Thoughear painis a common symptom.
Illustration by Julie Bang for Verywell Health
Ear Infection Symptoms: Do I Have Ear Inflammation?
Ear infections are commonly resulting from bacteria, viruses, and occasionally fungi or parasites.
Illustration by Julie Bang for Verywell Health
As it does with allinfections, theimmune systemwill respond to an ear infection by producinginflammation.
This, in turn, generates heat, pain, and swelling of tissues.
Swimmer’s ear can also occur if your ear gets routinely blocked with water.
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oversaturating the skin and causing breaks that allow bacteria to enter underlying tissues.
Swimmer’s ear is common in children and young adults but can affect people of any age.
An outer ear infection can progress if not properly treated.
Symptoms vary by the severity of the infection, as shown in the following table.
Symptoms of a Middle Ear Infection
Otitis media is inflammation of themiddle earsituated just behind the eardrum.
It is comprised of three bones called theossicles.
Bacteria and viruses can both cause a middle ear infection.
Children are affected far more than adults.
When the infection affects the labyrinth and vestibulocochlear nerve, it is calledlabyrinthitis.
When only the vestibulocochlear nerve is affected, it is calledvestibular neuritis.
How Do You Spot Ear Infection Symptoms in Children?
Acute otitis media is the most common diagnosis worldwide.
Some young children have as many as five or six episodes per year.
Others almost invariablyrequire medical treatmentand may take weeks to fully clear.
Outer Ear Infection
Swimmer’s ear generally doesn’t go away on its own.
Treatment is typically prescribed for seven to 10 days.
Supportive care may be needed to reduce pain and fever.
Bacterial causes may requireantibiotics.
When treated, ear infections usually resolve within a few days.
Antibiotics can usually clear a bacterial ear infection within five to seven days.
Inner Ear Infection
The treatment of aninner ear infectionvaries by the cause.
Many cases clear on their own without treatment, often within a few weeks but sometimes longer.
Other people may require immediate medical care, including those whose symptoms are caused bybacterial meningitis.
Pain, muffled hearing, and fluid drainage are common with all ear infections.
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