Get middle ear infection treated quickly

A delayed middle ear infection can have painful and health consequences

01/06/2012

Patients should take a middle ear infection seriously and do not let too much time pass until the first treatment. The consequences of an untreated ear infection can be very painful and dangerous for patients, as Dr. Michael Deeg, head of the Landesverband Baden-Württemberg from the Association of Otolaryngologists (ENT) explained. If the otitis media is not treated in time, the infection could develop into severe mastoiditis.

In acute inflammation of the mucous membranes of the middle ear (otitis media acuta) sufferers usually feel pulsating pain in the ear, fever, throbbing ear noises, impaired hearing and sometimes pain on the temples. The infection can have bacterial or viral causes.

Inflammation of the ear bones
In mastoiditis, the bones in the ear (mastoid) are affected and suppurate. Visible symptoms of the disease include severely reddened swelling behind the pinna. Apparently the ear is slightly off. When touched patients feel strong pain and it joins as a defense reaction of the body fever added.

According to the ENT specialist Deeg, the dose should begin with antibiotic drugs at the latest. If the antibiotic therapy is not sufficient, the affected bone tissue must be operated in rare cases. Patients go in spite of the obvious complaints not to the doctor, it can even lead to meningitis in the worst case, which can have far-reaching consequences.

So who suffers from unending earache and suspected of having a otitis ear, should go in time for the ear, nose and throat doctor. Mastoiditis is the most common complication of acute middle ear infection, which is often diagnosed in infants and babies. (Sb)

Read about:
Home remedy for earache
Middle ear inflammation home remedies
Not just antibiotics for middle ear infection

Picture: S. Hofschlaeger