Ear Pain: Treatment, Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

The eardrum is a thin tissue stretched across the ear canal. It protects the inner ear and plays an important role in our ability to hear and recognise sounds. However, because of its delicate construction, it may be perforated or ruptured due to an infection, trauma or damage to the ear. Symptoms of a perforated eardrum include a ringing noise in the ears, vertigo, hearing loss and fluid or blood in the ear canal.

Here are a few tips to deal with perforated eardrum pain.

• Keep the ear dry: If you have a ruptured eardrum, you may bathe and shower normally but do not allow water or soap to enter the ears. Placing a wad of cotton or gauze over the ear can help protect the ear. While showering you may hold the cotton in place with your finger by applying light pressure on the same. Do not press it too hard or try to plug the ear completely. Some water may fall off your fingers but this will be absorbed by the cotton and will not enter the ear. Remove this cotton or gauze only after you have finished towelling yourself.
• Do not plug the ears: It is a normal reaction to plug the ears with cotton or gauze if you notice blood or any other fluid flowing from the ear. However, this should never be done. Plugging the ears will trap the fluid within the ear and promote bacterial infections. This can aggravate the perforation even further. Instead, keep the ear canal open and as dry as possible. Slowly the bleeding will cease and a clot will be formed on its own.
• Rest: As far as possible avoid travelling if you have a ruptured eardrum. Instead, stay at home and get some rest. Though the rest of your body may feel fine, it needs rest and recuperation to build up its immunity and heal. Try to lie on your side so that the ear with the perforated eardrum facing downwards. This will help the blood and fluids accumulated inside drain out.
• Take the prescribed medicine: A ruptured eardrum can be painful and hence your doctor is likely to prescribe pain relievers. Follow this prescription strictly and continue taking the medication until the course is completed. Do not stop midway without consulting your doctor. Also, do not overdose or self-medicate with over the counter pain relievers.
   

Meniere’s disease is a condition of the middle ear, the exact cause of which is not known. If often affects one ear and affects adults who are aged over 40. It is diagnosed by few characteristic symptoms:

• Ringing in the ears or tinnitus, vertigo
• Fullness in the ears
• Hearing loss

There could be periods of dizziness, where the patient falls, known as “drop attacks.” These attacks are followed by long periods with no symptoms whatsoever. It is unpredictable and so a patient can never really be prepared for an attack. While it is not easy to diagnose the condition, doctors do a detailed history to confirm the diagnosis. Hearing test, CT scan, and MRI may be used to confirm the diagnosis.

Management: There is no definitive treatment for this condition. However, various options have been proposed, and many people have found them to be helpful. Some commonly used measures including diet and cognitive therapy are listed below:

• Medications: There is no medication to attack the root cause. Medicines are used often to control dizziness, which is the most irritating symptom of this condition. Meclizine and diazepam are often used. In some people, gentamicin or corticosteroid injections are used. However, long-term use of gentamicin can cause hearing loss.
• Salt restriction: Reducing salt intake indirectly reduces the fluid retention in the body, which helps manage the blood pressure and vertigo
• Dietary changes: When a detailed history is taken, there are patterns which indicate that increased caffeine, chocolate, or alcohol worsen the symptoms. These are reduced with an intent to reduce the symptoms
• Pulse treatment: A pulse of air is pushed through to the inner ear, which helps in symptom relief. This device fits into the outer ear, and when the pulse of air is pushed through, it improves fluid circulation within the middle ear, which is believed to be a cause for the condition.
• Surgery: As a last resort, some surgical options are used:
  • A shunt is placed in the middle ear to drain out the excess fluid and maintain balance.
  • Labyrinthectomy may also be done to reduce symptoms, which may also involve removal of the eighth cranial nerve, which is believed to be the cause.
  • Hearing aids can be used if the hearing loss is severe.
  • Alternative medicines including acupressure and acupuncture are proven to reduce symptoms in some people.
  • Herbs like gingko biloba and ginger root have also been used, not with proven effect though.
• Prevention: When possible, avoid
  • Driving
  • Operating heavy machinery
  • Swimming
  • Use of ladders
  • Being on terraces without somebody supervising

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Outer ear infections can be caused by bacteria, virus, or yeast. Also known as swimmer’s ear, as it is very common in swimmers who keep their ears immersed in water for prolonged periods of time. It can also occur when the skin in the outer ear gets infected due to regular use of cotton buds to remove wax. Though it is very common in children, it can be seen in adults too.

The first step in managing an outer ear infection is to identify it.

• A dull, nagging pain in the outer ear is one of the first symptoms of an outer ear infection. Worsening of the pain when the ear is pressed is confirmatory of the infection. In some people, the pain could even spread to the rest of face, along with the cheeks or down the neck.
• Foul-smelling, yellow or green drainage is an indication of outer ear infection. The person could feel that the ear is constantly moist.
• This can be along the ear canal or in the outer ear skin.
• Mild hearing loss, which if untreated, can be progressive.
• Redness of the skin around the ear(s).
• Swelling of the lymph nodes at the base of the jaw.
• General symptoms of an infection including fever, lethargy, reduced energy levels, and overall tiredness.

Management:

Do not treat ear infections on your own. The actual agent causing the infection needs to be identified and treated accordingly. A bacterial infection may require a course of antibiotics, a viral one should be watched and allowed to run its course.

