Middle Ear Infection

Some ear infections are worse than others. If you have an outer ear infection that’s causing inflammation and even a loss of hearing, it’s much easier to treat than a middle ear infection or otitis media. Antibiotics help, but sometimes you need more invasive measures. Visit an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor at the first sign of ear trouble. Call the ENT specialists at the Century Medical & Dental Center, with offices in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Harlem, for the best care.

What Is a Middle Ear Infection?

A middle ear infection, also called an otitis media, happens when bacteria or viruses get into the area behind your eardrum. This condition leads to swelling with fluid buildup, resulting in ear pain and possibly headaches. While children are the most at risk of this condition, adults can develop it in some circumstances. Exposure to cigarette smoke or heavy air pollution heightens inflammation, which increases your susceptibility to a middle ear infection.

Young children are more likely to get infections because their eustachian tubes are shorter and more horizontal, which makes drainage less efficient. Eustachian tubes are the small passageways connecting the middle ear to the back of the throat. The tubes regulate air pressure, drain fluids and prevent infections in the ears. The tube is impaired when congestion or allergies block its opening with fluids, which creates a favorable environment for bacteria and viruses to grow.

The Century Medical & Dental Center offers comprehensive care for a wide range of ear, nose and throat (ENT) conditions. Whether you’re suffering from an ear infection, fluid in an ear, ringing in your ears or a hearing loss, the experienced ENT specialists at this practice provide the most appropriate treatment. With locations in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Harlem, they make it convenient for you to receive the care you need.

What Causes an Otitis Media?

The main cause of a middle ear infection is bacteria. When streptococcus pneumoniae or haemophilus influenzae bacteria gets through blocked your eustachian tubes to your middle ear, you’ve got an infection. The common cold viruses, influenza viruses and respiratory viruses are the most common culprits.

Inflammation from viral infections in your nose and throat blocks the typical eustachian tube drainage. Physical and chemical substances inhibit the proper functioning of your eustachian tubes, which increases the risk of infection.

Other factors that interfere with normal eustachian tube functions include:

• Colds and respiratory illnesses. When the inflammation of colds and flu disrupts your system’s fluid drainage, it creates buildup in your middle ear space.
• Allergies. Pollen and dust cause swelling in your nasal airways that blocks drainage from your ear.
• Sinus infections. Sinus swelling with mucus buildup prevents fluid from leaving your middle ear.
• Changes in air pressure. Airline flights, deep-sea diving and high-altitude car travel disrupts your eustachian tube functionality, leading to fluid accumulation.

Inflammation caused by pollutants and smoke in your respiratory tract leads to an excessive discharge of mucus that blocks ear drainage, causing infection. Feeding a bottle to a baby on its back allows ear fluids to flow into the ear space, creating excess fluid that produces bacteria. The correct position for feeding babies is to keep them upright, so this doesn’t occur.

What Are the Symptoms of a Middle Ear Infection?

The severity of your infection defines whether your symptoms involve mild pain or serious pain with a fever. Most complications from an otitis media require medical attention because a ruptured eardrum or a spreading infection often causes your symptoms to worsen. If you notice developing symptoms, you can take action to manage the condition during its initial stages, when a favorable outcome is more likely.

Common symptoms include:

• Ear pain
• Fever
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fatigue or low energy
• Possible brief hearing loss if your middle ear space fills with fluid

A ruptured eardrum occurs in certain conditions. It causes pus to drain out through your ear. The ear pain ends when the fluid drains out because that decreases the pressure on your eardrum. Ear infection symptoms also affect children under five.

These symptoms include:

• Rubbing or tugging at an ear
• Exhibiting a suppressed noise response
• Acting less responsive to sounds
• Feeling irritable or restless
• Having anorexia
• Showing problems with balance

What Are the Treatment Options for Middle Ear Infections?

ENT doctors prescribe antibiotics when symptoms keep recurring or worsening, especially if you have a high fever. Using over-the-counter pain relievers helps minimize ear pain and get your body temperature back under control from a fever. These medications reduce inflammation while providing comfort.

Simple home remedies to ease discomfort and support healing include:

• Placing a warm cloth on your ear to help decrease the discomfort and pressure
• Lifting your head when resting to promote better drainage, which minimizes the pressure inside your ear
• Drinking lots of fluids
• Getting sufficient rest to enable your body to defeat the infection

If you have frequent infections or persistent fluid buildup, your doctor may recommend ear tubes to improve drainage and prevent further issues. An ENT doctor at the Century Medical & Dental Center performs a brief medical procedure to put these tiny tubes inside your ear membranes to let fluid drain out. The tubes stay in position for several months until they fall out by themselves.

How Is My Otitis Media Diagnosed?

Your Brooklyn or Manhattan ENT doctor examines your ear to confirm the infection and its severity. To check your eardrum and ear canal, your physician peers inside your ear through an otoscope. A healthy eardrum appears pinkish-gray with some transparency. If infected, it looks swollen and red due to the fluid accumulation. Your doctor looks for signs of drainage if your eardrum has ruptured.

Other diagnostic tests to confirm the presence of otitis media include:

• Tympanometry. This test checks how your eardrum reacts to changes in air pressure to see if there is any fluid trapped behind it.
• Hearing tests. These tests check whether fluid buildup is causing a temporary hearing loss or another condition is affecting your hearing.
• Tympanocentesis. In exceptional cases, your ENT doctor in Harlem may perform this minor surgery to remove excess fluid from your ear.

If you’re having recurring ear infections, your Manhattan or Brooklyn ENT doctor may recommend additional tests. Chronic fluid accumulation and recurrent infections usually require an allergy test. The most appropriate treatment for an underlying cause, such as enlarged adenoids or chronic sinusitis, helps prevent future infections. A proper medical diagnosis is required to receive the most suitable treatment for your recovery.

You can trust the ENT specialists at the Century Medical & Dental Center for expert diagnoses and treatments. If you’re suffering from chronic ear infections, severe throat pain or hearing difficulties, visit the practice for relief and lasting results. Whether you have a child with recurring infections or you’re an adult experiencing sudden hearing loss, contact the Century Medical & Dental Center in New York City today.