Possible Complications of an Ear Infection
By Dr. Monroe
For the most part, people are able to take care of a viral ear infection in just a couple of days. With a bacterial ear infection, a round of antibiotics for a week or so can knock it out. Still, that isn't enough for some people and they have some complications. Chronic pain in the ears can cause a person to lose sleep and to become very irritable. They may start to hear various noises that are annoying, and they are actually coming from inside of the ear.
The accumulation of fluid in the ears can result in other parts of the body being adversely affected. This is why it is so important to take medication until it is gone, not just until you feel better. It is also very important to seek medical care for an ear infection instead of just letting it run its course. The build up of fluid can cause problems for the hearing of an individual. This may be temporary but in some cases it can be permanent.
The more frequently someone suffers from an ear infection, the more likely it is that there will be permanent damage to their hearing. For young children, the lack of being able to hear can also cause them to be delayed in their speech. So much about what we learn about talking comes from hearing others speak. This can also hinder the social development of a child.
Mastoiditis can occur when an ear infection is severe and doesn't respond to treatment. The tissues that are behind the ear in the bony area is what will be affected. It can result in the bone being full of cysts that are going to contain yellowish pus. In some very rare cases, the infection can spread to the tissues of the brain.
In order to reduce the risk of such complications, it is always best to pay attention to the symptoms of an ear infection. Let your doctor know what you have experienced and keep a log of when the ear infections occur to try to identify any triggers.
