What is an Ear Infection? Overview, 9 Strong Symptoms, Causes, and Others

What is an Ear Infection?

Types of Pathogens

These scary microorganisms called pathogens multiply rapidly, which causes you to have infectious or contagious diseases. The most common types of pathogens include: 

1. Bacteria
2. Viruses, and
3. Fungi

Pathogens Spread

These pathogens spread rapidly in different ways. The most common ways these pathogens spread include:

1. Skin contact
2. Bodily fluids
3. Taking contaminated edibles or water
4. Inhaling airborne microbes, etc.

Having introduced to you what infections are, let’s discuss what the headline says: ear infections, their symptoms, causes, as well as prevention.

Ear Infection

Ear infections, also known as Otitis Media is an audio-infectious disease that occurs when the ear gets infected when viral or bacterial pathogens affect the middle ear (ear tissues), that is the section of the ear just behind the eardrum.

This section is an air-filled space that contains the tiny vibrating bones of the ear. Over 1.5 million cases are recorded every year in Nigeria according to the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Ear infections are usually painful because of the inflammation and fluid buildup in the middle section of the ear. 

Ear infections are either acute or chronic. In the case of acute ear infection, the ear is usually painful and itchy because of the fluid behind the eardrum. This can be taken care of when you seek immediate medical attention. It usually lasts for a few days to a week when if properly taken care of. Acute Otitis Media is mostly common in kids. 

Chronic ear infection, on the other hand, does not really heal— it recurs. It is a chronic infection of the middle ear. In some cases, it might affect the eardrums and ear drainage persists— may not stop on time. It is often associated with unresolved and resistant bacterial infections. Usually, people with acute ear infection history may develop chronic ear infections.

Chronic suppurative ear infection occurs when the tympanic membrane (eardrums) is perforated with persistent ear drainage from the middle ear for many weeks. This requires serious medical attention. If not properly checked, it could result in long-lasting or permanent damage to the ear.

Symptoms of Ear Infections

Symptoms become noticeable when there is:

1. Mild pain or discomfort in the ear,
2. a feeling of hearing blockage,
3. mild hearing loss
4. fluid-filled ear (ear drainage
5. headache
6. pain when chewing
7. tugging or pulling at the ear
8. loss of balance
9. fever, etc

In the case of a chronic infection, symptoms may be a little unnoticed. It can cause milder symptoms, unlike the acute infection which is often noticeable. It may also affect both ears. Symptoms of chronic ear infections include:

1. Mild earaches
2. Persistent ear drainage
3. Low fever
4. Hearing loss
5. Insomnia.

Causes of Ear Infection

The ear gets infected when one of the Eustachian tubes becomes swollen or plugged which results in an infection. The ear gets infected when the tissues and the Eustachian tubes are attacked by micro-organisms such as bacteria, viruses, or a fungus. People with weak immune systems are prone to get infected in the ear than others. Diabetes, sickle cell anemia; skin conditions like eczema, smallpox, etc may be primary causes for ear infections.

Furthermore, in kids, common cold, flu, and allergies can lead to the ear getting affected. Smokers and second-hand smokers are very prone to get swollen Eustachian tubes.

Functions of the Eustachian Tubes

The Eustachian tubes are a pair of narrow pathed tubes that run from each middle ear to high in the back of the throat— that is it runs between the middle section of your ear and upper throat. They function as an equalizer to ear pressure and fluid drainage from the middle ear.

The eustachian tubes are narrow in size and could get blocked when attacked by harmful microorganisms like bacteria. When there is bacteria is in the eustachian tubes, it gets blocked, causes pain, leads to hearing difficulties, and a feeling of discomfort in the ears (ear infection).

Ear Infections in Adults

Although infections are more common in children, adults can also get ear infections, whether acute or chronic infections. Having talked about ear infections generally in both children and adults, this part of the article centers on ear infections in adults. Unlike ear infections in children which are often acute — that is they are often minor and lasts for a few days, ear infections in adults could be symptoms of a critical health issue.

In adults, the three main types of ear infections often correspond to the three main parts of the ear: inner ear infection, middle ear infection (also in kids), and outer ear infection.

In the case of the inner ear infection, a condition could be diagnosed as inflammation and not an infection. Symptoms include:

1. Earaches
2. Nausea
3. Loss of appetite
4. Dizziness
5. Puking.

In the case of middle ear infection, bacterial fluid buildup behind the eardrum, which causes the eardrum to bulge. It might affect the eardrum critically if not closely attended to, medically. Earaches, a sense of ear fullness, and ear drainage are symptoms of middle ear infection.

Outer ear infection, also known as swimmers ear, and medically known as Otitis Externa often occurs as a result of the water that remains in your ear after bathing or swimming. When this area is moist, it becomes a habitat for bacterial infections.

Risk Factors of Ear Infection in Children

Children often have very marrow eustachian tubes. Children are at risk of ear infections include:

1. Children between the ages of 6 months and 36 months
2. Children who used pacifiers
3. An early introduction to bacterial activities
4. Not being breastfed— children who are bottle-fed
5. Early exposure to smoke
6. Environmental factors
7. Children who have allergies
8. Children exposed to a high level of air pollution.

Risk Factors in Adults

Although children are more at risk of having an ear infection, that is because they have smaller eustachian tubes. Adults are also at risk of having ear infections in the following ways:

1. Small eustachian tubes
2. Adults who are avid smokers
3. Seasoned allergies
4. Weak immune system
5. Adults with chronic diseases
6. Unhealthy dieting
7. Common cold, influenza, as well as an upper respiratory infection.