4 Common Ear Infections And Problems That People Face

Ear is a very vital sense organ. It picks up sound waves, helping us to hear sounds. Moreover, the ears play a crucial role in maintaining the sense of balance. This is why it is known as the vestibular system, or the organ of balance, which is present inside our inner ear. Any disorder with the ear needs timely medical intervention. You can consider ENT specialist online consultation for effective care of your ear conditions.

A host of conditions affect the ear. However, all ear maladies do not lead to hearing loss. Some specific disorders and infections— when left untreated can cause hearing loss. A lot of factors, including long exposure to noise, injury, aging, genetic, and infections, result in hearing impairment. The most prevalent type of hearing loss is called Sensorineural hearing loss. It is caused when your auditory nerve is affected. However, some types of ear diseases and infections cause another type of hearing loss, known as conductive hearing loss.

When it comes to issues with the ear, most of us are just aware of hearing loss. In reality, a plethora of conditions affects our ears. Some of these issues are plain bothersome, while some can lead to serious distress. If you are experiencing any issues with your ear consult an ENT doctor either through clinic visit or by ENT specialist online consultation. Highly skilled ENT doctors with years of experience are onboard on DocGenie. You can book a session with one of our doctors for online ENT consultation regarding any issue with your ear.

To remain in the top of your health, it is important to be aware of the common problems that could affect your ears. Here’s a rundown of 4 most common problems affecting the ears –

1. Ear infections

Ear infections are the most common ear disorders. It is often accompanied with pain and affects the children. However, it typically gets cleared up in a few days. Infections can affect both the inner and outer ear.

Inner infections or otitis media primarily affect the tube called the Eustachian tube in children as these tubes are smaller in them than adults. Viruses including colds and flu are known to cause these infections.

Outer ear infection or otitis externa is common among adults in the age group of 45 to 75 years. Primarily caused by bacterial infection of the skin of the canal, a fungus or yeast, this condition affects the ear canal. That said, wearing earplugs or hearing aids can also lead to this type of infection. Moreover, people afflicted with skin problems like eczema, psoriasis or dermatitis and also those who swim regularly can get this infection.

Symptoms of ear infection:

Earache
High fever
Lethargy
Difficulty hearing
Discharge from the ear
Feeling of pressure inside the ear
Itching in and around the ear
Scaly skin in and around the ear

In children, an ear infection can have symptoms like rubbing or pulling at the ears, irritability or refusing food, not reacting to noises, or losing balance. If your child is showing these symptoms at odd hours you can consult an ENT doctor online from the comfort of your home. Doctors on DocGenie are ready for 24/7 online consultation.

The majority of ear infections, however, happen in the middle ear in the area between the eardrum and the cochlear. Mostly microbes like bacteria and viruses cause ear infections. They migrate up the tubes that connect the respiratory system to the ear, causing the symptoms. The microbes mostly settle in the middle ear, resulting in inflammation.

2. Blocked ears

The ears produce wax, a sticky and gooey substance, from glands lining our ear canal. The wax captures the dust and microbes that try to enter the ear stopping them from piercing the eardrum.

The wax collects the particles and transfers them to the opening of the ear to get dried and flake off. However, at times our body produces too much wax which gets stuck in front of the eardrum and hardens. This then becomes hard to remove. Those suffering from blocked ears hear muted and muffled sounds. At times such individuals develop secondary infections around the blockage. This happens because the wax cannot remove the attacking bacteria from the ear canal.

3. Meniere’s disease

Surplus fluid build-up in the inner ear causes Meniere’s disease. When the organs present inside the ear get saturated, they fail to do their normal functions. This causes hearing and balance disorders. It can also cause a feeling of pressure inside the ear.

Those affected with the condition can reduce the severity of their symptoms through some lifestyle changes. ENT doctors can recommend the changes that will help you ease the severity of your condition. ENT doctors also recommend medication, stress reduction exercises, increased physical activities, and natural therapies, as treatment. In the most severe cases, doctors also perform surgery.

4. Otosclerosis

Otosclerosis is a condition in which there is abnormal bone growth in the ear. As a complex organ, the ear depends on an array of mechanisms in order to convert incoming sound waves into nerve impulses. This process largely relies on stapes bone, which freely moves in its pocket and transmits information. But in people with otosclerosis, it often grows so big that it stops moving. This is when it fails to pass on incoming sound signals to the inner ear. Treatment for otosclerosis is either by wearing hearing aids, or a surgery called stapedectomy, which ENT specialists carry out for reducing the bone size.

Given the ongoing coronavirus pandemic it is now a good idea to consult an ENT doctor online for any of the above ear issues. At DocGenie we have highly experienced ENT specialists who can take care of all your ear related problems. Book a session today!

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