Your Ear: Don’t ignore itching, persistent pain
May 16, 2010
A few days ago, I left work for home with a slight itch in my left ear. I thought it was another minor irritation that would soon pass. But I was wrong. At home, the itching developed into a piercing pain.
By Frederick Womakuyu
A few days ago, I left work for home with a slight itch in my left ear. I thought it was another minor irritation that would soon pass. But I was wrong. At home, the itching developed into a piercing pain.
Soon, I started having problems hearing. Desperate to rid myself of the discomfort, I dropped a little water there, hoping that any foreign object stuck in there would float out. Later, I cleaned the ear with cotton swabs, but this only made the problem worse. The pain intensified.
At night, I tossed and turned in bed
unable to sleep. In the morning, I decided to seek medical help. At the health facility, the doctor told me I had a bacterial infection. Dr. Ian Clark of International Hospital Kampala, says many people ignore pain in the ear, yet it might point to something serious like injury or the presence of a foreign body in the ear.
When the pain persists, Clark says, it
may be a sign of a serious infection. He says the common causes of pain in the ear is otitis media, which is caused by a virus or bacteria. It mainly attacks the eustachian tube causing a red swelling or inflammation.
The eustachian tube connects the
inner ear to the nasal passages so as to
drain fluid from the ears and regulate
the pressure between the outside and
the inside of the ear.
“When the fluid builds up in the
eustachian tube, infection is likely.†Clark says the infection is common in children because they have a shorter eustachian tube and are, therefore, prone to colds, which accelerate infection.
He adds that children also have
low immunity, and are at high risk of
infection. He says 75% of children experience at least one episode of otitis media by their third birthday. Almost half of these children have three or more ear
infections during their first three years.
Causes
Dr Emmanuel Tenywa of the World
Health Organisation, says there are
many situations under which ear infection can occur. He explains that a cold can cause a fluid build up and infection in the eustachian tube. He adds that post-natal drips also contribute to the problem.
Tenywa says, unlike children, adults
do not necessarily have to catch a cold
to get an ear infection. “The infection is caused by mucous from the nasal cavity being blown into the eustachian tubes by blowing the nose or not cleaning the ear well,†he says.
He adds: “During swimming or bathing, water may enter the ear and
become an agent for the growth of the
infection. Such an infection can be life
threatening.â€
But Julius Monday of the Medical
Faculty of Mbarara University of Science and Technology, says children
who miss out on immunisation during childhood are prone to ear infections in the later stages of their lives.
“Many people often get ear infections
when wax accumulates in their
ears. But while cleaning the ear with cotton swabs helps remove the wax,
some people use sharp objects like finger nails,†Monday says.
“This could cause injuries to the inner ear creating favourable conditions for the infection.†Clark says ear infections in children can sometimes be confused with malaria, since the symptoms also include high temperature, fever and dizziness.
In adults, he says, ear infections
come with fever, ear pain, loss of hearing, irritability, difficulty in sleeping,
loss of balance, hearing and discharge
from the ear.
But Monday says if not detected and
treated early, the infection may spread to the brain, causing meningitis. “Even after treatment, there may be a permanent discharge from the ear,†he warns.
Treatment
Monday says while all ear infections are
treatable, viral infections are particularly
difficult to treat and may require a
myringotomy (a minor surgery where a
small plastic tube is inserted into the
eardrum to relieve the pressure of the
infection)
Prevention
Cleaning the ears with cotton swabs after bathing.
Take children to an ear doctor to be checked three times a year
Clark says nasal sprays flush out
bacteria and pollutants
Chewing gum containing xylitol, which helps loosen and relieve pressure in the ear
Taking children for immunisation
Not allowing your child to crawl in
dirty places
A few days ago, I left work for home with a slight itch in my left ear. I thought it was another minor irritation that would soon pass. But I was wrong. At home, the itching developed into a piercing pain.
Soon, I started having problems hearing. Desperate to rid myself of the discomfort, I dropped a little water there, hoping that any foreign object stuck in there would float out. Later, I cleaned the ear with cotton swabs, but this only made the problem worse. The pain intensified.
At night, I tossed and turned in bed
unable to sleep. In the morning, I decided to seek medical help. At the health facility, the doctor told me I had a bacterial infection. Dr. Ian Clark of International Hospital Kampala, says many people ignore pain in the ear, yet it might point to something serious like injury or the presence of a foreign body in the ear.
When the pain persists, Clark says, it
may be a sign of a serious infection. He says the common causes of pain in the ear is otitis media, which is caused by a virus or bacteria. It mainly attacks the eustachian tube causing a red swelling or inflammation.
The eustachian tube connects the
inner ear to the nasal passages so as to
drain fluid from the ears and regulate
the pressure between the outside and
the inside of the ear.
“When the fluid builds up in the
eustachian tube, infection is likely.†Clark says the infection is common in children because they have a shorter eustachian tube and are, therefore, prone to colds, which accelerate infection.
He adds that children also have
low immunity, and are at high risk of
infection. He says 75% of children experience at least one episode of otitis media by their third birthday. Almost half of these children have three or more ear
infections during their first three years.
Causes
Dr Emmanuel Tenywa of the World
Health Organisation, says there are
many situations under which ear infection can occur. He explains that a cold can cause a fluid build up and infection in the eustachian tube. He adds that post-natal drips also contribute to the problem.
Tenywa says, unlike children, adults
do not necessarily have to catch a cold
to get an ear infection. “The infection is caused by mucous from the nasal cavity being blown into the eustachian tubes by blowing the nose or not cleaning the ear well,†he says.
He adds: “During swimming or bathing, water may enter the ear and
become an agent for the growth of the
infection. Such an infection can be life
threatening.â€
But Julius Monday of the Medical
Faculty of Mbarara University of Science and Technology, says children
who miss out on immunisation during childhood are prone to ear infections in the later stages of their lives.
“Many people often get ear infections
when wax accumulates in their
ears. But while cleaning the ear with cotton swabs helps remove the wax,
some people use sharp objects like finger nails,†Monday says.
“This could cause injuries to the inner ear creating favourable conditions for the infection.†Clark says ear infections in children can sometimes be confused with malaria, since the symptoms also include high temperature, fever and dizziness.
In adults, he says, ear infections
come with fever, ear pain, loss of hearing, irritability, difficulty in sleeping,
loss of balance, hearing and discharge
from the ear.
But Monday says if not detected and
treated early, the infection may spread to the brain, causing meningitis. “Even after treatment, there may be a permanent discharge from the ear,†he warns.
Treatment
Monday says while all ear infections are
treatable, viral infections are particularly
difficult to treat and may require a
myringotomy (a minor surgery where a
small plastic tube is inserted into the
eardrum to relieve the pressure of the
infection)
Prevention
Cleaning the ears with cotton swabs after bathing.
Take children to an ear doctor to be checked three times a year
Clark says nasal sprays flush out
bacteria and pollutants
Chewing gum containing xylitol, which helps loosen and relieve pressure in the ear
Taking children for immunisation
Not allowing your child to crawl in
dirty places