Archive for the ‘ear infections’ Category
Normally the eardrum is airtight and watertight. To keep pressure inside and outside the eardrum equal, we have natural “drainage” tubes (the Eustachian tubes) that connect the middle ears (the space behind the eardrum) to the back of the nose and throat. Our ears always produce small amounts of fluid; this normally drains down the Eustachian tubes, and is usually in such a small amount that we don’t even notice it in the throat
Ear infections are one of the most common reasons parents take their children to the doctor. While there are different types of ear infections, the most common is called otitis media, which means an inflammation and infection of the middle ear. The middle ear is located just behind the eardrum.
Otitis media is inflammation of the middle ear. “Otitis” means inflammation of the ear, and “media” means middle. This inflammation often begins with infections that cause sore throats, colds or other respiratory problems, and spreads to the middle ear. These can be caused by viruses or bacteria, and can be acute or chronic.
The middle ear also contains the eustachian (pronounced you-STAY-shun or you-STAY-shee-un) tube, which connects the middle ear to the pharynx (pronounced FAHR-inks). The pharynx is a passageway behind the nose through which air passes into the lungs. The eustachian tube helps maintain an equal air pressure between the middle ear and the outside world.
Symptoms
In Otitis Media, inflammation occurs on that portion of the ear which is directly behind the ear drum. There is discharge of pus into the outer ear. As the condition progresses, the inner ear beomes seriously affected and hearing considerably impaired. There is suppression of middle ear through a perforation of drum. In case of children, supression may start slowly without any reason. If the suppression is left unattended it may result in deafness.
Causes
Bacteria and viruses can cause otitis media. Bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), nontypable Hemophilus influenzae and Moraxella account for about 85% of cases of acute otitis media. Viruses account for the remaining 15%. Affected infants under six weeks of age tend to have infections from a variety of different bacteria in the middle ear.
Ear infections are common in infants and children in part because their eustachian tubes become clogged easily. For each ear, a eustachian tube runs from the middle ear to the back of the throat. Its purpose is to drain fluid and bacteria that normally occurs in the middle ear. If the eustachian tube becomes blocked, fluid can build up and become infected.
Diagnosis
In most cases, if someone is suffering from a cold or sore throat that suddenly gets worse, with ear pain and a fever, then the diagnosis is likely to be otitis media. It is still wise to see a doctor, as he will look into the ear with a special torch known as an otoscope, enabling him/her to see clearly if there is inflammation and/or infection.
There’s no single best approach for treating all middle ear infections. In deciding how to manage your child’s ear infection, a doctor will consider many factors, including:
The type and severity of the ear infection
How often your child has ear infections
How long this infection has lasted
How old your child is
Corwin Brown
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/middle-ear-infection-causes-symptoms-and-diagnosis-428029.html
Ear infections can be extremely uncomfortable for dogs. Many, if not most dogs will suffer from an ear infection at some point in their lives. The majority of these will clear up with some basic veterinary treatment such as an antibacterial ointment, but a proportion will not clear up properly or will seem to clear up and then later recur.
The dogs ear is composed of 3 different parts; inner, middle and outer. The ear drum separates the middle ear from the outer ear. Problems with the inner and middle ear often present with neurological signs such as a loss of balance, circling or a head tilt. In this article we focus on the more common problems associated with the external ear, known as otitis externa.
What makes some dogs more susceptible to ear infections than others?
1. Breed. Ear infections may occur in any breed, but Cocker Spaniels, Shar Peis, Poodles and other floppy eared dogs are the most susceptible. Cocker Spaniels are predisposed to ear infections because they have more secretory glands than other breeds. Sharpeis are predisposed because of the conformation of their ear canal. Poodles are more prone to ear infections because of excessive hair in the ear canal, trapping moisture.
2. Allergies. Many pets with multiple allergies will sometimes have flare ups of eyes, ears and skin at the same time. 25% of food allergic dogs have ear disease as their only symptom.
3. Ear shape. Pets with floppy ears are more prone to ear infections because the air does not dry the ears naturally, as it does for pets with erect ears.
4. Hair. Hair in the ear canals can keep the moisture trapped in the ear canal, which leads to infections. Hair in the ear canals should be removed regularly by your pets groomer or veterinarian.
5. Swimming. Dogs that spend time in water, such as Labrador Retrievers, are more susceptible to ear infections as microorganisms love moist environments.
How can I tell if my dog has an ear infection?
