An ear infection is a very common ailment that can occur to any one at any age. But, young children, particularly those between the ages of three months and four years, are more prone to ear infections. First of all, you should know the nomenclature of the human ear. Medically, the human ear is classified into three parts. The first one is termed as the outer ear, the second one as the middle ear, and the third part is the inner ear. It is the middle ear that is usually affected by the bacterial infections. Ear infections are of two types: acute ear infections and chronic ear infections. The occurrence of acute ear infections is more common. In acute infections, the occurrences can be frequent, last four to five days every time. In medical terms, an acute ear infection is termed as acute otitis media. An ear infection can make you very uncomfortable, and sometimes, it is very painful as well. You might want know that what causes ear infections. The most common causes of ear infections are as follows:
- One of the most common causes of an acute ear infection is a common cold in which there is mucous build-up in the middle ear due to the viral infection.
- Infection of the upper respiratory organs such as nose and throat can result in an acute ear infection, since the ear, nose and throat are interconnected.
- Water that is blocked in the ear, which may have entered while taking bath or swimming, can also cause ear infections.
- Allergy towards certain foods can result in excessive mucous secretion, leading to an ear infection.
- A highly unbalanced diet can also cause acute ear infections; this would include the excessive intake of carbohydrates or the deficiency of certain minerals like magnesium.
- Recurring ear infections might be due to a weak immune system. This is one of the major causes of ear infections in children as their immune system is not developed to an extent so as to combat the bacterial attacks in an efficient manner.
- Any outside injury to the outer ear may result in a bacterial infection.
- Cleaning your ears with a cotton swab or Q-tip can sometimes cause an ear infection, if the swab is not stored properly in a clean and hygienic environment.
The symptoms or signs of an ear infection are as listed below:
- Pain and irritation in the ear
- Heaviness in the ear and head with frequent headaches
- Pus and mucous coming out of the affected ear
- Sensation of buzzing sound or noise in the ear
- Restlessness and lack of sleep
- Vomiting and nausea
- Diarrhea (in severe infection conditions)
Treating ear infections is not a very difficult task. There are several ear infection remedies as well as a number of home remedies to treat ear infections. Some of the most commonly used home remedies for ear infections for treating ear infections at home are as mentioned below:
- Inhale vapors of eucalyptus essential oil two to three times a day. For this, add two drops of eucalyptus oil in boiling water and inhale the vapors with your head covered with a towel. This will loosen the mucous and give you relief from pain and irritation. Doing this regularly for three to four days will help treat the ear infection. This is a great way of treating ear infections naturally. It is one of the most popular home remedies for ear infections.
- Another one of the most commonly used home ear infection remedies is using hydrogen peroxide. For this, pour two to three drops of 3% hydrogen peroxide in your ear, with your head tilted on one side. After two to three, minutes drain it out by tilting the head in opposite direction.
While home remedies are safe and can provide relief, you must always consult your ENT specialist before using any of the natural ear infection remedies.
answered by G M