Tag: Ear Pain

What Is Chronic Sinus Infection

There are two types of sinus infection. It could be acute or chronic and among the two, more people get afflicted with the chronic sinus infection.

The difference between chronic and acute sinus infection is the fact that this can last for 12 weeks or longer and this can recur once you get better. An acute sinus infection is gone after a week.

Common causes for chronic sinus infection include allergies, airborne fungus, nasal or sinus obstructions, trauma to the face, certain medical conditions and respiratory tract infections.

As a result, some of the symptoms that most people feel include headaches, congestion, difficulty breathing, reduced sense of smell, ear pain, fatigue, cough, nausea, sore throat and aching in the upper jaw or teeth.

Since you probably tried already to self medicate yourself without any positive results, the doctor is your only hope to make it go away.

After reviewing your medical history, some test will need to be done such as an MRI, CT scan, nasal endoscopy, extracting nasal or sinus cultures and an allergy test.

An MRI or CT scan is similar to an X-ray machine because they can show details of your sinus and nasal area without inserting anything into your body.

If this is needed, the doctor will have to do a nasal endoscopy by putting a thin, flexible tube with fiber optic light up your nose to see what is happening inside.

Not many people like that because it is like putting a similar tube up your anus. If possible, they will give a nasal or sinus sample instead so this can be checked.

If your doctor has not yet determined the exact cause of the chronic sinus infection, you may be referred to another specialist especially if he or she suspects that this is caused by an allergy so they can conduct an allergy test.

Once the results come in, the doctor will probably prescribe some antibiotics until you are free of the symptoms. To deal with the inflammation and swelling in the nasal cavity, you will be prescribed a corticosteroid. If this doesnt work, then you will probably try antihistamines, decongestants and expectorants.

The doctor may also try moisture or humidification to help flush the nasal cavity and loosen the dried mucus. Should the chronic sinus infection be caused by an allergy, it can be treated with immunotherapy. A method designed to stimulate the antibodies that block the bodys reactions to a specific allergy.

Chronic sinus infection can be prevented and the steps that you take are not that different when you are suffering from an acute sinus infection. You just have got to practice proper hygiene, get flu shots once a year, stay away from people who have colds as it is a contagious illness, limit your drinking, keep yourself hydrated at all times, buy a humidifier and avoid being in polluted areas or around people who smoke.

Should you already have chronic sinus infection, just follow the instructions of the doctor and update him or her on any progress.

Chronic sinus infection is no joke. Just to give you an idea of how serious it is, over 30 to 40 million Americans get it every year. If you dont want to be another person added to the statistics, do what is needed so you are always healthy.

The Truth About What a Yeast Infection Looks Like

How to Identify a Yeast Infection

At some time in your life, you will probably need to know what a yeast infection looks like. A yeast infection will have different characteristics depending on which body part it has attacked. In most cases, it looks like a patchy red rash that is not raised at all. After a while, this rash can generate pus.

Babies usually get yeast infections in their mouths, where the fungus finds a wet, enclosed space in which to live. This type of yeast infection often resembles a layer of white, milky mucus over a red area of the skin. When the mouth is in this condition, it makes drinking and eating difficult and painful.

Babies and children still in diapers may also develop a yeast infection from the wet, warm environment. The more vigilant you are in changing the diaper, the more likely your child can avoid a yeast infection. Dry clothing is key to keeping yeast infections at bay. The yeast infection on a babys bottom will look similar to the red patches of rash mentioned earlier in the article.

Yeast infections can also occur in the skin between fingers and toes. In this case, it will look red and dry and feel quite irritated. Sweaty socks can often contribute to this problem, so go for socks that provide a looser fit and allow your feet to have some circulation.

When found in the ear, a yeast infection looks like a standard ear infection, causing the ear to look red or swollen. There may be a cottony discharge that comes from the affected ear.

A vaginal yeast infection has to be the most well known type of yeast infection. Up to 75% of many women suffer from this condition at least once in their lives. It is important to know what this kind of yeast infection looks like.

Often, you will notice a red patch of skin that looks inflamed and swollen. The soft tissues surrounding the vagina may also become swollen and irritated. Excessive dryness of the vaginal area is another indicator that you may have a yeast infection.

Other Symptoms of Yeast Infections

Vaginal yeast infections also present with a host of other symptoms. A white, thick discharge will most likely occur; this will look different from the normal discharge a woman experiences when ovulating. It may have an odd smell, which some women compare to the smell of baked bread. You may notice a difference in coloration when discharge is due to a yeast infection.

Yeast infections in the ear can also be identified in children by the affected childs behavior. Often, the child will act fussy due to the ear pain, or repeatedly pull on or rub the infected ear. Children with ear infections usually have trouble sleeping.

