Ear Infections During Monsoon

Ear infections are a common ailment that people suffer from during the monsoon season. These can infect any part of the ear including the external ear, middle ear and inner ear.

Symptoms of ear infections:

1. Whether it is the outer, middle or inner ear, some of the common symptoms affecting users are:

2. You may feel acute pain in the infected ear.

3. There may be some discharge from the ears.

4. Some people also suffer from decreased hearing Acute infection can also cause dizziness.

5. Along with the ear pain some people may suffer from severe headaches.

6. In case of children, they may cry and refuse to feed as well as constantly tug their ears.

7. Fever can also be a sign of ear infection.

It is important to keep things in mind for preventing ear infections:

1. Keep your ears clean: It is important not to put anything in the ears to clean them- this may cause injuries and infections It is important to clean your outer ears with a clean cloth to avoid a fungal infection while using a hairspray, swimming or if you are out in the rain.

2. Clean earphones once a week to avoid infections of ear canal

3. Avoid putting cotton in your ears: Avoid putting cotton swabs in your ears as it can lead to trapping of bacteria within.

4. Don't ignore a warning sign: If you suffer from any of the symptoms of ear infection it is wise to get tested by an ENT specialist.

Treatment:

An ear infection may need treatments and procedures or in some cases even surgery. The common treatments for ear infections include:

1. Cleaning of the Wax: If there is a wax buildup in your ears, which leads to an infection, a professional cleaning may be required by a doctor under a head light with specialized micro instruments.
2. Ear Drops: Using ear drops can also dissolve the ear wax and clean out the ear infection.

It usually takes a week to clear out an ear infection, but if still doesn't get better it is advisable to consult a medical practitioner. Sometimes ear infections may also require surgeries like Myringotomy, Tympanoplasty or Mastoidectomy, which can be an OPD procedure or might need a day's stay in the hospital.