1. Visit a doctor: They will check and confirm the infection.
2. Ear cleaning: Cleaning the ear with either a suction or a curette. In some cases, there could be hardened wax which needs to be removed to get relief from the infection.
3. Antibiotic drops: Either neomycin or ciprofloxacin is used in most cases.
4. Acetic acid drops: This helps in keeping the bacterial population intact in your ears.
5. Antibiotics: In severe cases, oral antibiotics may be required. Painkillers like ibuprofen may be also taken if the pain is unbearable.
6. Saltwater: A home-made solution of vinegar and water or diluted saltwater provides great relief from ear infection symptoms.
7. Heat pads: A warm, wet cloth applied on the cheek near the ear can provide great relief. It is advisable to sit when the heat pad is being applied to avoid burns.
8. Preventative ear drops: When going for swimming long duration, OTC ear drops can be applied to provide relief.
9. Avoid swimming: When the infection has set in and you begin to notice symptoms, avoid swimming for a few days.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Middle ear infection, also called Otitis media, is an infection due to bacteria or virus behind the eardrum. It is an inflammation of the middle ear, seen mostly in children. There is an area behind the eardrum, which has small vibrating bones. This kind of an infection happens usually in early spring or winter seasons. Usually, it does not need any kind of treatment, but since it is a recurring infection, it is always good to consult a doctor.

Symptoms of middle ear infection
Once the symptoms start appearing, the chances of infection are very fast. Here are some of the symptoms that you should watch out for:

1. Severe ear pain, especially when you are sleeping
2. Sleeplessness
3. A flow of fluids from the affected ear
4. Diminished hearing
5. Loss of appetite
6. Headache
7. High fever
8. Difficulty in hearing
9. Excess crying in case of children

When you feel that the symptoms are unbearable and last for a very long time, you should consult a doctor immediately.
Causes of recurring middle ear infection

1. Any virus or bacteria in the ear
2. Any other types of illness
3. Cold, allergy, or flu
4. Swelling in the nasal passage

Treatment for recurring middle ear infection:
You should first see an ENT specialist for any kind of infection in your ears. There are many different kinds of treatments available for a middle ear infection. In most of the cases, the treatment will be decided based on the age, medical conditions, and present health condition of the affected individual.

A doctor will also take into consideration the following two factors:

• How severe is the infection?
• Will you be able to tolerate the dose of antibiotics?

For babies between the age of 6 months to 23 months, this kind of middle ear infection usually goes away in just 48 hours. So, it is always good to wait. For adults, most of the time, antibiotics are prescribed. Doctors suggest warm compress for kids as it is not healthy to give them pain medication. But in case the pain is not tolerable, a mild dose of pain medication is suggested along with a warm compression. Adults can take pain medication. Smoking should strictly be avoided when you are having a middle ear infection. Even passive smoking can be painful. Remember, it is better to be safe than sorry; so talk to the doctor immediately, if the ear pain in kids lasts for more than 48 hours.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Adenoids are part of the ENT (ear-nose-tongue) area. They are basically lump of tissues situated at the back of the nose and higher up in the throat passage. Along with tonsils, they form a part of the lymphatic system and are also known as pharyngeal tonsils. They work in conjunction with tonsils to keep infections and viruses at bay. They also help in maintaining the body fluid balance.

Adenoids mostly occur in children. They basically start to grow from birth and can become enlarged between the ages of 5 to 7 years. They become swollen by fighting some bacteria or virus. However, by teenage years they start to shrink and completely disappears by adulthood. They do not help in fighting diseases and the body develops other ways to fight germs and bacteria.

Problems Caused by Adenoids:
Although adenoids are not harmful, they can become enlarged or swollen when fighting bacteria or viruses. In such situations, it is best to consult pediatric or ENT specialists. However, there are certain symptoms that occur in children:

1. Breathing problems- Children may experience difficulty in breathing through the nose. Instead, they breathe through the mouth which might lead to dry mouth resulting in bad breath and cracked lips.
2. Sleeping problems- Children having swollen adenoids having difficulty in having sound sleep. They might snore or experience sleep apnea (irregular breathing or might stop breathing for few seconds).
3. Ear infections- Have ear infections and even develop glue ear (the ear duct is filled with fluids).
4. Sinus problem- Your child may experience runny nose or facial pain.

Diagnosis
If your child is experiencing the above symptoms and having difficulty breathing, its best to visit an ENT specialist to get the adenoids checked out. The adenoids cannot be seen through normal eyes and has to be examined using special methods like endoscopy. An endoscope is a long flexible tube with a light, it is inserted through the mouth and the image of the inside of the mouth is seen on a screen.

Treatments for Adenoids:
Depending on the severity of the adenoids, it can be treated with nasal sprays or drops and antibiotics suggested by a doctor. If the adenoid does not shrink or the problem persists, it’s best to go for adenoidectomy.
What is Adenoidectomy? Adenoidectomy is the surgical removal of adenoids. It is generally performed by an ENT surgeon and carried out through the mouth under general anesthesia. The whole operation only requires a day. Your child is released at the end of the day.

Recovery:
After the surgical procedure, your child may experience:

1. Sore throat
2. Ear ache
3. Stiff jaw
4. Runny nose
5. Bad breath

All of these difficulties pass away within a week or two. However, you should be careful as there is always a risk of infection after an operation. In case of excessive bleeding, known as hemorrhage, your child may need another surgery where the bleeding is stopped by cauterization.

Moreover, food and drink should be monitored carefully. As your child will have difficulty in swallowing food, it’s best to have fluids like soups or yoghurt. Remember to give them plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

Adenoids are not scary diseases. So don’t be scared and give your child all the care and support when they are facing difficulty in breathing or sleeping.