Inner Ear Infection & Treatment

Dr. Michael Burnett Specializes in Problems of the Ear, Nose, Sinuses and Throat.

An ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT) is a physician trained in the medical and surgical treatment of the ears, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck. They have special expertise in managing diseases of the ears, nose and nasal passage sinuses, larynx (voice box), oral cavity and upper pharynx (mouth and throat), as well as structures of the neck and face. ENT is the oldest medical specialty in the United States.

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Are you struggling with ear pain and don’t know whether it’s an inner ear infection or minor injury? If you haven’t considered going to a doctor already, opt for an ENT specialist. ENT specialists know more about ear, nose, and throat infections because that’s what they specialize in. Whether you’re suffering from minor injuries or chronic infections, ENT specialists deal with a number of issues involving the ear, nose, and throat.

Inner Ear Infection & Treatment
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Ear infections can be painful and uncomfortable, considering you are not getting the right treatment at the best possible time. That’s why you must never wait longer than necessary for chronic symptoms to appear if the pain seems to be unusual. Here’s a quick overview of inner ear infection, symptoms, causes, and a few treatment options.

What is an Inner Ear Infection?

There are many different types of ear infections ranging from outer ear infections to middle and inner ear infections. Identifying the cause of your ear infection will help your ENT specialist in choosing the right treatment option.

Often, an inner ear infection refers to the irritation or inflammation of the inner ear parts. The inner parts and highly important areas of the ear are responsible for proper hearing and maintaining conscious balance. So, if irritation and inflammation progress rapidly to become a serious infection, it could lead to potential hearing losses and balance disorders.

In most cases, an infection inside the ear is caused by bacteria or viruses. Check out the most common symptoms of having an inner ear infection due to viruses or bacteria.

Symptoms of Inner Ear Infection

During the initial stages of an ear infection, some people experience little to no symptoms. However, at chronic stages, several inner ear infections exhibit symptoms including:

Balance or walking problem
Spinning sensation or dizziness
Hearing loss
Vomiting and nausea
Ear pain/discomfort
Tinnitus (ringing in the ear)
Feelings of ears being full

Causes of Inner Ear Infection

Ear infections are primarily caused by different types of viruses and bacteria. It’s usually a sign of another illness that leads to inner ear infections. For an inner ear infection to manifest and progress, the viruses responsible for it must be present in the middle ear. Here’re a few illnesses and viruses that cause the problem:

Herpes
Influenza
Cold/Flu
Allergies
Epstein-Barr virus

Available Treatment Options for an Inner Ear Infection

Check out some of the few treatment options that help patients recover effectively from an inner ear infection. Even at chronic stages, some of the most effective treatment options grant substantial relief and comfort.

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Over-The-Counter Medication

OTC medication helps patients get rid of nausea and vomiting symptoms while providing instant relief from headaches and severe migraines as a result of ear infections. However, you must not go for OTC medicines without consulting an ENT specialist.

Anti-Inflammation Medication

Since inflammation is one of the top causes of inner ear infections, your ENT specialist may prescribe anti-inflammation steroids or other OTC medicine to help reduce the ear inflammation and irritation in the inner regions.

Drainage and Surgery

Depending on how severe your case is, your ENT specialist might suggest removing excess ear fluid and bacteria buildup through surgery. Although a lot of evaluation and assessment will take place, surgeries are less common solutions for ear infections.