Ear infections are prevalent childhood illnesses — over 83% of children have at least one ear infection by the time they’re three years old. At Andros ENT & Sleep Center in Inver Grove Heights and Roseville, Minnesota, Inell Rosario, MD, diagnoses and treats ear infections to relieve you or your child’s symptoms and restore their health. Call Andros ENT & Sleep Center, or schedule an appointment online today.
Ear infections occur in your middle ear when a virus or bacteria causes inflammation and fluid build-up behind your eardrum. Ear infections are most common in children, although you can have an ear infection at any age.
Otitis media, a middle-ear infection, is the most common type of ear infection. It occurs when tissues in the middle ear become inflamed due to a viral or bacterial infection.
Ear infections develop when something blocks your eustachian tubes, and fluid can’t drain correctly. Some of the common causes of eustachian tube blockage include:
The illness is more common in children because their eustachian tubes are shorter and narrower than adults.
Ear infections cause pain and pressure inside the ear and hearing loss. Other symptoms include:
You might also develop a fever as your body works to fight off the infection.
If you or your child have severe ear pain or related symptoms lasting for longer than a day, you should contact Andros ENT & Sleep Center.
Dr. Rosario provides comprehensive exams and testing to diagnose ear infections. she looks into your ears, checking for redness, air bubbles, or any pus-like fluid, and for eardrum perforation, building, or collapse.
Dr. Rosario usually takes a sample of fluid from inside the ear to identify the cause of the infection and help develop your treatment plan.
Andros ENT & Sleep Center provides customized treatment for ear infections. They may prescribe medication and ear drops to relieve inflammation and help fight off the infection. Dr. Rosario might also recommend a decongestant or over-the-counter anti-inflammatory to alleviate your symptoms.
However, if your child has frequent or chronic ear infections, Dr. Rosario may recommend more invasive treatment. Depending on your child’s needs, she might recommend ear tube surgery, in which a tiny tube is inserted into the eardrum to help with drainage, or surgery to remove enlarged adenoids.
If you or your child has ear infection symptoms, call Andros ENT & Sleep Center or make an appointment online today for expert diagnosis and treatment.