Most ear infections are obvious as there is a pungent odor and waxy discharge in the affected ear. However, sometimes an ear will look perfectly normal from the outside but will be intensely itchy for the dog. Either way, it is best to have a vet examine in the ear to ensure that there are no foreign bodies such as a grass seed stuck in the ear canal. Common signs of an ear infection are:
1. Scratching at the affected ear.
2. Head shaking.
3. Rubbing the affected ear along the floor or against a vertical object such as the sofa.
4. Reddening of the inside of the ear flap and the ear canals.
5. Discharge from the ear canals. This can vary from brown wax to pus.
6. A pungent smell coming from the ear region.
7. Tenderness or irritability when the ear is touched.
My dog has an ear infection, is there any way I can treat it at home without going to the vets?
You are taking a risk if you do not seek veterinary help. Many ear infections are easy to nip in the bud with antibiotic ointment if caught early, but if left to develop can be stubborn to treat. Bear in mind also that if there is something like a grass seed in the ear canal, nothing you can do will provide relief for this, it would need removing under sedation or full general anesthetic. Your vet can look into the canal with an otoscope to visualize the problem and check that the ear drum has nor perforated, and dispense medication that you cannot buy anywhere other than from a vet or with a prescription from a vet. Your vet will also be able to identify any underlying or predisposing factor which can be eradicated, such as allergies, by conducting a full physical examination.
Having said all that, very mild infections can sometimes be cured with home treatment. Firstly, remove any clumps of hair growing in the ear canal by plucking them. This looks painful but actually, there are no nerve endings around the follicles of these hairs so it is not painful to the dog. This will ventilate the ear much better and make it a less attractive environment for bacteria to multiply in. Then, squirt some dog ear cleaner into the canal. Remember that the opening to the ear canal is the furthest hole to the outside. If you do not have any dog ear cleaner then use olive oil as this too will help loosen any wax. Having put some cleaner or olive oil into the canal, massage the ear and pinch the canal until you hear a squelching noise. This means the liquid is being spread around the entire canal, dislodging as much debris as possible. Then, take a ball of dry cotton wool and wipe the opening to the ear canal and inside of the ear flap, in a twisting motion.
The above paragraph describes how to clean your dogs ears effectively. This procedure should be done on a regular basis (e.g. monthly) regardless of whether your dog suffers from ear infections or not; it is a sensible measure to prevent ear infections occurring.
Giving the ears a really thorough clean in this way may in some cases be sufficient to cure a mild ear infection, but if a colony of bacteria or yeast have taken residence in your pets ear canal, you will need treatment to eradicate them. As mentioned before, this is best obtained through your local vet, who will provide you with an antibacterial, antifungal and/or antiparasitic ointment to cover all possible infectious causes. If you are determined to attempt home treatment, then mix 1 part white vinegar with 10 parts cooled boiled water, and flush the ear with a syringe. This needs to be done daily for about 2 weeks, then weekly for about a month. It can only be done on a clean ear as otherwise the wax acts as a shield for the bacteria. The logic behind this treatment is that you are acidifying the ear canal, making the pH unfavorable for bacterial growth.
A minority of ear infections are incredibly difficult to eradicate. Owners and vets often become increasingly frustrated when ear infections do not respond to treatment or keep recurring, with owners questioning the vets treatment protocol and vets wondering whether the owner has been giving the treatment properly. The truth is that some ear infections need radical and aggressive treatment to cure them, such as surgery to remove part of or all of the ear canal or weekly flushing out the ear under general anesthetic. The fact that some dogs are euthanased because of their ear problem means ear infections must be taken seriously by both owner and vet.
Matthew Homfray
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/does-your-dog-suffer-from-ear-infections-82338.html
Many parents have a lack of information when coming to deal with affections their children develop. In most of the cases they get worried over nothing and exaggerate over mild and temporary diseases their children have at some moment in life.
The most frequent problems a child can have are the respiratory affections. They impress the parent with the symptoms these affections give and worry him too much. Some parents are not well informed on respiratory infections for example, and adopt protection measures for their child and other children which are totally not necessary. Quite frequently, parents ask the doctor whether they have to keep their child isolated from other children until the sore throat or ear infection is cured because they believe that the child is very contagious.
The doctor will tell them that sore throats can be caused by a viral or bacterial infection. The virus generally gives the symptoms of a cold like: runny nose, cough or watery eyes, while the sore throat caused by bacteria does not give symptoms which look like those in a cold. A throat infection with bacteria is also known as a strep throat.
The best thing to do in order to give an accurate diagnosis is to test the patient and see exactly who causes the sore throat. It is known that antibiotic drugs can not treat infections caused by viruses and in this case the only thing a doctor can do is treat the pain associated with the sore throat. The human organism will fight the viral infection by its own.
