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May 26, 2022 
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You might have worried about an ear infection, which is widespread, particularly in younger children, typically affecting the middle ear. It occurs due to bacterial or viral infections causing ear pain. However, adults can get them too, and you have undoubtedly experienced one at some point in your life. But the main question which arises is, are ear infections contagious?
You might have worried about an ear infection, which is widespread, particularly in younger children, typically affecting the middle ear. It occurs due to bacterial or viral infections causing ear pain. However, adults can get them too, and you have undoubtedly experienced one at some point in your life. But the main question which arises is, are ear infections contagious?
An ear infection is usually painful and may also trigger signs of tinnitus. You start hearing sounds that aren’t there. Hearing your heartbeat or breathing echoing in your ear or your ear being increasingly itchy can be another sign that your ear is infected.
There are several different ear infections; where some are more significant than others. Such ear infections may or may not be contagious. Though the condition cannot spread from person to person, the cause of the illness certainly can. People who share a bed or stay together are more prone to spread the disease.
It’s also simplifying to say that an ear infection is not contagious and is never dangerous. It is indeed possible for an ear infection to spread to other areas of the body and cause a more severe issue. So, it is worth taking steps to control the disease and avoid it extending or moving from person to person.
Types of Ear Infection
There are three types of ear infections:
External ear infection:
This kind of infection is known as a swimmer’s ear. Swimmer’s ear, also known as otitis externa, is an infection of the outer ear and is one of the other types of ear infections. Bacteria and fungus grow in the ear canal as a result of moisture. Numerous skin diseases, including eczema and acne, can cause it to flare up. In these situations, scratches occur on the skin of the ear canal.
It can cause anything from pain to itchiness or swelling, and you may also notice a discharge. Such infections usually clear up in ten days.
Swimmers whose ear ache frequently lasts longer than expected should take antibiotics. For instance, drops or ointment can remove fungus or bacteria that may be present in the ear.
The use of over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen can also be effective. Keeping the ear as dry as possible is advisable, so be careful while bathing and avoid swimming.
Such signs of infection are more prevalent during vacations. Children diving underwater or spending time at a water park increases the disease risk.
Avoiding The Spread Of Swimmer’s Ear:
If you are keen to avoid this possibility, you or your child should ensure that you wear waterproof earbuds. These will keep the water and moisture out of your ear completely. These earbuds adapt and can be molded to the specific shape of your ear to ensure that there is absolutely no way that any water can escape. However, sound can still travel in and out, so you can still hear, which means they are safe for public use. You can also wear them for a music concert as they work as protection.
Other causes and issues that may result in swimmers’ ears would be using earphones or earbuds and using anything to clean out your ears that should not be there. You shouldn’t insert anything inside your ear if you think it is dirty. It can be dangerous and potentially cause an infection to spread. Always seek professional advice if you have concerns about ear wax buildup in your or your child’s inner ear. They will be able to provide the correct type of clean-out that won’t cause a risk of infection.
You can clean parts of the ear yourself, but this should only be the absolute outer ear. Try with a damp cloth. When you tend your outer ear, ensure that you are using a clean towel and that any earbuds or anything near the ear are also clean. Avoid using other towels in a water park or swimming pool. It will cause an infection to spread.
Inner ear infection:
An inner ear infection is when the inner ear gets inflammation due to a virus and bacterial infection. It affects the parts of the ear responsible for balance and hearing, called labyrinthitis. Virus infection is the leading cause of inner ear infections. When your inner ear gets infected, you may feel dizzy, nauseous, vomiting, earache, spinning sensation, hearing loss, etc.
Middle ear infection:
The most common form of ear infection most children suffer is otitis media. Ortis media or middle ear infection is the main problem that most experience. It often starts with an infection that impacts the throat or the nose before moving to the ear. So, symptoms can be similar to getting a cold or having the flu.
Once the infection starts, it can spread to different areas, such as the Eustachian pipes. The formation of the mucus blocks the pipes. It prevents things from draining due to bacteria development. The mucus is red or cloudy in case of infection.
Avoiding The Spread Of A Middle Ear Infection
If you want to ensure you avoid this type of common infection, then there are some steps you can take.
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Get a flu shot regularly and
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Make sure to clean the visible part of the ear.
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Refrain from putting foreign objects inside your ear
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Ensure that you wash your hands regularly.
Treatments
The good news is that these infections will often disappear within three days or two weeks. You won’t usually be prescribed meds unless the issue persists. Doctors are often unwilling to prescribe treatment because it won’t be necessary. However, they will give you antibiotics like ear drops for a severe infection. Warm compresses and meds like ibuprofen are the most effective remedy for a middle ear infection.
You might get a middle ear infection more often if you have an issue with your immune system or are around tobacco smoke. It’s common for people who spend time around crowds to develop infections.
Middle ear infections are not severe but can occur on rare occasions. For instance, the infection can spread to the inner area or the brain’s lining leading to meningitis. Temporary hearing loss is also possible, that is, vertigo which causes the individual to feel dizzy and potentially nauseous.
