical treatments or if you have many ear infections over a short period.

Most often, ear tubes are placed in your ears to allow fluid to drain out. These tubes are surgically inserted into your eardrums. They eventually fall out and the holes heal over. Sometimes these holes need to be closed surgically.

Note

If you have infections with tubes in place, symptoms will be drainage rather than pain, pressure, or fever. These ear infections can be treated with drops.

Everything You Should Know About Ear Infections in Adults

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Ear infections can affect different parts of the ear and may be caused by bacterial, viral, or fungal infections. The recommended treatment can vary based on the type of ear infection and the specific cause.

Ear infections may be more common in children than in adults, but adults are still susceptible to these infections. Unlike childhood ear infections, which are often minor and pass quickly, adult ear infections can sometimes signal a more serious health problem.

If you’re an adult with an ear infection, it’s a good idea to pay close attention to your symptoms and talk with your doctor.

There are three main types of ear infections. They correspond to the three main parts of the ear: inner, middle, and outer.

Inner ear infection

A condition diagnosed as an inner ear infection may actually be a case of inflammation and not an actual infection. In addition to ear pain, symptoms include:

• dizziness
• nausea
• vomiting
• vertigo
• sudden hearing loss

Rarely, inner ear trouble may be a sign of a more serious condition, such as meningitis.

Middle ear infection

The middle ear is the area right behind your eardrum.

A middle ear infection is also known as otitis media. It’s caused by fluid trapped behind the eardrum, which causes the eardrum to bulge. Along with an earache, you may sense fullness in your ear.

Otitis media can come with a fever. You may also have trouble hearing until the infection starts to clear.

If you experience fluid draining from your ear, it could be a sign the middle ear infection has progressed to a tympanic membrane rupture. This condition can cause a sudden loss of hearing, but tends to heal on its own.

Outer ear infection

The outer ear is that part of your ear that extends out from your eardrum to the ear opening.

An outer ear infection is also known as otitis externa. An outer ear infection often starts as an itchy rash. The ear may become:

Ear infections can be caused by bacterial, viral, or fungal infections. But whether you get an outer or middle ear infection depends on how you become infected.

Middle ear infection

A middle ear infection often starts from a cold or other respiratory problem. The infection moves to one or both ears through the eustachian tubes. These tubes regulate air pressure inside your ear. They connect to the back of your nose and throat.

An infection can irritate the eustachian tubes and cause them to swell. Swelling can prevent them from draining properly. When fluid inside these tubes can’t drain, it builds up against the eardrum.

Outer ear infection

An outer ear infection is sometimes called swimmer’s ear. That’s because it often starts as a result of water that remains in the ear after swimming or bathing. The moisture becomes a breeding ground for bacteria.

If your outer ear is scratched or if you irritate the outer lining of your ear by putting your fingers or other objects in your ear, a bacterial infection can occur.

One of the reasons children are more likely than adults to get ear infections is that their eustachian tubes are smaller and more horizontal than the tubes in most adults. If you have small eustachian tubes or you have tubes that haven’t developed more of a slope, you’re at a higher risk for developing an ear infection.

You may also be more likely to get an ear infection if you smoke or are around a lot of secondhand smoke.

Having seasonal allergies or year-round allergies also puts you at risk.

Developing a cold or an upper respiratory infection also increases your risk.

If your only symptom is an earache, you may want to wait a day or two before seeing a doctor. Sometimes, ear infections resolve on their own within a few days. If the pain isn’t getting better and you’re running a fever, you should see a doctor as soon as you can.

If fluid is draining from your ear or you’re having trouble hearing, you should also seek immediate medical attention.

During your appointment, your doctor will get your medical history and symptoms. They’ll also use an otoscope to get a detailed look at your outer ear and your eardrum.

An otoscope is a handheld device with a light and magnifying lens that doctors use to check the health of your ear. A pneumatic otoscope can emit a puff of air in the ear.

When air is pushed against the eardrum, the way the eardrum reacts can help diagnose the problem. If the eardrum moves easily, you may not have a middle ear infection, or it may not be serious.

If it does not move easily, it could mean there’s fluid or pus involved, but not all fluid in the ear means an infection is present.

Another test used to diagnose and evaluate a possible ear infection is called tympanometry. It’s used to evaluate eardrum movement.

A simple hearing test may also be done, especially if it appears that an infection has caused some hearing loss.

The type of ear infection you have will determine the type of treatment. In many cases of middle and outer ear infections, antibiotics are necessary.

Treating middle ear infections

You may be prescribed antibiotics. Some antibiotics may be taken orally. Others can be applied directly to the site of the infection with ear drops. Medications for pain, such as over-the-counter pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications may also be used to manage your symptoms.

If you’re still experiencing cold or allergy symptoms, you may be advised to take a decongestant, nasal steroids, or an antihistamine.

Another helpful technique is called autoinsufflation. It’s meant to help clear your eustachian tubes. You do this by squeezing your nose, closing your mouth, and gently exhaling. This can send air through the eustachian tubes to help drain them.

Treating outer ear infections

The outer ear should be carefully cleaned. That should be followed by the application of antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory medications on your ear.

Antibiotics may be prescribed if your doctor determines that the infection is bacterial.

If the infection is fungal, your doctor may prescribe an antifungal medication.

If you have a viral infection, you may simply need to tend to the irritation on your ear and wait for the infection to resolve itself. Depending on the type of virus involved, more specialized treatment may be necessary.

To help prevent an ear infection of any kind, follow these tips:

• Make sure you dry your ears completely after swimming or taking a shower.
• Try quitting smoking, and limit or avoid secondhand smoke when possible.
• Manage your allergies by avoiding triggers and keeping up with allergy medications.
• Wash your hands thoroughly, and try to limit contact with people who have colds or other upper respiratory problems.
• Make sure your vaccines are up to date.