Ear Infection: Symptoms And Home Remedies
Ear infections are mostly related to pains in the ear which
may be acute or chronic. It is called
acute ear infection if the pain occur for a short period of time and disappear
and it is called chronic ear infection if the pain reappear many times and this
can lead to permanent ear damage to both the inner and middle ear. It can
result to deafness if it’s not attended to timely.
Causes of Ear Infection
Ear infection is caused mostly by viruses and bacteria in
the ear. The common bacteria are Haemophilus
influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis
and streptococcus pneumoniae. Influenza
and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is the common virus that can cause ear
infections.
Cold, flu and allergies can also cause ear infections as it
can lead to swellings of the throat and Eustachian tube. Eustachian tube is tubes
that lead to the throat from the middle ear. Normally, Eustachian tube opening
and closing are regulated in order to regulate pressure n both ear. It also
drains secretions from the ear and refreshes air inside it.
Ear infections occur when there are swellings in one of the
ear Eustachian tubes. The Eustachian
tube most times has fluids that can block the middle ear when infection is
present. Individuals with narrow and short Eustachian tube are more susceptible
to ear infection for example the children. Infection is more serious when it
affects the inner ear.
Upper respiratory
infection and internal injury can also be the cause of ear infection. Other
causes of ear infection include genetics, congenital disorder like fetal alcohol
syndrome and environmental reaction to cold. The foods we eat also have effect
on ear as nutritional deficiency and food allergies can cause ear
infection. Other risk factors for ear
infection include cigarette smoking, medical condition, altitude and climate
change and use of pacifier.
There are adenoids in the back of the nose. They are 2 small
tissue pads important for immune functions.
Children have larger adenoids and when they get inflamed may cause ear
infection.
There are other conditions that are related to ear
infections;
Chronic otitis media
Chronic otitis media occurs when fluid continues to remains
in the middle ear and these results in ear infection.
Chronic suppurative otitis media- It occurs then there is
persistent ear infection resulting in eardrum tears and perforation
Otitis media with effusion- It occur when fluid builds up in the
middle ear. There is absence of viral and bacterial infection. Most of the
times, otitis media occur after ear infection has cured up.
Most times, ear
infections clear off on itself.ear
infections needs attention in order to prevent hearing problems and other
complications. Managing pains associated with ear infection can be a first approach
in treating ear infections.
Symptoms of Ear Infection
Headache
Fever
Difficulty in
sleeping
Pressure felt
inside the ear
Fluid dripping out
of ear
Pains and
discomfort in the ear
Problem in hearing
Vomiting
Treatment of Ear Infection (Home Remedies)
In cases of chronic ear infection, it is highly important to
consult your doctor. But in case whereby
you need urgent treatment from natural agent, I will share with you some
remedies that can be used, especially for acute ear infection. It helps
alleviate the symptoms and pain associated with ear infection. Below are some
natural remedies you can get at home
Olive oil/mustard oil
Olive oil and mustard oil helps in
clearing built up wax in the Eustachian tube. Ear wax helps in catching foreign
bodies like fungal and bacterial that enters the ear. But too much of it can
lead to ear infection
How to use
Introduce few drops of warm olive oil into ear infected. The
olive oil will help soften the built-up wax. Then use cotton swab to remove the
wax carefully.
Onion
Onion is a well-known spice for cooking. It has its
medicinal value as well in treating eye and ear infection.
How to use
Grate a small onion bulb into a bowl. Put it into a
microwave for a minute. Then allow it to cool. Introduce few drops of the onion
juice into the ear infected. Allow it for some minutes before turning your head
down to drain it out of the ear.
Alternatively, bake the onion in an oven for about 20-30
minute. Place half of it a cotton cloth that is thick. On the infected ear,
place the cotton cloth for few minutes. Do this repeatedly
Mango leaf juice
It is highly medicinal especially in
treating ear infection.
How to use
Try to extract the mango leave juice. Use the soft ones for
easy extraction by crushing or blending it. Warm the extract and introduce few
drops into the ear. Repeat this three to four times daily for effective relief.
Tea Tree Oil
It is well known for its anti-bacterial
property.
How to use
It works effectively when mixed with olive oil, vinegar and
colloidal silver. A part of vinegar and colloidal silver mixed with two parts
of olive oil and three parts of tea tree oil. Introduce few drops into the ear
infected and allow it for about 5minutes before draining it out by turning your
head. Repeat this for about 4-5 times daily
Breast milk
Breast milk by mothers for it strong antibodies
content. It contains antibodies and ensures rapid healing from different ear
infection. It works for all ages.
How to use
Introduce few drops of it into the infected ear. Do this
repeatedly every 2hours daily until you get relieved.
RECOMMENDED: Weaning- How to Stop Breastfeeding
Garlic
It is well known for its high medicinal value. It
naturally helps relieve pains associated with ear infections. It has
antibacterial property as well. There are different methods of using garlic in
treating ear treatment. Click here to see the top health benefit of garlic
Boil some cloves of
garlic in clean water for about 7minutes. Remove from fire then add some salt
and crush. Warm the mixture in a clean cotton cloth and place over the ear. Eat
about 4cloves of garlic daily. It helps to accelerate healing
Boil some cloves
of garlic with mustard oil until it gives a black color. Sieve it and put some
drop of it into the ear preferably while bearably warm or hot.
