If you or someone you love has ever had an ear infection, you know they can sometimes be quite painful and debilitating. Whether you or a family member needs us during the day, after hours, or on weekends, the medical professionals at IEP Urgent Care can quickly diagnose, treat, and cure an ear infection.
“Ear infections start in the middle part of the ear, causing the tubes in this area to become swollen and blocked,” said Dr. Dan Heinen, IEP Emergency Physician. “Sometimes, they clear up on their own, but other times they can become quite painful and should be treated quickly with antibiotics.”
A cold, flu, allergy, swimming, or anything else that clogs up this middle ear area can lead to an ear infection. Children tend to get ear infections more than adults and some of us are more prone to ear infections than others. As summarized by Dr. Heinen, symptoms of an ear infection with children include:
Ear pain (especially when lying down)
Tugging or pulling at an ear, trouble sleeping
Crying more than usual, fussiness, trouble hearing or responding to sounds
Loss of balance
Fever of 100 F or higher
Drainage of fluid from the ear, headache
Adults experiencing any of these symptoms likely have an ear infection and should seek medical care right away. Your best strategy for avoiding an ear infection is to keep your ear canals clean and dry at all times. If you are sick and feel "clogged up", consider using a nasal irrigation system to keep your ear canals from getting backed up and infected. Not smoking, eating a healthy diet, and of course, practicing good hygiene by carefully cleaning and drying all areas of your ear are your best defense against getting an ear infection.