5 Common Ways to Recognize Ear Infection

An ear infection is a common condition mainly for children but can also affect adults. Many people only relate the condition to children and fail to recognize it when developing in them. Understanding the common symptoms of ear infections in Schaumburg is vital in determining the measures to take at home as you seek a comprehensive evaluation from your doctor. Pain in your ears is a common sign of ear infection, particularly when accompanied by other issues like fever and sore throat. Additionally, there are several ways to tell if you have an ear infection.

Check for Drainage From Your Ear

It is normal for your ear to have some secretion as the eustachian tubes secret fluids from the middle ear. However, the tubes can become inflamed or swollen and may malfunction, causing fluid build-ups that lead to a middle ear infection. Over time, you will witness the accumulated fluid running out of the ear, which might indicate an infection. While the fluid due to an outer ear infection is generally odorless and clear, if you notice a discolored fluid with pus, it can signify that the infection has advanced.

Pain

It is common to say that something is wrong when you experience pain anywhere in your body. Although several factors can contribute to pain in your ear, it can signify that you have an infection, particularly if it is more severe when lying down. You can tell the infected ear, as the pain will increase when you lay or lean on the side of the ear. If you feel more pain when you press on your tragus or pull your ear, it means you have an outer ear infection. But if you experience more pain by pressing the tragus, the infection is on the middle ear.

Watch for Redness and Itching

Always spend some time evaluating yourself in the mirror to note some changes that can tell you about some health complications. An itching ear is one of the early signs of an ear infection, and you should pay attention to it. Also, you can notice if your ear canal appears redder than normal. It would help to ask someone else to observe the redness and compare it with your good ear to detect a problem. Note that the itching and redness will become intense as the infection progresses.

Pay Attention to Your Vision and Balance

An ear infection may cause you to feel dizzy and cause balance issues. You can test this by standing or sitting still in a room looking around your surroundings. If you notice the room appears to be spinning around you, it might indicate vertigo, one of the main symptoms of an ear infection.

Determine If Your Hearing Is Good

You might experience some degree of hearing loss when enduring an ear infection due to clogging. Test this by listening to something with one ear at a time to notice any difference. If your ear is infected, the sounds will not seem muffled and will sound quieter than normal. You might also notice people talking to you complaining that your response has changed, probably because you do not hear well.

Reach out to Exhale Sinus and Facial Pain Center if you suspect or are experiencing the signs of an ear infection. Your provider will evaluate your ear and symptoms to determine the cause of your symptoms and discuss treatment options with you.

Paul Petersen