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Posted on August 19, 2008 by Balva Rudick | Posted under Health
Adult Ear Infection - The Importance of Early Treatment
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Causes of adult ear infection People are prone to this illness especially when he or she has colds. Blowing the nose forcefully, for instance, may push mucus into the eustachian tubes. A postnasal drip may also trigger an infection, and so can small amounts of liquid left in the ear after a shower. Rarely, an adult ear infection can be due to an obstruction from a tumor. This possibility should be suspected especially when the infections are recurrent, when large lymph nodes are palpated in the patients neck area, and when effusions last for several weeks. Symptoms The most common symptoms of this ailment are pain and throbbing in the inner ear, an effusion or discharge, loss of balance or dizziness, reduced hearing or temporary hearing loss, fever cold, and nausea and vomiting. When an adult ear infection is left untreated, complications may occur. These include pressure in the ear, pain, and fluid buildup. The pain felt is due to the swelling of the inner ear, possibly accompanied by a swelling of the adenoids. The adenoids are tissue masses located in the upper throat, close to the eustachian tubes. These contain lymphocytes which normally serve to fight infections, but at times, the adenoids themselves are infected and swell up, in effect blocking the Eustachian tubes and causing severe pain. Hearing impairment is another complication of an adult ear infection. The swelling obstructs the sound but fortunately, hearing returns to normal when the infection is treated. It is possible, though, for fluid to build up and remain in the ear even after the ear infection has diminished. Treatment regimens Adult ear infection may be viral or bacterial. In most cases, the cause of the infection is viral as it is secondary to colds, sinusitis, or sore throat. Less often, bacteria enter the middle ear through say, for instance, swimming in contaminated water. It is easy to treat bacterial infection with antibiotics, but viral infections are a bit more complicated to manage. A myringotomy may be necessary if the adult ear infection is viral. This is a minor surgery which involves creating a tiny incision in the eardrum to relieve the pressure brought about by the fluid buildup, or to drain the pus. On the other hand, if the adult ear infection is caused by a swelling of the adenoids, then the adenoids have to be surgically removed. An adenoidectomy is easily performed without the danger of complications. To prevent adult ear infection, use a nasal spray such as xylitol to flush out bacteria and other pollutants, or chew xylitol-rich gum to relieve pressure in the ears and at the same time shoot a dose of xylitol in the throat and mouth to prevent the movement of bacteria into the nasal passages and the middle ear. About The Author: Balva Rudick is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit - www.articleclick.com |
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