{"id":6061,"date":"2019-04-30T02:27:16","date_gmt":"2019-04-30T02:27:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=6061"},"modified":"2021-04-01T13:49:03","modified_gmt":"2021-04-01T13:49:03","slug":"14-possible-causes-of-otitis-media","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-possible-causes-of-otitis-media\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Possible Causes of Otitis Media"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Otitis media is an infection of the space behind the eardrum housing the vibrating bones that transfer sound to the inner ear. The condition can occur due to viral or bacterial infection of the ear, resulting in symptoms of earache, pain, fever, chills, vertigo, and a loss of balance. Otitis media infections occur more commonly in children than in adults, and the symptoms can be far more severe in kids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With otitis media, fluids begin to build in the hollow space behind the eardrums. Bacterial infections causing otitis media are typically aggressive and require treatment with antibiotics to clear the infection. However, cases of viral otitis media usually go away on their own in a few days, without the assistance of drugs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many causes of viral and bacterial otitis media infection. Here are eight causes of middle ear infection and how you can prevent your family from receiving the virus or bacteria that cause the condition.
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1.    Swimming in Polluted Water<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As the summertime approaches, family\u2019s start to plan their vacations. Many choose to visit places close to large bodies of water, such as lakes or the ocean. Swimming in the sea is plenty of fun, but it presents health hazards to the uninformed \u2013 particularly after a rainstorm. When the seasonal rains start, they wash all of the feces and other toxins <\/a>\u2013 such as fuel and oil off of the streets and into the sea. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, the family on vacation may end up sharing the water with numerous strains of infectious bacteria and viruses. When water traps in the ear, the person may become infected with a pathogen, resulting in a case of otitis media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People swimming in any body of water fed by a river or sewage system may unknowingly expose themselves or their family members to infection. In most cases, these types of infections take a few hours to start to display symptoms of pain and discomfort associated with a middle ear infection.
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2.    Infection of the Eustachian Tubes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Eustachian tubes connect the back of the throat with the middle ear. Their purpose is to drain fluids from the middle ear, letting them flow down the throat into the gut where your biomes deal with the flushed particles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People with otitis media <\/a>may notice that they start to develop a sore throat. This infection occurs due to the virus or bacteria leaking into the Eustachian tubes from the middle ear, creating symptoms of swelling and inflammation that flow into the throat. In some cases, the infection may lead to the development of strep throat due to Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Viral infection of the middle ear rarely causes this complication, but bacterial infections almost always induce a sore throat along with symptoms of earache \u2013 especially in cases of water-borne viruses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A blockage of the Eustachian tubes due to a buildup of fluid or pus in the middle ear can also cause symptoms of pain and discomfort in the ear and throat as well.
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3.    Viral Infection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Otitis media occurs due to bacterial or viral infection<\/a> of the middle ear. Viral infections present similar symptoms to bacterial infections, but they are not as persistent as the bacterial type, and most cases clear up on their own, without the need for medical intervention. In some cases, viral infections can pave the way for a more serious bacterial infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rhinovirus is an example of a virus that\u2019s responsible for the development of the common cold, and medical science identified this virus as a leading cause of otitis media as well. Rhinovirus causes inflammation and swelling in the membranes of the airways, resulting in a disruption of breathing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should the virus find its way into the throat, it may start to migrate up the Eustachian tube that connects to the middle ear, causing a blockage that leads to the buildup of fluids and pus in the space behind the eardrum \u2013 leading to the onset of otitis media.
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4.    Bacterial Infection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bacterial middle ear infections are far more severe in the intensity of symptoms and the duration. While viral otitis media typically start to fade away by itself after 48 to 72-hours, bacterial infections to this region of the body can persist for weeks, and lead to some unsavory complications for the infected individual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the strains responsible for causing otitis media include;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Streptococcus pneumoniae<\/a> \u2014 Responsible for between 40 to 80-percent of all middle ear infections. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Haemophilus influenza \u2014 The second leading cause of otitis media accounting for 20 to 30-percent of all cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moraxella catarrhalis \u2014 A less common strain, responsible for 10 to 20-percent of all middle ear infections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes \u2013 these bacteria are the outliers for causing otitis media infection, but there are cases involving this bacteria, especially when it migrates from the throat through the Eustachian tube.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctors will treat bacterial infections using antibiotics, and the patient should make a full recovery without any lasting damage to the ear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5.    Weakened Immune System<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The immune system<\/a> is the body\u2019s defense against invading bacteria and viruses. When the body experiences an infection, the brain tells the immune system to produce antibodies to fight off the incoming threat. At the same time, the immune system ramps up the production of white blood cells to destroy the virus or bacteria causing the infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, people with damaged or weakened immune systems cannot successfully fend off the virus or bacteria, resulting in persistent infection, and increased susceptibility to developing otitis media. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since ear infections occur mainly due to bacterial or viral infection, the person may come in contact with an infected individual, and the pathogen jumps from the infected person to the new host through means of touching the skin \u2013 such as a handshake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People with weakened immune systems need to increase the strength and health of their immune response by consuming probiotic supplements alongside a healthy diet that\u2019s rich in prebiotic fiber.
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6.    Earwax<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Earwax<\/a>, otherwise known by its medical term, \u201ccerumen,\u201d is responsible for trapping dirt and particles which may enter the ear and cause infection. We all know that we need to clean our ears from an excessive earwax buildup, but many people don\u2019t know how to do the task correctly using an earbud. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, the patient may end up compacting wax inside the ear, resulting in a wax blockage. As a result of the obstruction, the affected individual begins to notice a buildup of fluid and pus in the middle ear, resulting in a case of otitis media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whenever you clean your ears, make sure that you don\u2019t go too deep into the ear canal with the earbud. Compacting the wax is a relatively easy thing to do, and that\u2019s the primary reason why most doctors will recommend that you don\u2019t clean your ears any further than the outer ear.
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7.    Ear Damage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While viral and bacterial infections are the most common cause of otitis media infection in children and adults, the condition can also occur due to damage or trauma <\/a>to the ear. Injuries to the thin layer of skin lining the ear canal may result in inflammation that leads to a blockage \u2013 which inevitably occurs in a middle ear infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other activities that may cause damage to this lining are wearing in-ear earphones or patients that receive trauma to the ear, due to impact or some other blunt-force trauma. These patients may experience a perforation of the eardrum, resulting in otitis media. However, people with this type of injury will most likely already be dealing with symptoms of pain from their injury, making it hard to discern between the pain from the trauma, and the infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should you experience trauma to the ear, its best to have the problem looked at by a doctor after the initial swelling symptoms start to subside.
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8.    Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Smoking <\/a>is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Considering almost half a million Americans perish each year as a result of smoking-related illness, it\u2019s surprising that so many people persist with the habit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smoking not only adversely affects your lungs, but it has a detrimental effect on every organ and biological system in the body \u2013 including the ears. People who smoke may experience early-onset hearing loss from exposure to the toxins in cigarette smoke. Smokers are also at risk of developing middle ear infections as a result of their habit as well. The toxins in cigarette smoke inhaled into the lungs may lodge themselves in the throat, migrating up the Eustachian tubes, causing inflammation and blockage that leads to the buildup of pus and fluids in the middle ear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stopping smoking is the best way to extend your longevity and avoid otitis media, as well as a host of severe health complications in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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