The strep throats are treated with antibiotic drugs. Generally a child who follows a treatment with antibiotics will be able to go to school after 24 hour of treatment as it is considered no longer infectious.
The virus infection of a throat is infectious for others long before the symptoms are visible, so the child can continue to go to school even though he has a viral sore throat.
When talking about ear infections, it is more difficult to see whether they are produced by a virus or a bacterium like in the case of a sore throat. Getting liquid from behind the ear drum is too difficult to be made so testing the patient for an etiology of the disease is hard.
Studies say that up to one third of the ear infections are caused by viruses and they do not need antibiotic treatment. As the doctors can’t find out which patient has a viral ear infection and which has a bacterial ear infection antibiotic treatment will be prescribed to all the patients. The ear infections are not contagious so parents should not keep their children away from the daily activities and from other children.
For more resources on different strep throat subjects check out this link http://www.strep-throat-center.com. You can find great content regarding strep throat in adults, strep throat symptoms, home remedy for strep throat and many more strep throat related issues.
Groshan Fabiola
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/facts-about-sore-throat-and-ear-infections-130866.html
The outer ear, middle ear and the inner ear are the three parts that make up an ear. The one most likely to get an infection is the outer ear. It is reported that about 90% of infections happen in the outer ear.
Infections of the outer ear canal are common among dogs. Dog ear infections, or Otitis Externa, occur frequently in dogs because of the way their ears are designed. The horizontal and vertical components of a dog’s ear make it difficult for particles such as water or debris to drain out.
Signs that Your Dog Has an Ear Infection:
* Your dog is constantly and excessively shaking its head.
* There is yellow to brown discharge in your dog’s ears.
* Your dog’s ears have a yeast-like smell.
* There is redness and swelling on your dog’s infected ear.
Possible Causes of Dog Ear Infection:
Dog ear infections are caused by a variety of things. However, allergies are the typical cause of dog ear infections. If your dog has allergies or is highly susceptible to allergies, your dog is likely to have ear infections.
Water getting into the ears is another common cause of ear infections among dogs. So if your dog likes to swim, it is prone to ear infections. This is because of the way your dog’s ears are designed. When water gets inside your dog’s ears, the water can’t properly drain out. Thus, your dog’s ears become the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and yeast. This doesn’t mean, however, that you shouldn’t allow your dog to swim or play in the water anymore. It just means that you should thoroughly dry your dog’s ears after to prevent ear infections.
Cleaning Your Dog’s Infected Ear:
Regardless of how much you take care of your dog’s well being, your dog will most likely eventually have ear infections. When this happens, you need to know the correct way of cleaning your dog’s ear before putting medication.
1. Put a few drops of ear cleanser into your dog’s infected ear.
2. Next, gently rub or massage the ear to loosen any debris that is stuck in there.
3. Using a soft cloth, gauze or cotton ball, gently scrape and wipe the dirt out of the infected ear.
Medicating Your Dog’s Infected Ear:
After thoroughly cleaning your dog’s infected ear, apply medication according to the veterinarian’s instructions or the instructions found on the label.
Your dog’s veterinarian will prescribe the appropriate treatment based on what has caused your dog’s ear to become infected. For instance, if your dog’s ear infection was caused by a yeast infection, the veterinarian will prescribe an anti-fungal medication. If the infection was caused by a bacteria, your dog will be prescribed antibiotics.
Medications for dog ear infections are typically applied directly into the ears. However, if your dog has a severe ear infection, the veterinarian may prescribe oral treatment. The veterinarian may also clip the hair around your dog’s infected ear to allow more air to circulate in it. Surgery, for reconstructing the ear canal so that it drains better and easier, is the last recourse when topical and oral treatments have failed.
While all dogs are prone to ear infections, those belonging to breeds with large ears that flap over the outer ear canal as well as those breeds of dogs with very small ear canals are most susceptible. As a dog owner, it’s your responsibility to take care of your dog’s well being. Take proper care of your dog’s ears and learn how to detect the early signs of ear infections.
Shannon Lueck
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/causes-signs-and-treatments-for-dog-ear-infections-59170.html
Many people are not informed that there is a new vaccine that prevents ear infections, pneumonia and meningitis. This is the Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.
Kristen Steward from Plainsboro, N.J., is one of the few parents knew about the vaccine and took her children for a snot. She was very impressed about the fact that her children wore not going to suffer of ear infections any more, because she always had to miss from work to take care of them, and they were always suffering when getting such an infection.
