Ear Infections

When you get an ear infection, you may experience pain and dizziness. But children are the highest risk group, and their symptoms may be worse. Don’t let ear infections linger, as they can lead to severe consequences. Instead visit the Century Medical & Dental Center for the best otolaryngology care in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Harlem. They have the latest diagnostic tools and the most up-to-date treatment options. Call today for an appointment.

What Is an Ear Infection?

An ear infection, also known as acute otitis media, occurs when bacteria, viruses or fungi infect areas of your ear. An infection causes pain, inflammation and fluid accumulation. This type of infection is often the result of a clogged passageway, trapped water or the spread of a respiratory disease. Your ear consists of three sections: the outer, middle and inner ear.

Each is vulnerable to a different type of infection, including:

1. Otitis externa (swimmer’s ear). This type of infection affects your outer ear canal, the passage leading from your eardrum to the outside of your head. Outer ear infections develop when lingering moisture weakens the skin’s natural defenses.
2. Otitis media (middle ear infection). This infection develops behind your eardrum, often when fluid becomes trapped in your middle ear.
3. Otitis interna (inner ear infection). Also called labyrinthitis, this infection causes inflammation of the inner ear structures involved in balance and hearing. It’s usually caused by viral infections like colds or influenza.

Highly skilled ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists, called otolaryngologists, provide personalized, state-of-the-art care for all your ENT concerns. Whether you need relief from allergies, chronic sinus infections or voice and swallowing disorders. With multiple locations across NYC — including Brooklyn, Manhattan and Harlem — the Century Medical & Dental Center delivers convenient, high-quality ear, nose and throat care.

Who’s Most at Risk for an Ear Infection?

Kids are more likely to develop ear infections because of the differences in anatomy, immune functionality and germ exposure. Children’s immune systems are simply less effective at eliminating infections, and developing ears can’t efficiently drain fluid, so they become infected. Additionally, children spend time in daycare centers, schools and playgroups, where body contact with others exposes them to a greater risk of germs.

Causes of ear infections include:

• Bacterial and viral infections
• Allergies and sinus infections
• Colds and upper respiratory infections
• Excessive moisture and lack of proper ear hygiene

Ear infections aren’t contagious, but the viruses and bacteria that produce them can be spread through close contact. When you catch a cold or respiratory infection, germs travel through your eustachian tubes and nasal passages. They can make your middle ear swell and fill with fluid.

What Are the Symptoms of an Ear Infection?

An ear infection disrupts your normal life by causing pain, pressure and hearing difficulties. Detecting the symptoms early enough allows you to seek medical attention before the infection worsens. The severity of your symptoms depends on whether the infection is in the outer, middle or inner ear. You may get a sudden acute infection or a chronic infection that occasionally recurs.

The common symptoms of an ear infection include:

• Ear pressure and pain
• Hearing loss
• Drainage from the ear
• Fatigue and fever
• Appetite loss
• Sleeplessness

Your inner ear helps you maintain balance, so infections lead to the sensation of spinning and dizziness. Any quick head movements make your symptoms worse because your ability to balance has been degraded.

While young children manifest discomfort differently, the main indications of an ear infection include:

• Tugging or pulling at the ear
• Trouble sleeping because of greater pain when lying down
• More fussing or irritability
• Frequent crying, especially during feedings
• Trouble responding to sounds or a lag in speech development

How Are Ear Infections Diagnosed?

An ear infection diagnosis requires more than recognizing symptoms. At the Century Medical & Dental Center in New York City, your otolaryngologist carefully examines your ear to determine if you have an infection and how severe it is. Your ENT doctor looks for swelling or liquid buildup, while determining possible hearing damage.

If your child has an ear infection, your NYC doctor checks for fluid in the middle ear using a pneumatic otoscope. This diagnostic tool allows a thin flow of air into the ear. If there’s fluid in the ear, the eardrum moves less freely.

Your child may need other tests to check for ear infections, including:

• Tympanometry. This test measures how the eardrum reacts to changes in air pressure.
• A hearing test. This evaluates how your child reacts to various sounds.
• Tympanocentesis. If the infection continues, even after treatment, your doctor uses this procedure to drain fluid from the middle ear.
• Acoustic reflectometry. This measures the sound wave reflections to detect fluid in the ear.

If the infection is severe or chronic, your otolaryngologist may prescribe a CT scan to investigate deeper structures of the ear, looking for any underlying conditions or damage. This imaging reveals your or your child’s ear condition so your doctor can determine the most effective approach for treatment.

How Is an Ear Infection Treated?

If a child gets an ear infection, there are treatment options that take care of the symptoms and lead to recovery. Depending on the severity and cause, your doctor may prescribe medication, home remedies, pain relievers for comfort or watchful waiting.

Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics if your child:

• Is younger than two years old
• Has a fever
• Shows signs of illness
• Doesn’t improve within 24 to 48 hours

If standard treatments fail to clear the infection or frequent infections develop within a short period of time, surgery offers a solution. While it’s rarely the first treatment option, your doctor conducts a procedure to place ear tubes in the eardrums to allow fluid to drain. The tubes fall out over time as the eardrums heal. In some instances, you or your child needs another procedure to close the holes.

Can Ear Infections Lead to Complications?

Ignoring an ear infection or delaying treatment increases the risk of complications. Although most infections get better with care, others cause ongoing problems with hearing and overall health. Take proactive measures to protect yourself or your child.

Several of the complications that can occur include:

• Hearing loss
• Eardrum rupture
• Chronic infections

If an untreated infection spreads, it can reach the mastoid bone at the back of the ear, resulting in swelling, redness, pain and fever. In severe cases, mastoiditis results in the formation of an abscess that requires hospitalization for intensive care. Seek medical attention at the first sign of complications to prevent further damage.

Don’t let ENT issues like ear infections disrupt your daily life. Get expert medical attention at the Century Medical & Dental Center, with convenient locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Harlem. You will breathe, hear and feel better after getting treatment that relies on the latest diagnostic tools and cutting-edge treatments. Contact the Century Medical & Dental Center today.