Ear infection how do you get it

Ear infections are not as common in adults as they are in children, although they can be more serious. The symptoms of ear infections in adults should be closely monitored and diagnosed by a doctor to avoid any complications. Certain situations and actions put some people more at risk for ear infections than others.

However, there are several useful steps that can be taken towards prevention and treatment. Learn more about them in this article. Symptoms of an ear infection may include hearing changes, dizziness, and pain. The ear is a complicated part of the body, made up of several different chambers. Ear infections can strike in any one of these chambers and cause various symptoms.

The three main parts of the ear are known as the inner, middle, and outer ear. Infections are most common in the middle ear and outer ear. Inner ear infections are less frequent and sometimes a sign of another underlying condition. A doctor should typically be seen if symptoms have not improved within 3 days.

If new symptoms occur, such as a fever or loss of balance, a doctor should be seen immediately. The common cold, flu, and allergies can lead to middle ear infections. Other upper respiratory problems, such as sinus or throat infections, can lead to middle ear infections, as the bacteria make their way through the connected passageways and into the eustachian tubes.

The eustachian tubes connect from the ear to the nose and throat and are responsible for controlling the pressure in the ear. Their position makes them easy targets for germs. Infected eustachian tubes can swell and prevent proper drainage, which works toward the symptoms of middle ear infections.

People who smoke or are around smoke may also be more likely to get middle ear infections. People who spend a lot of time in water may be more at risk of developing this type of outer ear infection.

Water that sits in the ear canal after swimming or bathing creates a perfect place for germs to multiply. For this reason, untreated water may be more likely to cause an outer ear infection. Depending on the cause, some infections will clear up without treatment. Symptoms may be managed during this time, and a doctor might recommend other treatments to speed up the healing process. They will ask about any symptoms that have occurred, as well as any medications that a person takes.

The doctor may use an instrument called an otoscope to look at the eardrum and ear canal for signs of infection. This procedure may be accompanied by a small puff of air. Doctors will check the way that the eardrum reacts to having air pushed against it, which can help diagnose a middle ear infection. However, sometimes antibiotics, such as amoxicillin, are needed to treat severe cases right away or cases that last longer than 2—3 days.

For mild cases of middle ear infection, your doctor might recommend watchful waiting or delayed antibiotic prescribing. Be careful about giving over-the-counter medicines to children. Not all over-the-counter medicines are recommended for children of certain ages. You can help prevent ear infections by doing your best to stay healthy and keep others healthy, including:. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Antibiotic Prescribing and Use.

Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Ear Infection. Minus Related Pages. On This Page. What is an ear infection? Close A healthy ear and an infected ear, including outer, middle, and inner ear, showing inflammation and fluid in the ear.

Treatment A doctor will determine what type of illness your child has by asking about symptoms and doing a physical examination. The doctor will look into your ear with a special flashlight called an otoscope say: OH-te-skope.

With the otoscope, the doctor can see your eardrum , the thin membrane between your outer and middle ear. The doctor may use the otoscope to blow a little puff of air in your ear. To see if the air causes your eardrum to move the way a healthy eardrum does. An infected eardrum won't move as it should because the pus presses against it and may make it bulge. An infection also can make the eardrum red. If you have an ear infection, the doctor will make a decision about what to do next.

He or she might ask your parent to watch you over the next day or two to see if you get any better. The doctor also might suggest a pain reliever to keep you comfortable. If bacteria are causing the problem, the doctor might prescribe a medicine called an antibiotic say: an-ty-by-AH-tik , which usually clears up a bacterial infection, so you'll feel better in a few days. If you are given an antibiotic, it's very important to keep taking the medicine for as many days as the doctor instructs — even if your ear stops hurting.

If you don't take all the medicine, the infection could come back and your ear will start hurting again. A kid who has chronic, or frequent, ear infections might need a few other tests. They include an audiogram say: AW-dee-uh-gram , which tests your hearing, and a tympanogram say: tim-PAH-noh-gram , a machine that checks whether your eardrum moves normally.

What can kids do to prevent ear infections?