According to the National Health Service-NHS, ear infections are very common, particularly in children. If you feel weak, find it difficult to hear, or develop a discharge running out of the ear, you may have an infection. It can also be a feeling of pressure or fullness inside the ear, itching and irritation in and around the ear or scaly skin in and around the ear.

Dr Aaron Gasore, an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist at Rwamagana Provincial Hospital, says that an ear infection, commonly known in medical terms as ‘Otitis’ is a condition that can cause inflammation in the ear.

He says, depending on the location of the infection, when the inflammation is in external ear (the part of the ear from the pinna to the ear drum), the infection is called otitis externa and when in the middle ear (a part of the ear located behind the ear drum) is affected, it is called otitis media.

He says that this condition is associated with pain, fever, pus discharge and hearing impairment and is more common in children than adults.

Gasore says that symptoms and signs of an ear infection in infants and young children, could be fever, ear pain causing the child to cry, pulling on the ear or rubbing ears, and irritability.

He adds that little ones can also experience poor appetite, difficulty in sleeping, vomiting and or diarrhea. And in older children and adults, symptoms often include ear pain or temporary hearing loss.

Causes

"A middle ear infection may be caused by bacteria, like Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae (the two most common bacterial causes). Viruses, like those that cause cold or flu also contribute to ear infections,” Gasore notes.

He says that if you think you or your child has an ear infection, go and see a doctor. You should be able to tell if your child has an ear infection because the doctor will ask about symptoms to do a proper ear exam.

What to do before consulting a doctor?

Gasore says that to reduce pain and fever, paracetamol or ibuprofen is advisable. For children younger than six months, he advises only giving them acetaminophen.

"With children who are six months or older, give them acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Never give aspirin to children because it can cause Reye’s syndrome, a rare but very serious illness that harms the liver and brain,” he says.

Treatment

Gasore notes that after a proper clinical exam and possible laboratory tests, your doctor will tell you what to do, and he or she may prescribe appropriate medicine according to the condition of the ear infection, and tell you how to use it.

Complications

Gasore also points out that untreated acute otitis media infection can spread to adjacent structures in the ear, temporal bone or in the brain and lead to serious even fatal complications like hearing loss, balance and motor problems, tympanic membrane perforation, chronic suppurative otitis media, mastoiditis, meningitis, brain abscess, and others.

Prevention

According to Gasore, you can prevent ear infections by doing your best to stay healthy and receive recommended vaccines. Pneumococcal vaccine protects against a common cause of middle ear infections and Streptococcus pneumonia. He also urges women to breastfeed exclusively until the baby is six months old and continue to breastfeed for at least 12 months. Don’t smoke and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke.

The National Health Service states that do not put anything inside your ear to remove earwax, such as cotton buds or your finger, and warns against letting water or shampoo get in your ear. He discourages use of decongestants or antihistamines as there is no evidence they help with ear infection.