Ears Health

16 Symptoms of Inner Ear Infection in Children and Adult

An ear infection is a condition that affects the middle ear. It is especially caused by viruses or bacteria. Ear infections also known as Acute Otitis Media. Together with symptoms of pain in general, the condition is characterized by inflammation of the middle ear and the fluid that formed in the area. The disease is more often experienced by children. Tough ear infections will get better without the help of medical personel, but the disease condition requires supervision. Pain relief medications often needs the initial therapy in these conditions, however, if the ear infection gets worse, the condition should be treated with antibiotics.

If you are interested in this article, please continue reading. By reading this article you will find:

  • The symptoms of inner ear infection in children and adults
  • When to see a doctor if you have the signs?
  • How to prevent and treat it?

Symptoms of inner ear infection in children

Inner ear infection is more prone to happen in children than in adults. There are several reasons why children are more likely to suffer from ear infections than adults. Eustachian tubes in children are smaller than adults. This makes it’s fluid difficult to flow out of the ear, even under normal conditions.

If the eustachian tube swollen or blocked with mucus from a cold or other respiratory diseases, the liquid may not be able to flow. The immune system of a child is not as effective as adults because they are still growing. This condition makes it more difficult for children to fight infection.

The symptoms of ear infections in children and adults is generally different. In children, the symptoms include:

  1. Ear pain, especially when lying down.

Inner ear infections caused by bacteria or a virus attack. The infected part is space behind the eardrum third place where ossicular is located. Ear infections, or otitis media, usually very painful. This is due to inflammation and fluid buildup in the middle ear. These diseases cause swelling in the respiratory tract, throat, andl Eustachia channel.

  1. Children often tugging at the ear.

Infants who can not express the pain in misery expressed in a unique way. Including if his ears are having problems. Sometimes, inner ear infections is asymptomatic, but often makes the child feel ear pain, or feel the pressure or full sensation in the ear. Babies who are still small may be pulling at the ears or insert his finger into the ear hole infected.

  1. Difficulty sleeping.

In more severe conditions, ear infections can cause ruptured or perforated eardrum and accompanied by a discharge of blood. This can reduce the pressure in the inner ear is formed due to an infection, thereby reducing pain. But before it is happens, the ear infection is going to hurt. Babies will difficult to sleep, or if he was asleep or frequent waking up quickly.

  1. More frequent in crying.

Infected infants may be frequent in crying, especially at night when he was lying. Because in lying condition, ear like getting pressure and the baby will feels uncomfortable. Babies will be more fussy than usual by holding his ear.

  1. Be more mischievous or annoying.

Infection of the inner ear is only happening in the not too distant future. Usually it only occurs two to three days. Of course you will feel strange if you find your toddler suddenly cranky than usual. Although not absolutely caused by an ear infection, but you should check the condition of your toddler’s ear. For infants most at risk of infection of the inner ear.

  1. It is difficult to hear or respond to sound

Baby ear hole smaller than an adult ear hole caused the baby’s ear is susceptible to various ear problems. If there is a problem in the ear, as well as inner ear infection, the baby will have difficulty to hear or respond to anything. Try checking your baby’s ear if she did not respond to a conversation with you.

  1. Headache

Besides babies often cry with fingering his ears, the baby is also picking head. There are parts of the sensitive nerve that connects the ear to the brain. If this concerned on will cause headaches.

  1. Fever up to more than 38°C

Babies will also have a fever of more than 38°C. Inflammation caused by infection causes physical condition of the baby is not stable. You may need weeks to see the condition of your baby’s ears if you find your baby in a condition of excessive fever suddenly.

  1. Loss of appetite.

In infants or children who are too small to tell us what hurts them is going to be very difficult. Often they will start pulling at his ear. Little kids also can only be finicky, hard to sleep, or do not eat well. Babies also can reject the bottle because the pressure in the ear making her swallow.

  1. Vomiting and diarrhea

Infant feeding, and that eaten tend to induce vomiting. Because when chewing is no pain in the jaw due to an inner ear infection. So sometimes there are foods that are not digested completely and lead to infant diarrhea. Please check your baby’s ears if this occurs.

  1. Discharge from the ear.

When the fluid that out from the ear hole is in viscous form, it is actually a sign that not only experienced by infants, but almost all of people that had an infection of the inner ear through this. Ear torn eardrums result of a very fluid pressure probe. And then this condition will stop the strong pressure of the fluid contained in the eardrum, causing pain that also will be reduced or lost.

Symptoms of inner ear infection in adults

Whereas, in adults the symptoms include:

  1. Ear ache.

It arises because of fluid buildup that experienced in the inner ear, especially in the eardrum. And usually, if the baby is old enough, they will complain of pain in the ear. However, for children who are still classified as a baby then they will usually only be tugging their ears to show their pain.

  1. Discharge from the ear.

Viscous liquid that comes out of the ear canal. This means ear torn eardrum result of a very fluid pressure probe. And then this condition will stop the strong pressure of the fluid contained in the eardrum, causing pain will also be reduced or lost.

  1. Hearing declined.

Decreased of hearing is not only caused by infection of the inner ear only. Inner ear infection occurs where the center is located between the eardrum and the inner ear. So the infection will block incoming sound. In the middle ear are three tiny bones called the malleus, incus, and stapes transmit sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear. The bones of the middle ear is surrounded by air.

  1. Sore throat

If you have the inner ear infection, you will experience pain when chewing food. Section also has strep throat. This is due to the imbalance of body condition. So, please check your ears if you suddenly develop strep throat.

  1. Decreased appetite

People are in a decrease in appetite because when they chew the food, they feel pain when swallowing. Sleep becomes fitful and often wake up at night because of pain in his ear if taken to bed.

When did you Should Call the Doctor?

Inner ear infections can progress quickly in children. You should consider consulting with a doctor when symptoms over the last more than one day, if your child complains of the pain in his ear so, or if you notice a discharge from the ear (pus or blood).

Treatment

Inner ear infections would be well on its own without antibiotics. Healthy children and older can be treated with painkillers and follow up carefully. Antibiotics may be given if the symptoms are severe, does not improve, or worsen.

Antibiotics can also be given to children who were younger, or at risk of complications, to help heal the infection, reduce pain and prevent complications. After antibiotics are given, fever and pain ought to be improved or cured within 48 to 72 hours.

Liquids that are not painful in the middle ear may persist for weeks or months after the acute infection. It may be necessary to remove fluid if it can not come out by itself. Antihistamines or drugs that relieve nasal congestion can be given to relieve symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections (runny nose, nasal congestion).

Without treatment, ear infections can result in considerable damage and will result in hearing loss or other severe complications.

Inner Ear Infection Prevention

Inner ear infections can be prevented with simple steps, such as washing hands frequently to avoid colds and other similar diseases. Avoid smoke from other people’s cigarettes can also help to prevent ear infections. Breastfed babies less frequently infected.

If the baby is given a drink with a bottle, avoid giving it to the baby in a lying position. Flu vaccine can also prevent the ear infections by preventing the flu, which is one of the main causes of inner ear infections.