Your ear is a special sense organ that helps you to
hear. Your ear is connected to the throat by a tube
called as the eustachian (pronounced as u stay she
un) tube. This tube helps to maintain the air pressure
in the ear. Sometimes, this tube does not work properly.
When you get a cold or have an allergy, this tube may
get blocked and germs may enter into the ear. These
germs then grow inside your ear and cause an infection.
Ear infection is very common in small children below
5 years, as the eustachian tube is small and soft in
them and tends to get blocked easily.
Since the germs tend to grow inside the ear and the
eustachian tube is blocked, the pressure within the
ear increases causing it to pain. The eardrum may also
not move freely and thus you may also have difficulty
in listening. Sometimes the infection may burst through
your eardrum and pus or liquid may come out from the
ear.
If you have an earache or have difficulty in hearing,
go to your doctor. Your doctor will look into your ear
with the help of a special torch. The doctor may also
do an audiogram (pronounced as odd dee o gram),
a special test to check your hearing. Your doctor will
prescribe medicines to cure the infection, which may
have to be taken for 5 10 days. This medicine will
have to be taken for the entire period even if you start
feeling better. If your ear aches severely, your doctor
shall give you pain relieving medicine. A warm water
bottle on the side of the head may also be useful.
The best way to prevent an ear infection is to prevent
getting a cold. There is also a shot now available against
one of the germ that causes ear infections. Your doctor
may give you this shot. And lastly, dont forget, washing
your hands often may be the best shot!!
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