This guide outlines how you know if you have ear infection problems, explaining the top 10 symptoms to watch out for.
Have you ever had an ear infection? If so, you know how painful it can be. Like any other part of your body, your ears are also prone to infections. Although ear infections are much more common in children, adults can also suffer from them.
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How you know if you have ear infection problems: overview
In adulthood, ear infection symptoms and complications tend to be much more serious than in childhood. While ear pain due to an infection in children often resolves relatively quickly, adults tend to suffer for much longer. It’s always a good idea to talk to a healthcare professional if your infection persists, as the problem may have deeper roots.
Ear infections can affect the outer, middle and inner ears and can be acute or chronic. Among adults, outer and middle ear infections are the most prevalent, while inner ear infections are rare.
You usually know you have an acute infection if symptoms only last for a short time. Chronic ear infections last much longer and are more likely to cause permanent damage to parts of the inner ear, including the cochlea, auditory nerve, and vestibular nerve. Repeated middle ear infections can also damage the mechanism responsible for balance.
Types of ear infection
Ear infections can affect the inner, middle, or outer ears. Young children are extremely prone to ear infections, with most of them suffering at least one episode before the age of three. However, not everyone is prone to contracting the disease. Some of the most common risk factors are family history, frequent allergies, low immunity and exposure to passive smoking. Bottle-fed babies and children who use pacifiers are more likely to get ear infections.
The five most common ear infections are: acute otitis media, otitis media with effusion, otitis externa (swimmer’s ear), ruptured eardrum, and mastoiditis.
Of the three types, acute otitis media is the most common. Your healthcare professional can easily diagnose an acute ear infection with an otoscope. The characteristic signs of this condition are swelling and infection of parts of the middle ear and fluid retention behind the eardrum. Acute otitis media can be very painful and may be accompanied by fever, especially in children.
Once an ear infection has completed its cycle, it can cause so-called otitis media with effusion. Interestingly, the only symptom may be fluid behind the eardrum. Chronic otitis media with effusion happens when fluid behind the eardrum remains for a long time or returns repeatedly despite there being no signs of infection.
Dealing with this chronic condition is challenging for children because the presence of fluid creates a breeding ground for pathogens – such as viruses and bacteria – making it difficult to prevent new infections.
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A ruptured eardrum occurs when an injury or infection causes a tear or hole in the eardrum. Fluid trapped in the middle ear can create intense pressure, worsening the rupture by making it worse, even causing hearing loss. Don’t be too worried if your doctor diagnoses a ruptured eardrum, as most of the time it will heal on its own in a matter of weeks.
Mastoiditis is a serious condition that happens when otitis media is inadequately treated, allowing the infection to spread to the bone behind the ear, called the mastoid. Since this is a serious bacterial infection, it is crucial to seek medical attention and be treated by a healthcare professional. If left untreated, complications can be devastating, such as deafness, brain damage, sepsis and even death.
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How you know if you have ear infection symptoms
These are the most common ear infection symptoms.
1. Ear pain
The first main symptom that something is not right with the ears is pain. Feeling any type of discomfort in the region may indicate a hearing problem. Typically, infections, such as otitis, are the most common causes of this symptom.
Otitis media and otitis externa are caused by fungi or bacteria, which can affect the ears more externally, in the case of otitis externa, or more internally, in the case of otitis media, causing pain and discomfort. If you have pain in your ears, it is a symptom for how you know if you have ear infection problems, so it is best to see a doctor so that they can give you the correct diagnosis.
2. Discharge
If you notice discharge from your ear, this is a strong indicator of a serious middle ear infection. If an excessive amount of fluid becomes trapped in your ear canal, it can cause your eardrum to tear, puncturing it.
When fluid makes it through the tear, a clear or yellowish discharge becomes visible. If you notice a bad smell from the secretion, consult a healthcare professional.
Do not try to clean out the secretion. This can push the secretion inside, causing other damage to the ear.
3. Swollen ear
Another of the main symptoms for how you know if you have ear infection problems is swelling. It is usually accompanied by pain, inflammation and usually corresponds to some type of infection.
Swollen ears are strictly related to the pain that many people feel when an ear infection develops. Fluid in the ear canal causes pressure, which leads to inflammation and swelling. A swollen ear most often causes pain, which often affects the ear and the surrounding area.
In severe cases, your ear may feel hot to the touch. Once again, this is a symptom that requires medical evaluation.
4. Flu-like symptoms
When it comes to the flu, the most common symptoms we experience are congestion, fever, sore throat and runny nose. When the Eustachian tubes become blocked, it is also possible to develop an ear infection. When blockage and congestion last for weeks, the likelihood of developing an ear infection increases exponentially.
5. Difficulty sleeping
Ear pain can be detrimental to your ability to get quality sleep. For some people, the pain can be so intense that falling asleep becomes a real problem, especially since the discomfort is often worse at night. Tinnitus—which often accompanies middle, outer, and inner ear infections—can prevent you from getting enough rest for a few days to several weeks.
6. Itchy ear
Itching in the ear canal is not a rare symptom for how you know if you have ear infection problems, especially if it is accompanied by a feeling of swelling, intense pain, tinnitus or buzzing. You may notice that as the infection worsens, so does the itching.
The worst part about this itch is that it typically occurs deep in the ear canal, making it impossible to scratch. Warning: do not attempt to insert objects into the ear to scratch the itch — this can cause damage!
7. Fever
Fever is a natural response of the body that aims to stop the growth of pathogens — viruses or bacteria — that are causing a middle ear infection. The body will use its natural defenses to fight off invaders. Pathogens do not like high temperatures, which is why your body will raise its body temperature in order to create an environment in which pathogens cannot proliferate.
While a low-grade fever (below 38.9°C) is not a concern, a high fever could be a sign that your infection is spreading. Be sure to seek medical attention if you develop very high temperatures.
8. Dizziness
It’s no wonder so many people feel dizzy when they get sick from an ear infection. The ear plays a crucial role in maintaining balance.
When an ear infection develops, the swelling can put pressure on this mechanism, causing dizziness. This sensation can be disconcerting, making you feel disoriented. If dizziness persists, be sure to talk to your doctor to reduce the chances of long-term balance problems.
9. Hearing Impairment
If the infection you develop is severe or can spread, it is possible that you will experience a degree of hearing loss or hearing disturbance over time. As the infection progresses, the inflammation will also increase, potentially creating blockages in your ear canal.
10. Headache
Headaches caused by ear inflammation, pain and fever are also possible signs for how you know if you have ear infection problems. Headaches can be annoying and persistent, tending to appear intermittently. Don’t ignore your symptoms, as a headache can also be a sign of meningitis, a possible complication of untreated ear infections.
Conclusion
As you can see, the symptoms for how you know if you have ear infection problems are numerous and many of them can affect your quality of life. Although you can try to use home remedies to alleviate your symptoms, your best bet is to see a healthcare professional to examine your ears if you suspect you have an ear infection.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio
