Middle Ear Infection- Causes, Symptoms and Diagnosis
Normally the eardrum is airtight and watertight. To keep pressure inside and outside the eardrum equal, we have natural “drainage” tubes (the Eustachian tubes) that connect the middle ears (the space behind the eardrum) to the back of the nose and throat. Our ears always produce small amounts of fluid; this normally drains down the Eustachian tubes, and is usually in such a small amount that we don’t even notice it in the throat
Ear infections are one of the most common reasons parents take their children to the doctor. While there are different types of ear infections, the most common is called otitis media, which means an inflammation and infection of the middle ear. The middle ear is located just behind the eardrum.
Otitis media is inflammation of the middle ear. “Otitis” means inflammation of the ear, and “media” means middle. This inflammation often begins with infections that cause sore throats, colds or other respiratory problems, and spreads to the middle ear. These can be caused by viruses or bacteria, and can be acute or chronic.
The middle ear also contains the eustachian (pronounced you-STAY-shun or you-STAY-shee-un) tube, which connects the middle ear to the pharynx (pronounced FAHR-inks). The pharynx is a passageway behind the nose through which air passes into the lungs. The eustachian tube helps maintain an equal air pressure between the middle ear and the outside world.
Symptoms
In Otitis Media, inflammation occurs on that portion of the ear which is directly behind the ear drum. There is discharge of pus into the outer ear. As the condition progresses, the inner ear beomes seriously affected and hearing considerably impaired. There is suppression of middle ear through a perforation of drum. In case of children, supression may start slowly without any reason. If the suppression is left unattended it may result in deafness.
Causes
Bacteria and viruses can cause otitis media. Bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), nontypable Hemophilus influenzae and Moraxella account for about 85% of cases of acute otitis media. Viruses account for the remaining 15%. Affected infants under six weeks of age tend to have infections from a variety of different bacteria in the middle ear.
Ear infections are common in infants and children in part because their eustachian tubes become clogged easily. For each ear, a eustachian tube runs from the middle ear to the back of the throat. Its purpose is to drain fluid and bacteria that normally occurs in the middle ear. If the eustachian tube becomes blocked, fluid can build up and become infected.
Diagnosis
In most cases, if someone is suffering from a cold or sore throat that suddenly gets worse, with ear pain and a fever, then the diagnosis is likely to be otitis media. It is still wise to see a doctor, as he will look into the ear with a special torch known as an otoscope, enabling him/her to see clearly if there is inflammation and/or infection.
There’s no single best approach for treating all middle ear infections. In deciding how to manage your child’s ear infection, a doctor will consider many factors, including:
The type and severity of the ear infection
How often your child has ear infections
How long this infection has lasted
How old your child is
Corwin Brown
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/middle-ear-infection-causes-symptoms-and-diagnosis-428029.html
3 Responses to “Middle Ear Infection- Causes, Symptoms and Diagnosis”
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Take a gander at a diagnosis?I am going to list some symptoms and tell me what you think, I'm going to see my doctor tomorrow, but tell me what you think anyways.
Certain symptoms:
-Continuous tinnitus, dominant in left ear but is present in right, appeared June 17th 09 has lasted for nearly 3 weeks now.
-Very light tinnitus, easily covered, light humming only
-Random periods of excessive yawning, tired easily, excessive sleep(10+ hours every night)
-Ears can apparently 'pop' without end, i.e. ascending/descending in a plane, although somewhat quieter; the 'popping' sensation is felt differently different in the left ear from the right.
-At time will experience pain in the inner ear, usually the left ear, but sometimes in the right.
-The intensity of the humming in the right ear sometimes rises to become more prevalent than that of the left ear.
-Shifting movement is sometimes heard/felt in the right ear.
-If external noise is greatly reduced, heartbeat becomes apparent.
-Ticking noises, such as clocks, seems to worsen it as long as the ticking is present. (Pulsatile?)
Uncertain symptoms:
-Seems to fluctuate in intensity, sometimes quieter/louder even without changes in environment.
-Left eyelid will at times create a strange 'wet' smacking noise when blinking.
-Strange feelings sometimes felt in skull; phantom? sensation of being hit in the middle of forehead day after noticing tinnitus partly asleep, may have been from forgotten dream; strange pulsing felt on top of the temple.
-Sinus infection may be present, somewhat unusual amount of nasal mucus in the nostrils, seems to be heavier on the left.
-Continuous tinnitus may have become quieter over the past weeks since it was first noticed.
-Some pain in the mouth, predominantly on the left side, upper and lower, seems to be between teeth in the gums.
-Remaining hearing may have become more sensitive, or simply paying more attention to sounds. If ear is rested on own skin, can hear blood-flow.
-Some sounds seem to cause the tinnitus to become temporarily louder/softer; abruptly turning a water faucet on then off seems to increase loudness; after showering, the tinnitus seems much quieter for some time.
An unusual thing of note: a few weeks after the symtoms appeared, I woke up with the tinnitus in my left ear completely gone, just up and vanished, I could still hear the tinnitus in my right ear, but my left ear was mercifully silent. However I went back to sleep, and when I woke again it had reappared.
nothing you can do about tinnitus, have an audiogram incase of early hearing loss, maybe sinus infection/dental. worst case, brain abscessif sinus/dental left untreated. eyelid symptoms nothing, not unusual to hear own body sounds. maybe you need a head CT or MRI. not much they'll do for you unless symptoms show clinical signs and becoming more obvious. may tell you to do sinus rinses w neilmed sinus rinse. at most, additional inner ear infection, but you would be in alot of pain/fever, balance issues/perhaps nausea. they will ask what preceded tinnitus.References : RN
One of the main causes of pulsatile tinnitus is a condition called Benign Intracranial Hypertension or BIH. where the fluids inside your brain experience a pressure.
Middle Ear Effusion is another disorder where the middle ear has an infection. The infection can be caused by fluid in the middle ear. It can give you a feeling if fullness in the ears and also pain. The inflammation is caused by the increase of blood flow to the infected area. Having high levels of blood flow makes you hear that pulsating sound in your ears.References :