{"id":160,"date":"2019-09-25T17:25:26","date_gmt":"2019-09-25T21:25:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/charlestonent.fm1.dev\/ear\/ear-infection\/"},"modified":"2020-02-26T16:55:35","modified_gmt":"2020-02-26T21:55:35","slug":"ear-infection","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/charlestonent.com\/ear\/ear-infection\/","title":{"rendered":"Ear Infection"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Ear infections can occur in the <a href=\"https:\/\/charlestonent.com\/ear\/\">outer or middle ear<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0An ear infection occurs\u00a0in the middle ear\u00a0when fluid becomes trapped\u00a0following a viral or bacterial infection. This painful affliction is most common in children, but can affect people of all ages.\u00a0Infections can also occur in the outer ear.\u00a0 They are most common when the skin in the outer ear is dry and cracked.\u00a0Ear infections can be either acute (of short duration) or chronic (persisting or reoccurring frequently).\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Are the Symptoms of Ear Infections?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-medium is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/charlestonent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/iStock-174625436-768x512.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1225\" width=\"384\" height=\"256\" srcset=\"https:\/\/charlestonent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/iStock-174625436-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/charlestonent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/iStock-174625436-1280x853.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/charlestonent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/iStock-174625436-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/charlestonent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/iStock-174625436.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The onset of signs and symptoms of ear infection is usually rapid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Children<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Signs and symptoms common in children include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/charlestonent.com\/ear\/earache\/\">Ear pain<\/a>, especially when lying down<\/li><li>Tugging or pulling at an ear<\/li><li>Difficulty sleeping<\/li><li>Crying more than usual<\/li><li>Acting more irritable than usual<\/li><li>Difficulty hearing or responding to sounds<\/li><li>Loss of balance<\/li><li>Fever of 100 F (38 C) or higher<\/li><li>Drainage of fluid from the ear<\/li><li>Headache<\/li><li>Loss of appetite<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Adults<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Common signs and symptoms in adults include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Ear pain<\/li><li>Drainage of fluid from the ear<\/li><li>Diminished hearing<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>When to See a Doctor<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Signs and symptoms of an ear infection can indicate a number of conditions. It&#8217;s important to get an accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment. Call your child&#8217;s doctor if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Symptoms last for more than a day<\/li><li>Ear pain is severe<\/li><li>Your infant or toddler is sleepless or irritable after a cold or other upper respiratory infection<\/li><li>You observe a discharge of fluid, pus or bloody discharge from the ear<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>An adult with ear pain or discharge should see a doctor as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Are the Types of Ear Infections?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Acute otitis media &#8211; the medical term for the common ear infection. Otitis refers to an ear inflammation, and media means middle. Acute otitis media is an infection of the middle ear, which is located behind the eardrum. This diagnosis includes fluid effusion trapped in the middle ear.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/29125825\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" title=\"Understanding the aetiology and resolution of chronic otitis media from animal and human studies | Dis Model Mech. 2017 Nov 1\" aria-label=\"Chronic otitis media (opens in a new tab)\">Chronic otitis media<\/a> &#8211; when infection of the middle ear persists, leading to possible ongoing damage to the middle ear and eardrum<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Are <strong>Ear Infection Treat<\/strong>ed?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>If your doctor thinks the infection is caused by bacteria, he or she may prescribe an antibiotic. (Antibiotics don&#8217;t work for infections caused by viruses.) It&#8217;s very important to follow the directions when giving your child the medicine.<\/li><li>Pain relievers like acetaminophen (brand names: Tylenol) and ibuprofen (brand names: Children&#8217;s Advil or Children&#8217;s Motrin) can help make your child feel better and reduce fever. Never give your child aspirin, as it has been linked to Reye&#8217;s syndrome.<\/li><li>A warm (not hot) heating pad held over the ear can also help relieve pain from the earache.<\/li><li>Ear drops to relieve pain are sometimes prescribed.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Other Ear Disorders<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Cerumen impaction &#8211; Wax buildup in the earsEffusion &#8211; a collection of fluid generally containing a bacterial culture.<\/li><li>Effusion &#8211; a collection of fluid generally containing a bacterial culture.<\/li><li>Otitis media without effusion &#8211; an inflammation of the eardrum without fluid in the middle ear.<\/li><li>Otitis media with effusion &#8211; the presence of fluid in the middle ear without signs or symptoms of ear infection. It is sometimes called serous otitis media. This condition does not usually require antibiotic treatment.<\/li><li>Otitis media with perforation &#8211; a spontaneous rupture or tear in the eardrum as a result of infection. The hole in the ear drum usually repairs itself within several weeks.