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| Garlic for Ear Infection |
Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar and white vinegar has a good
antifungal property and thus helps to clear any fungi causing ear infection
How to Use
Mix a teaspoon of vinegar with a teaspoon of alcohol or
water, soaks it in a cotton ball big enough not to enter ear. Then plug it like
earpiece into the affected ear. Remove it after about 5minutes and turn your
head to drain the mixture out. You can use a hair or hand dryer to dry it off.
Warm water
Boils water and pour inside a water bottle.
Press it against the affected ear. The heat helps in fast relieve of pain
associated with the ear infection.
Heating pad or warm compress can be used in place of warm water bottle.
Wet a clean cloth in warm or bearably hot water. Drain out excess water and
place it on the ear for about 5minutes. Do this repeatedly as much as possible.
Basil
It helps to relieve pain as well.
How to Use
Extract basil juice by crushing it. You can use about 5fresh
leaves. Introduce some drops into the ear carefully without entering the ear
canal. Basil oil is also a good idea, mixed with coconut oil and use a cotton
ball soaked into it to wipe or clean the ear interior. Do these gently two
times daily
Complications of Ear Infections
Most times, ear infections may not result in long term
complications. When there is persistent of ear infections, with fluids building
up in the ear, it can results in serious complications. Below is some of the
complication of ear infections;
Hearing Impairment- There might be might hearing loss with persistent ear
infections. After the infections clears off, the hearing loss can still be
observed. If there is permanent ear damage especially to the eardrum, it can
result in permanent hearing loss.
Torn eardrum- Serious ear infection can result in eardrum tearing. In such
situations, surgery is carried out.
Delay in development or speech in children.
Infants with ear problem, temporarily or permanently can
cause delay in baby development. He or she might have delay in speech and it
might affect the child’s social life
Spread of Infection
Infections of the ear can spread to nearby tissues. Mastoiditis,
an infection of the mastoid can result in damage to the bone behind the ear. Middle
ear infections can spread to the brain and its membranes
Ear Infections Risk Factors
Ear infections are more common in these groups of people and
they have higher tendency of having ear infections;
Children less than 2 years are more at the risk of having
ear infections. This is mainly because of the shape and size of the Eustachian
tube. Also, their immune system has not developed well.
Children that are still undergoing breastfeeding have higher
tendency of been affected by ear infections. Breastfeeding mothers are advised
not to breastfeed their babies in lying position. The Eustachian tube are much parallel
in babies than in adult, thus during feeding in lying position, breast milk may
enter the ear and milk develop bacteria easily. This results in fluid retention
and ear infections.
Children in schools and kindergarten classes tend to have
increase risk of ear infections than children that are at home and get private
care.
It’s not only babies that breastfeed while lying down that
ear infection affects, it affects babies that uses feeding bottles too. Babies on
feeding bottles should use it in sitting position to avoid ear infection.
Season also affects ear infections, for example during
winter, cold and flu is much common.
Ear infections are also commonly seen during high
pollen drop season. Smokes in the air and other forms of air pollution can
increase the tendency of having ear infection.
Diagnosis
Your physician need to diagnose you based on the symptoms
you present. Otoscope will be used to look through your ear and throat. There is pneumatic otoscope that is used
specially by doctors to diagnose the infection. He or she uses this to puff air
against your eardrum. Otoscope is a
lighted audiologist instrument. In case of fluid blockage, doctor will notice
little eardrum movement or no movement. Stethoscope can also be used in
diagnosing ear infections.
In severe ear infections cases, the following diagnosis can
be done
Acoustic reflectometry
This reflects the amount of sound that is emitted from a device
back to the eardrum. It is an indirect way of measuring fluids in the middle
ear. The more pressure produces by fluid in the ear, the more the sound that
will be reflected. It is normal for the ear to absorb some of the sounds
Tympanocentesis
It involves a procedure whereby a tiny tube is used to drain
fluid from the middle ear. The infectious agent is then test for in the fluid. Thus,
in case where there had not been response to treatment, the precise cause would
be known.
Tympanometry
This is a test in which the eardrum movement is observed. With
the aid of this device, the ear canal is sealed off while the air pressure is
adjusted. This test will help quantifies how well the eardrum adjust to
pressure. It indirectly measures the middle ear pressure.
Other test that is carried out by
hearing specialist (audiologist) for ear infection includes comprehension
abilities, speech test, hearing and language test. The audiologist will test
for fluid buildup in the ear.
When to see your doctor
You need to contact your doctor or your child’s doctor for appropriate
diagnosis and treatment.
Contact your doctor when your child present ear infection
symptoms when less than 6 months of age.
If the ear pain is so severe, you need to see your doctor
immediately
In case of fluid, bloody or pus discharge from the ear,
contact your doctor
When symptom lasts for more than 24 hours, you need to see
your physician.
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