Ear infection

EAR INFECTION

An ear infection occurs when a bacterial or viral infection affects the middle ear — the sections of your ear just behind the eardrum. Ear infections can be painful because of inflammation and fluid build-up in the middle ear.

CAUSES

An ear infection occurs when one of your eustachian tubes becomes swollen or blocked, causing fluid to build up in your middle ear. Eustachian tubes are small tubes that run from each ear directly to the back of the throat. The causes of eustachian tube blockage include:

• allergies
• colds
• sinus infections
• excess mucus
• smoking
• infected or swollen adenoids (tissue near your tonsils that trap harmful bacteria and viruses)
• changes in air pressure

SYMPTOMS

A few of the common symptoms of ear infections include:

• mild pain or discomfort inside the ear
• a feeling of pressure inside the ear that persists
• fussiness in young infants
• pus-like ear drainage
• hearing loss