Our specialists understand the profound impact that diseases of the ear can have on our patients’ daily lives. The tubes usually fall out on their own after six months to a year. It is a routine procedure in adults that takes under five minutes in the office. This procedure is sometimes called a myringotomy, and an otolaryngologist or specialized otologist performs it. In this case, your health care provider may suggest placing a small tube at the opening of the eardrum to keep fluid from building up. Sometimes fluid stays in the middle ear even after you take antibiotics, and the infection goes away. For this, you pinch your nose and gently exhale, forcing air back through the eustachian tube. Your health care provider may also have you try autoinsufflation, which helps adjust the pressure in your ear. An ear tube (for chronic otitis media with effusion).Decongestants, antihistamines, or nasal steroids.Antibiotics, taken by mouth or as ear drops.A middle ear infection may be treated with the following: Your treatment will depend on the type of infection you have. Without treatment, middle ear infections can cause problems such as infection in other parts of the head, permanent hearing loss, and paralysis of a facial nerve. If you have a middle ear infection that doesn’t improve, you should see an ear, nose, and throat specialist ( otolaryngologist) or a specialized otologist. Treatments for Middle Ear InfectionĬontact your health care provider if your symptoms don’t improve in 48 to 72 hours. Occasionally, a CT scan or MRI is needed to check for rare causes such as a cholesteatoma or tumors. They may also do a test called tympanometry (which tells how well the middle ear is working) or check your hearing with a tuning fork. They will use special instruments to examine the outer ear and eardrum. Your health care provider will take a medical history and do a physical exam. Have a cold or other upper respiratory infection.You are more likely to get an ear infection if you: The fluid builds up behind the eardrum allowing the growth of bacteria and viruses that cause infection. A cold or allergy can irritate this tube or cause it to swell, blocking fluid from draining from the ear. The middle ear connects to the throat by the eustachian tube. This may also affect hearing.Ĭommon symptoms of a middle ear infection in adults are: Chronic otitis media with effusion: Fluid (effusion) remains in the middle ear for a long time or builds up repeatedly, even though there is no infection.Otitis media with effusion: After an infection goes away, fluid (effusion) and mucus build up, causing your ear to “feel full.” This can go on for months and may affect hearing.It is usually not painful but can involve hearing loss. Chronic otitis media: An ongoing or recurring infection over months to years.Symptoms may include swelling, redness, fever, and pain. Acute otitis media: A sudden infection where fluid and pus get trapped under the eardrum.Infections can affect the middle ear in several ways, including: Middle ear infections are common in children, but they can be more serious when they happen in adults. It can happen after any condition that traps fluid in the middle ear, such as a cold, allergies, sore throat, or respiratory infection. A middle ear infection (also called otitis media) is an infection behind your eardrum.
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