There exist 90 different types of Pneumococci and 7 of them are known to affect most frequent the children. The Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is designed to fight the 7 types of pneumoccocus, by helping the body to produce the antibodies needed in stopping this bacterium.
The vaccine has been specially created for children, because they are very susceptible to the bacterium and can easily get infected. There are three shots to be made, at 2, 4, and 6 months of age, and a booster dose taken at 15 months.
Dr. C. Grijalva assistant professor of preventive medicine for Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., studied the impact of this vaccine among children and the conclusions were that the number of ear infections in young children decreased since the Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine appeared.
This vaccine practically saves the patient from using antibiotics, and the parents from skipping work.
The fact that the antibiotics will not be used in such a large number is benefic for everybody, because it will slow the process of antibiotic resistance among Pneumococci.
It seems that the Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is effective on Streptococcus Pneumoniae too, preventing infections caused by it, like pneumonia, which is a dangerous disease especially in children and people who have a weakened immune system.
Dr. Michael Pichichero, professor of pediatrics, medicine and microbiology/immunology at the University of Rochester, said that lately there were registered an increased number of ear infections caused by Haemophilus influenzae. This fact determines the doctors to reconsider the common prescribed antibiotic for ear because those generally used are not useful against Haemophilus influenzae.
Doctors do not know which the cause of every ear infection is and to find out they should perform a ear tap which can be painful and complicated. So, they prescribe an antibiotic for the most likely cause of the infection, but that antibiotic could be a wrong one. Lately, cephalosporins have proved to be effective in most types of ear infections.
This Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is definitely important to be taken, because it can absolve your children from all the suffering and pain they are exposed to when having an ear infection, pneumonia or meningitis, which are dangerous diseases for the babies.
Great resources can be found regarding pneumonia symptoms, pneumonia vaccine and many moreby visiting http://www.pneumonia-center.com/
Groshan Fabiola
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/new-vaccine-prevents-ear-infections-pneumonia-and-meningitis-85242.html
The most widespread purpose for visits to a pediatrician is earache. By the age of three years, more than 70 percent of children will have had at least one episode of earache, and about a third will have had three or more incidents. What you might not know, however, is that earache is also the most common basis for children under the age of five years to be escorted by parents to the chiropractor’s office.
How Chiropractic Care Relates to Earache and Ear Infections
A pediatrician who determines that a child with an earache has a middle ear infection will usually prescribe antibiotics as a typical course of treatment. New study, however, has ascertained that such practices are often ill-advised. Antibiotics are only effective against bacterial pathogens, and since the child’s middle ear infection may be generated by a virus, antibiotics are ineffectual. This may be the explanation for a child’s chronic ear infections.
One of the intentions of a Honolulu chiropractor is to establish whether or not the body’s inability to combat the earache or ear infection is produced by irritation of the small nerves in the spine (called free nerve endings).
An undue tension in the small muscles of the neck is produced when these nerve endings are inflammed. Pressure created on the lymphatic drainage ducts as a consequence of muscle tension can stop adequate drainage from inside the ear. This condition keeps the body from naturally fixing the problem. In addition, balance can also be affected.
Assessment by a chiropractor of such a problem is made by the finding of increased tension in the neck and paraspinal muscles. Generally more tension is felt on the side of earache. In addition, the chiropractor will check to see which spinal vertebrae are either moderately out of alignment or not moving within their normal range. This problem may have been the result of any one of the variety of bangs, jolts and falls that almost all children undergo in the early years of their life. Frequently, a short regimen of spinal adjustments and manipulation of the neck muscles will assist in restoring normal lymph drainage. If your child is experiencing the pain of an earache or an ear infection, call your Honolulu chiropractor as soon as possible.
Advanced Research and Guidelines
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), ear infection, the most prevalent childhood illness after the common cold, accounts for nearly 30 million doctor visits every year. What’s more, at least 6 million courses of antibiotics are extraneously prescribed for the affliction. Recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released new guidelines for treating pediatric ear inflammation, and definitively recommended a period of “watchful waiting” since, in many cases, infections clear up on their own, without medication.
The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) applauds the AAP on the guidelines and emphasizes that chiropractic treatment is a “good first option” for treating ear infection conservatively. “Doctors of chiropractic have been treating children for decades with great success – helping them to avoid painful ear infections, antibiotic overuse and resistance, and ear tube surgery,” said ACA President Donald Krippendorf, DC. “Particularly when dealing with young children, drugs and surgery should be an absolute last resort.”