Ear pain or hearing loss? How to Recognize Ear Inflammation Early and Avoid Complications
Otolaryngologist consultation
An otolaryngologist, or ENT specialist, diagnoses and treats diseases of the ears, nose, throat, head, and neck in both adults and children.
Otolaryngologist consultation
An otolaryngologist, or ENT specialist, diagnoses and treats diseases of the ears, nose, throat, head, and neck in both adults and children.
Does your ear start to hurt, does your hearing become muffled or does it feel as if everything sounds "underwater"? Many perceive it as a small side effect of a cold, but two different processes can be hidden behind these symptoms – a simple ear ventilation disorder or already developed inflammation. It is important to distinguish between them, because the treatment is different in each case. The manager of our clinic, dr. med. Rudolfs Janis Viksne explains how to notice the first signs in time, when it is enough to treat the nose and when the visit to the ENT specialist should no longer be postponed.
Why does the nose affect the ears?
Ear ventilation is provided by the Eustachian canal – a narrow connection between the eardrum and the middle ear. When the nasal mucosa swells during a runny nose, this channel can be blocked and the ear is no longer adequately ventilated. Initially, both positive and negative pressure can build up in the ear – this condition is called tubotitis.
If ventilation problems persist, fluid may begin to accumulate in the middle ear, indicating secretory otitis media. It is important to understand that the presence of fluid at this stage does not necessarily mean a bacterial infection. This is a condition where the ear doesn't 'work' properly due to swelling, causing a pronounced blocked sensation and hearing loss, but does not yet require antibiotic treatment.
However, there are situations when acute otitis media develops, which is not only associated with mucosal edema and pressure changes, but with a primary infection. In such cases, microbes migrate from the inflammation to the middle ear, causing purulent inflammation. In children, this process develops especially rapidly due to anatomical peculiarities.
7 signs of otitis media in children
Since children are not always able to accurately describe their feelings, parents should pay attention to the following signs:
Restlessness at night: Pain often worsens when lying down due to changes in pressure.
Touching the ear: the child often rubs, stretches or presses the ear.
Behavioral changes: Unreasonable crying or irritability.
In infants: crying during feeding, as swallowing movements cause painful pressure in the ear.
Refusal of food: loss of appetite due to general discomfort.
Response to sound: An apparent “not hearing” or reduced response to sounds.
Elevated temperature: often accompanies an acute infectious process.
7 signs of otitis media in adults
In adults, the symptoms are usually more clearly identifiable:
Violent, throbbing pain in the ear.
A feeling of fullness or a droopy ear.
Autophony – the feeling that one's own voice sounds unusually loud or humming in the ear.
Noise or ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
Deterioration of hearing.
Discharge from the ear, which may indicate a ruptured eardrum.
Dizziness or loss of balance.
Diagnosis: where does the edema end and the infection begin?
It is important to understand that blockage and fluid in the ear (tubitis / secretory otitis media) are one situation, but acute otitis media is a completely different one.
Tubotitis / secretory otitis media: usually there is no severe pain or fever. In such cases, the main task is to restore ear ventilation by treating the nose with anti-edema medications and hormonal drug aerosols.
Acute otitis media: infection. On otoscopy, the doctor sees a reddened tympanic membrane, and the patient has pronounced clinical symptoms, such as severe pain and fever. Antibiotics are necessary in such cases.
When should the visit to the ENT specialist be postponed?
A specialist should be consulted if the so-called "red flags" appear:
The pain in the ear becomes throbbing, stabbing and increasingly severe.
Purulent discharge from the ear appears.
Rapid or sudden hearing loss is observed.
Dizziness, marked weakness or high temperature are added.
You notice swelling or redness behind the ear.
Specialist recommendations for prevention
Treat runny noses: Timely reduction of swelling in the nose is the best prevention so that the Eustachian canal is not blocked.
Gentle nasal hygiene: use seawater sprays or homemade isotonic saline solutions with care.
No ear sticks: they injure the mucous membrane and can push the wax deeper, causing additional complications.
Time to rest: Give your body time to recover – getting enough sleep and rest during viral season is essential for your immune system to function.
Restrictions on pressure changes: until ventilation in the ears is restored, it is not recommended to fly or dive, because rapid changes in pressure can cause pain or even rupture of the eardrum.
Request a visit:
ENT specialist's consultation (otolaryngologist's consultation)
Examination of the ear under a microscope (otomic microscopy)
Administering medication into the middle ear (administering medication into the tympanic cavity)
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