Bird flu’s ‘low risk’ to public, experts say. Here’s how to avoid it.
Despite a number of farmworkers catching bird flu across the U.S., experts say there’s low risk to the general public with a few exceptions.
An ear infection can present as a dull, persistent ache, and is sometimes accompanied by pressure, discharge, itching, fever or muffled hearing. In more severe cases, the pain can be sudden, sharp and dire enough to feel like a medical emergency.
Ear infections are especially common in babies and toddlers, who are less able to communicate or tolerate discomfort compared to older children or adults. In fact, ear infections are so prevalent among children that five out of six kids will experience at least one before their third birthday, according to the U.S. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communicable Disorders.
Here’s what causes ear infections and how they are most commonly treated.
What causes an ear infection?
“Viruses and bacteria cause the majority of ear infections,” says Dr. David Levine, pediatrician and Chief of Ambulatory Pediatrics at the Atlantic Health System’s Goryeb Children’s Hospital in New Jersey. But the specific cause often depends on where the infection is occurring within the ear.
- Middle ear infections, also known as acute otitis media (AOM), occur in the air-filled space behind the eardrum and are the most common type of ear infections among children. These infections are typically caused by bacterial buildup resulting from earwax blockage, a cold or upper respiratory infections. These conditions can inflame or block the Eustachian tube, the canal connecting the middle ear to the back of the throat, thereby trapping air and creating negative pressure. “This pressure can create a small vacuum,” explains Dr. Nicholas Deep, an otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat specialist) at Mayo Clinic. “That suction pulls fluid from surrounding tissue and creates an ideal environment for bacteria or viruses to build up, especially if germs from the original respiratory infection travel up the Eustachian tube.”
- Otitis media with effusion (OME) similarly involves fluid and pressure buildup in the middle ear, but without enough bacterial presence to cause a full-blown infection. While OME can still be uncomfortable, it typically does not involve fever, pus-like discharge or the acute pain associated with AOM.
- Outer ear infections, or acute otitis externa, are often caused by excessive moisture in the ear canal, commonly from showering or swimming, hence the nickname “swimmer’s ear.” A moist environment can promote bacterial or fungal growth, especially if the protective earwax barrier and skin surface are compromised. “Bacteria can then enter deeper structures in the ear canal,” explains Dr. Michelle Soto, Medical Director of Ambulatory Care at NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx. Outer ear infections may also result from trauma to the skin from scratching or inserting objects like cotton swabs into the ear canal.
Is an ear infection contagious?
Given how painful they can be, it’s natural to want to avoid ear infections. Keeping ears clean and dry and practicing good hygiene by washing hands frequently can be helpful. So can avoiding inserting objects into the ear, including cotton swabs, and staying up-to-date on vaccines. Getting vaccinated against the pathogens and viruses that commonly lead to ear infections such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, the adenovirus, RSV and the flu virus can be especially protective.
However, avoiding someone with an ear infection won’t necessarily keep you safe. “Ear infections are not considered contagious,” says Soto. In other words, the infection itself can’t be passed from person to person. Still, “the respiratory virus that triggered the ear infection still can be,” cautions Deep. “So while you can’t catch an ear infection directly, you can catch the virus that may lead to one.”
How to get rid of an ear infection
Treatment options vary depending on the kind of ear infection one has and how severe it has become. Outer ear infections, for instance, are typically treated with antibiotic ear drops and by keeping the ear dry during recovery. “If the ear canal is very swollen, a small, sponge-like wick may be placed inside to help the medication reach deeper and reduce swelling more effectively,” says Deep.
Most middle ear infections “resolve on their own with time, but sometimes require oral antibiotics,” says Levine. In more severe cases, “a topical steroid or an acidifying agent may be used,” says Soto. Pain can often be managed with over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Warm or cold compresses, or alternating between the two, can also provide relief. Numbing ear drops may help ease discomfort as well.
Once an ear infection has cleared, it usually does not return frequently. “But if infections keep coming back,” Depp advises, “it’s important to consult with an ear, nose and throat specialist to rule out any underlying structural or medical conditions that could be contributing.”
