Ear Infection Treatment and Symptoms

Ear infections are prevalent, especially in younger children. It is one of the most common reasons parents take their children to their doctor. Research estimates that three of four children will get an ear infection by the time they turn three years old.

Symptoms of Ear Infection

The challenging part of ear infections in children is that they cannot communicate their symptoms with you directly. Instead, you will have to look for other signs, like the constant rubbing of their ears, fussiness and irritability. You can also try to test their reaction to sounds you make.

Other things to look out for with babies and children include:

• Always losing their balance.
• Restlessness.
• Always waking up at night.
• Loss of appetite.

For adults, the common symptoms include:

• Pain inside the ear.
• Headaches.
• Dizziness.
• Nausea.
• Vomiting.
• Persistent pressure in the ear.
• Ear drainage with traces of pus.
• Hearing loss.

Most symptoms last for a few days before clearing up. However, severe infections can last longer. That is where you must seek ear infection treatment.

Getting Ear Infection Treatment

You can do home ear infection treatment for mild cases, which aims to reduce the symptoms rather than target the illness itself. Home treatment remedies include:

1. Use a warm towel to cover the affected ear.
2. Avoid sleeping on the infected ear.
3. Take over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen.
4. Use ear drops designed to help relieve the pain.

More severe cases require diagnosis by a doctor. A checkup with your doctor will start by identifying the cause of the infection, which can be viral or bacterial. The tests help your doctor see the makeup of the infection. Your doctor can then prescribe appropriate antibiotics for ear infection treatment.

Surgery is the next option if your condition does not improve through antibiotics. That involves placing ear tubes to drain the fluid out. An incision is made on the eardrums where the tubes will be placed. Over a few months, the tubes will fall out, and the holes naturally heal.

Ear Infection Causes

The eustachian tube connects the middle of the ear to the back of the throat. Its purpose is to drain fluids from the middle part of the ear. If the eustachian tube gets blocked for any reason, it can lead to an ear infection. Blockage in the eustachian tube is commonly a result of other illnesses, like a cold or flu.

The best way to prevent an ear infection is to avoid catching a cold. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water. If soap and water are unavailable, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

Get Ear Infection Treatment at ProMedica Toledo Hospital Emergency and Urgent Care

Ear infections do not need immediate medical attention. The immune system can address most mild infections.

However, if you are experiencing a severe ear infection, it’s time to see a doctor. Signs of a severe ear infection are:

• Fever over 102 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Discharge of pus from the affected ear.
• Blood present in the discharge.
• Worsening symptoms.
• Hearing loss.

ProMedica Toledo Hospital Emergency and Urgent Care provides patients with quality care and services. Staff are ER-trained to determine patient conditions, and patients only pay for the level of service they receive - either ER or urgent care. The emergency department is open 24/7 and the urgent care clinic is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. You don't need an appointment; all walk-ins are welcome.

ProMedica Toledo Hospital Emergency and Urgent Care is located at 1075 Medical Center Parkway, Maumee, OH 43537.