Having an earache is not a common symptom, but almost all of us have experienced this type of problem before, especially during childhood. Anyone experiencing an acute ear infection will be able to tell how symptoms become unbearable, and they may even compare to those arising from a decayed tooth. However, there are different types of ear infections, and each one of them has a different set of signs and symptoms.
That’s why in this article we have included the most common signs and symptoms associated with ear infections, and after reading carefully you will realize how different it is to have an infection in your outer ear, middle ear and inner ear, and how could you tell which one is affecting you.
You may have an ear infection and require medical assistance if you start having one or more of these symptoms:
Swelling
Inflammation is a common event in every type of infection. It is the result of the immune reaction against the invading agents, but sometimes it is not visible. In ear infections, swelling is only visible when the problem is located in the outer ear; this is outside of the eardrum. In this case, patients usually report swelling and tenderness when touching the ear and the surrounding area. Changes of color are common as well, and your ear might start turning red. These are symptoms of an outer ear infection, and it is not likely to appear in middle ear or inner ear infections. In some cases, you would be able to see a furuncle, and sometimes it is related to widespread infection in the area called cellulitis. Most of these conditions require topical antibiotics drops, but in some advanced cases, you might need another approach.
Earache
Ache and tenderness is the most common symptom in infections of the outer, middle, and inner ear. Earache is often felt like a stabbing pain that is difficult to control with painkillers and other medications. When it is caused by outer ear infection, pain aggravates after applying pressure to the area. Sometimes, chronic ear infections may not have extensive pain, and you should be attentive to the rest of the symptoms to be able to tell the difference.
Pressure or discomfort
Pain may not be the first thing patients notice, and instead of stabbing pain, the initial stage of an ear infection and throughout a chronic ear infection, you may have a sensation of pressure and discomfort. It feels as if there was something stuck in the ear, and you may notice a change you cannot tell in the affected ear. This pain and discomfort may or may not become a stabbing and continuous type of pain, but you should not wait for that before coming to the doctor. Delaying your diagnosis will only make it harder to treat your condition.
Ear bleeding
In middle ear infections, there’s something called eardrum perforation, which is the result of an increase in the internal pressure of the middle ear. When this happens, patients may experience ear bleeding which is usually self-limited. Outer ear infections may also cause ear bleeding when there’s an open wound or any other type of lesion. You may need to be checked by a physician with a special tool to look deeper into your ear canal if you want to know for sure the source of the bleeding. Thus, do not hesitate to call your doctor if you ever experience ear bleeding with or without the symptoms we are describing in the present article.
Pus-like drainage
The eardrum is perforated in middle ear infections because there’s growing tension in the area. The middle ear is a sealed compartment containing tiny structures for the transmission of sound. During middle ear infections, this compartment is filled with pus, blood, and other inflammatory fluids. Thus, pus drainage is common, especially when the eardrum has been perforated. In outer ear infections, you may also notice a clear liquid coming out of your ears, and you may need a complete check-up with a special tool to look at the inside of your ear if you want to know where does this fluid come from and what can you do about it. Sometimes, you would start having this pus drainage while pain symptoms improve by themselves. It is not meant to be a relieving sign but all of the contrary. When that happens, it is likely because the eardrum has been perforated and the pressure in your middle ear, which was causing you pain, has been released. But the infection remains the same, and may become worse without medications. Thus, do not delay your diagnosis and remember how close the ear is to your brain. Your healthcare professional will be able to help you control the disease and ease your symptoms.
Fever
In children and infants, ear infections may also cause a mild or moderate fever. It is not always associated with high fever lectures unless ear infections are associated with an underlying disease such as meningitis. If you notice a high fever in yourself or your child with one or more symptoms we have described in this article, it will be a good idea to ask your doctor and follow his instructions. In very small children, ear infections might be detected when they become irritable and clingy, crying more than usual with a mild fever. After a complete physical exam, your doctor might diagnose a hidden ear infection.
Hearing loss
Middle ear infections and inner ear infections might be severe enough to cause hearing loss and other hearing impairments. The middle ear works with pressure, and similar to what happens when your ears are clogged with water, having extra fluids around can impair the normal transmission of the sound. Inner ear infections directly affect the nervous area when hearing impulses are produced and may end up in severe hearing loss. In most cases, hearing acuity goes back to normal after controlling the disease, but this does not happen when there’s irreversible damage to the ear structures. Thus, it is important to give ear infections the importance they deserve and go to the doctor even if they do not cause severe pain.
Dizziness
The inner ear contains a series of specialized structures in a singular compartment called labyrinth. This area of the inner ear is filled with a special fluid that moves around depending on the position and inclination of the head. In the labyrinth, the movement of this fluid is translated and sent to the brain to regulate body balance. During an inner ear infection, the inflammation process may also affect the labyrinth, and impair the normal function of these special structures, causing dizziness and vertigo to the patient.
Nausea and vomiting
Nausea is a gastrointestinal reflex that is often associated with balance. Thus, patients with an ear infection who start to feel dizzy may also experience nausea and vomiting. In other cases, severe earache would also lead patients to feel sick and gag. Whether or not you feel nausea and vomiting, ear infections should be attended right away and may need the assistance of a professional to see whether or not your case has become severe. After being diagnosed, ear infections would require topic or systemic antibiotic therapy, and only trained physicians are able and legally allowed to suggest which antibiotic will work best in your case.
Meningitis and other serious infections
Inner ear infections do not often appear by itself. It is commonly associated with different types of nearby infections, and some of them could be really serious. Given the vicinity of the inner ear and the brain, meningitis can cause ear infection and all the way around. In this case, other symptoms would be added such as headache, severe nausea and vomiting, a stiff neck, among others. Several other structures are close to the inner ear and may be behind an ear infection, as in the case of mastoiditis, which gives a characteristic pain in the back of the ear which is aggravated by applying pressure to the area.
Altogether, ear infections can be mild or severe enough to cause serious health problems. Regardless of suspecting a middle ear infection or an outer ear infection, it is advised to visit your doctor. Sometimes, you may have a mixed infection and be led to think that it is only located on the outside because you see a furuncle and local swelling in the area. But a closer look would reveal a deeper infection that would require a different approach. Thus, after applying a cold compress and trying to alleviate your symptoms, go to your healthcare provider and trust his judgment to perform a clinical evaluation and guide your treatment.