Are These Infections Dangerous?
A swimmer’s ear is not considered to be dangerous. However, they can have painful repercussions. It’s common for ears to ‘pop’ on a plane due to the high high-pressure level. Ear infection causes more pressure, thus resulting in severe pain and loss of hearing.
Aside from this, the infection may spread, and children could experience repeated infections. Generally speaking, more serious issues will occur when there is an underlying medical condition. For instance, if you or your child has a weakened immune system, then ear infections can and perhaps should be more of a concern. At the very least, you will need to keep an eye on them and take more care to ensure they do not spread.
Signs To Watch Out For In Children
Children between six and eighteen months are at a higher risk of ear infections. If your child is commonly experiencing ear infections around this age, it can lead to developmental to language delays.
As such, you must ensure that you are watching out for the signs of an issue here. If ear infections occur regularly in a child of this age, you must take them to see a doctor so they can get appropriate treatment.
One of the issues is that children during this age are often non-verbal. You might know they are in pain due to their actions or emotions. However, you won’t be able to pinpoint the cause of their pain, and they won’t be able to tell you.
So, how can you identify if your child suffers from an ear infection?
A child can show several different signs that they are suffering from an ear infection. Some of which are:
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A problem with balance makes the child stumble or seems more clumsy.
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Frequent tugging at their ear
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Itching of ear
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Development of fever
Why Are Ear Infections Common In Children?
People may wonder why ear infections are more common in children. Among several reasons, the leading cause is their eustachian tubes, which get clogged with mucus, and are shorter. The horizontal angle also means the connection is far more likely to get infected and clogged.
There are other factors to consider too. For instance, a child born prematurely with Down syndrome or a Cleft palate could be more likely to develop this issue. A pacifier may also be an issue, mainly if you do not keep it clean, as this will spread bacteria. Another reason is that children often lie back while feeding or drinking.
So, how many ear infection symptoms in children are too many? Typically, if a child is experiencing three infections each six months or four conditions within a year, this should be a cause for concern. It is when long-term effects can become an issue and why you must make sure that you visit a doctor as soon as possible.
Symptoms of ear infections
The symptoms of ear infections show very rapidly. You can able to encounter such symptoms quickly. But the good thing is those ear infections eliminates without worrying. The symptoms of ear infections include:
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Ear pain
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Irritability
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Itching
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Fluid coming out from the ear
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Balance problem (in case of a young child)
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Fever
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Sore throat
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Hearing problem
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Fussiness
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Headache
Precautions to prevent ear infections
Use earplugs to avoid loud noise
Nearly 15% of Americans experience hearing loss due to noisy work or recreational environments.
A loud environment where you shout makes your void hearable, for the other person can make dangerous sound levels. To prevent it, use earplugs that are convenient and easy to obtain. Thus you can reduce harmful sound levels and maintain the original sound quality as closely as possible.
Turn volume down
To save your ear, you should avoid the risk of noise-induced hearing loss due to the unsafe use of audio devices. To do that, when you enjoy music through headphones and earbuds, don’t raise the volume by more than 60, and don’t use headphones for more than 60 minutes.
Give time to ear for recovering
When you are in an environment exposed to loud noise for a prolonged period, like in a bar or a concert, your ears need time to recover. If there is the provision, every five minutes, step outside and let your ears take some rest. According to the researchers, our ears need approximately 16 hours to recover from one night of loud sound.
Using cotton swabs can be dangerous
Cotton swabs to clean wax out of ear canal. It is unsafe as inserting anything in the year canal can damage sensitive organs like eardrums. To clean excess wax, you can use a damp towel. You also take the help of an ENT specialist.
Get up and move your body
Like other parts of our body, exercise is good for our ears. When we do exercise, it can regulate blood flow to all aspects of our body, including the ears. Thus, it helps the ears’ internal parts stay healthy and work with maximum potential.
Manage your stress and anxiety level
Our mental and physical health are both internally related. To stay physically fit and healthy, we need to be mentally healthy. Tinnitus, a fictitious ringing in the ear, is connected to temporary and permanent stress and anxiety. So we try to manage the stress and anxiety symptoms.
The use of Nootropics can reduce the symptoms of stress and anxiety. Waklert is an effective Nootropic that the FDA approved to manage the signs of stress. It takes 30 minutes to start acting, and its action can last 12 to 14 hours. However, the use of Waklert 150 mg should be done under the supervision of a doctor.
A Word From Healthmatter
Ear infections are not serious by themselves, but they can have severe complications and cause issues. It’s best to take adequate measures we have mentioned to avoid them where possible.
It will be possible if you keep the ear clean, do not insert any foreign objects inside the ear, practice good hygiene and be careful about public items you are using.
If the symptoms of infection become severe, it is advisable to seek medical help. It is a concern for most children and people with weak immune systems.