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<p>Call <span class=\"company-name \">Charleston ENT &amp; Allergy<\/span> at <a href=\"tel:+18437667103\" class=\"phone \"> <span class=\"phNum\">(843) 766-7103<\/span><\/a> for more information or to schedule an appointment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ear infections can occur in the outer or middle ear.\u00a0\u00a0An ear infection occurs\u00a0in the middle ear\u00a0when fluid becomes trapped\u00a0following a viral or bacterial infection. This painful affliction is most common in children, but can affect people of all ages.\u00a0Infections can also occur in the outer ear.\u00a0 They are most common when the skin in the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":156,"menu_order":10,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"(843) 766-7103 | Ear infections occur more often in children, and are easiest to treat when diagnosed early. Schedule a visit if you have symptoms.","_seopress_robots_index":"","schema":"<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\r\n{\r\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\r\n  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\r\n  \"mainEntity\": [{\r\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n    \"name\": \"What is an Ear Infection?\",\r\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n      \"text\": \"Ear infections can occur in the outer or middle ear.  An ear infection occurs in the middle ear when fluid becomes trapped following a viral or bacterial infection. This painful affliction is most common in children, but can affect people of all ages. Infections can also occur in the outer ear.  They are most common when the skin in the outer ear is dry and cracked. Ear infections can be either acute (of short duration) or chronic (persisting or reoccurring frequently).\"\r\n    }\r\n  }, {\r\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n    \"name\": \"What Causes Ear Infections?\",\r\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n      \"text\": \"Otitis media is the medical term for an inflammation of the middle ear, commonly referred to as an ear infection. The majority of ear infections are viral or bacterial in nature, usually occurring after a cold or upper respiratory infection. These conditions cause swelling of the Eustachian tube, a small canal that connects the middle ear to the nostrils and provides an outlet for fluid drainage, trapping germs and fluid in the middle ear and leading to infection.\"\r\n    }\r\n   }, {\r\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n    \"name\": \"What are the symptoms of an ear infection in a child?\",\r\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n      \"text\": \"Ear pain, especially when lying down. Tugging or pulling at an ear. Difficulty sleeping. Crying more than usual. Acting more irritable than usual. Difficulty hearing or responding to sounds. Loss of balance. Fever of 100 F (38 C) or higher. Drainage of fluid from the ear. Headache. Loss of appetite.\"\r\n    }\r\n }, {\r\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n    \"name\": \"Whn should you see an ENT for an ear infection?\",\r\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n      \"text\": \"Common signs and symptoms in adults include: Ear pain. Drainage of fluid from the ear. Diminished hearing. An adult with ear pain or discharge should see a doctor as soon as possible.\"\r\n    }\r\n   }, {\r\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n    \"name\": \"How Are Ear Infections Treated?\",\r\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n      \"text\": \"Treating an ear infection begins at home. To help soothe symptoms, gently press a warm washcloth against the affected ear. You may give your child eardrops and over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help relieve pain. Avoid aspirin, which can be dangerous to young children. Your child\u2019s doctor will likely prescribe antibiotics to treat a chronic ear infection. These should be taken until used up, even if your child\u2019s symptoms appear to be improving; otherwise, the infection could worsen. When medication is not effective, a surgical solution involving ear tubes may be considered. These are inserted in the middle ear and provide ventilation and fluids, keeping the ear clear and preventing infection. Most ear tubes remain in place anywhere from six to 18 months and eventually fall out on their own. If not, surgery to remove them is performed.\"\r\n    }\r\n }\r\n ]\r\n  }\r\n<\/script>","fname":"","lname":"","position":"","credentials":"","placeID":"","no_match":false,"name":"","company":"","review":"","address":"","city":"","state":"","zip":"","lat":"","lng":"","phone1":"","phone2":"","fax":"","mon1":"","mon2":"","tue1":"","tue2":"","wed1":"","wed2":"","thu1":"","thu2":"","fri1":"","fri2":"","sat1":"","sat2":"","sun1":"","sun2":"","hours-note":"","locid":"","rating":"","footnotes":""},"service_tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/charlestonent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/160"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/charlestonent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/charlestonent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/charlestonent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/charlestonent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=160"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/charlestonent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/160\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3773,"href":"https:\/\/charlestonent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/160\/revisions\/3773"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/charlestonent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/156"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/charlestonent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=160"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"service_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/charlestonent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/service_tags?post=160"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}