An ear infection is a common illness that affects a large number of people. Despite it being difficult to treat ear infections at home, it can be possible to reduce the infection’s duration and make symptoms more bearable. The majority of ear infections do not recover on their own. If you have a fever, significant pain, or symptoms persist for more than 24 hours, you should consider visiting your White Plains, NY family medicine practitioner.
Causes of an ear infection
Ear infections are most frequent if a person has had another sickness such as the common cold or influenza. A viral or bacterial infection causes these illnesses. As your body battles the illness, it may make its way into your middle ear, causing an ear infection. Infectious adenoids can also cause ear infections. Your adenoids are immune-boosting glands located on the roof of the mouth, behind your nose. Infections can transmit from these glands to the Eustachian tube openings nearby.
Ways to treat an ear infection
While most minor ear infections go away on their own, the following treatments may be beneficial:
- Home treatment.
The most significant ways to promote healing at home are drinking plenty of water, resting, and managing your discomfort. These techniques will assist you in overcoming the symptoms of a minor ear infection:
- Some parents may apply a warm cloth to the ear bothering the child.
- Take a pain reliever like Ibuprofen (OTC).
- Use over-the-counter or prescription ear drops to ease the pain.
- Consume a decongestant like Pseudoephedrine (Over-the-counter).
- Avoid sleeping on the infected ear.
- Surgery
Surgery may be an alternative if your ear infection does not respond to standard medical care or if you have had several ear infections in a short amount of time. Ear tubes are commonly used to allow fluid to drain from your ears. Your eardrums are surgically inserted with these tubes. They fall out eventually, and the holes close up. Hence, surgical closure of these pores is sometimes required.
- Children’s medical treatment
When treating ear infections in children, doctors frequently use a wait-and-see approach to avoid over-prescribing medicines, leading to antibiotic resistance. Unless your pain is severe or does not subside in 2-3 days, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. Alternatively, they may issue you a prescription but advise you to wait 2-3 days to see whether your child’s symptoms improve. You must finish your prescription. It is recommended not to offer aspirin to children unless their doctor has prescribed it. Aspirin is an avoidable risk factor for Reyes’ syndrome, a rare illness that damages the brain and liver.
Can ear infections affect your health in general?
Prolonged ear infections can seriously harm the middle and inner ear. A variety of factors causes an ear infection, including fluid building up in your middle ear when one of your Eustachian tubes becomes inflamed or clogged, causing an ear infection. A Eustachian tube is a small tube that joins the back of the throat to each ear.
There is no excuse to delay getting your ear infection treated any longer! Make an appointment at Formé Medical Center and Urgent Care by contacting the office or booking online today.
