Most Common Ear Infection Symptoms
Ear infections are a nuisance to have, but they also require prompt treatment to prevent any complications. However, detecting whether or not you have an actual ear infection can be tricky. The symptoms can vary quite a bit depending on a person’s age, as adults may present different complaints than children do. To help you determine whether yourself or your child has an ear infection, here are a few of the most common symptoms and how to identify them:
Ear Discharge
Ears typically don’t produce any discharge aside from earwax. If you notice any unusual discharge or blood coming from the ear, then an infection may be to blame. Typically, an infection of the middle ear is what causes discharge aside from earwax. It is also possible that the symptoms are related to swimmer’s ear rather than an infection, which usually still requires some medical attention for relief.
Loss of Hearing
The sudden loss of hearing is a startling symptom for patients to experience. If the hearing is affected in one or both ears, seek medical help for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. If left untreated, the infection can have long-term effects on the patient’s hearing.
Earache
An earache is one of the most obvious symptoms of an ear infection. Earaches can manifest as dull and persistent aching, or extend to very sharp “stabbing” pain. Adults are more aware of the pain and can communicate it to a doctor, but earaches in children may result in poor sleep and tugging on the infected ear.
Ringing Noise in the Ear
It may seem harmless, but ringing in the ear is a common infection symptom for many patients. More often than not, ringing indicates an infection of the inner ear, with bothersome symptoms like nausea and vomiting. Anyone who thinks they may have an inner ear infection should be treated immediately, as they can be more complicated than middle ear infections.
Headache
Headaches are extremely common and can be a symptom of many things or nothing at all. However, paired with any of the other ear infection symptoms, it may be another sign of a problem in the ear. If your headache is severe, it could indicate something called mastoiditis: A serious complication of an untreated middle ear infection. However, if you experience frequent headaches, difficulties breathing through the nose, and persistent cold-like symptoms, nasal obstruction is a likely culprit.
Fever
Fevers are common accompaniments of most infections, ear infections included. It is essential to monitor the fever and make sure that it isn’t going up. If the fever doesn’t improve, and the ear pain persists, see a doctor immediately to start a treatment plan for the infection.
If you or your child is experiencing any ear discomfort, come see Dr. James Rockwell, MD. Dr. Rockwell is an esteemed Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor with over 25 years of clinical experience. Our clinic is located in Seattle, Washington, with top-of-the-line equipment in our medical office. Dr. Rockwell can help diagnose and treat your ear infection and perform surgery when needed.
Call and make an appointment today!