Once you are acquainted with what a yeast infection looks like, you can begin treating this condition much more quickly than before. Always consult with a doctor before taking medications, as some medicines can actually cause a future yeast infection to be more resistant to drugs.

Ear Infections in Children

Middle ear infection is a very common problem faced by children. Even infants below two years could face this problem. Infection in the ear is caused by germs and viruses. They enter the human body and grow to cause infection, affecting the normal functioning of the body. Similarly, germs can enter the ears. Depending on the location of infection, the infections are named. The human ear can be divided into the inner part, middle part and outer part. When the outer ear is infected by germs, the infection is known as swimmers ear. When the inner part of the ear gets infected, it is called middle ear infection. The germs infect the middle portion of the ear and fill that area with pus or a yellow gooey liquid. This liquid has cells which fight germs. The middle part of the ear is shaped in the form of a tiny air pocket. It is located at the back of the eardrum. And when the pus begins to fill in this area, the ear feels like a filled balloon which is on the verge of popping. This feeling is really painful.

The throat is connected to the middle portion of the ear through a channel known as Eustachian tube and in fact middle portions of both the ears are connected to the throat by two Eustachian tubes. The job of these tubes is to allow the free movement of air, from the middle ear, in and out direction. Infants below three years have less developed and smaller Eustachian tubes and therefore are less capable of keeping germs completely out of the middle ear. As the child grows, so do the Eustachian tubes and the more capable they are of keeping germs outside, but they still face some problem.

Usually kids, who have allergic problems and catch cold very frequently, are more prone to get ear infections. When the child gets cold, the Eustachian tube gets obstructed which allow germs to get into the middle ear. And the germs which gain entry, multiply rapidly resulting in a middle ear infection.

The child gets a fever along with the ear pain. Some even find it difficult to hear because of the blockage. Middle ear infection is not contagious, but the cold caught from others can eventually result in an ear infection. The sooner the doctor is contacted, the better for the child and the rest of the family members. The doctor will check the ear with the help of an otoscope. It is a special flashlight which makes the eardrum visible. The eardrum is a thin membrane separating the outer ear from the middle ear. The otoscope can also be used to blow a puff of air into the ear. This determines whether the ear drum is functioning normally and is moving in a healthy way or not. Because of the puss formation due to the infection, the fluid will press against the ear drum and may even make it to bulge. Also, the eardrum can turn red because of the infection.

The doctor will prescribe a pain reliever to be taken for the next two days. Antibiotics will be prescribed if the infection is caused because of bacteria, which will end the infection within a couple of days. Incase, the doctor recommends an antibiotic, the cycle must be completed as told by the doctor, otherwise there can be a possibility of re-infection. Few children who get ear infections frequently will have to undergo other tests such as tympanogram and audiogram.

Children can take some steps to avoid ear infection. They must wash their hands regularly. They must keep away from people who are infected with cold. And if they do come near or in contact with an infected person, they should wash their hands and should not touch their eyes or nose. Parents, who smoke, should not do it near the kid as the tobacco smoke can be responsible for the malfunctioning of the Eustachian tube.

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Make A Home Remedy For Ear Pain

When your ear starts to hurt, it is much easier to develop a home remedy for ear pain instead of going to the doctor. It can be a hassle to go to the doctor every time your ear hurts, especially with all of the simple reasons your ear could be in pain. However, before trying any home remedies its a good idea to visit a doctor at least once.

You can use household products that you already have in your home to treat your ear pain. Each cause for the pain might have a different mixture to use, but you will still ultimately get the same pain-free results.

Another advantage to taking care of ear aches using at home remedies is that they are all natural. Rather than putting new chemicals into your body, you can use natural ingredients that you put into your body every day. A home remedy saves you money and keeps you all natural.

Infections in the ear are often caused by fungus, and they can hurt a lot. A simple way to take care of infections of the ear is to use a mixture of vinegar and water. The mixture should have a 50/50 ratio. When the mixture is set, put a couple drops into the ear. Make sure it gets all the way in. Clean it out after a few seconds. The results will vary depending on how long the infection has been there.

For ear pains that have an unknown cause, a hot compress can be a good solution. Hot compresses are good for relieving any type of infection or build up of puss, which are the usual cause of an ear ache. Repeating a hot compress a few times a day will drain the puss and thus remove the pressure.

Another way you can deal with infected ears at home is to use lemon juice. Most bacteria are a base, which is why milk is a base. Mixing an acidic with a base will create a neutral substance instead. A few drops of lemon juice in the infected ear can stop the infection quickly.

You probably have garlic, onion, and olive oil in your kitchen. All of these things work well to relieve the pain of an ear ache right in your own home. Boiling them together in a small amount of water will create an extract you can use to drop into the infected ear.

Hydrogen peroxide is another common household supply that reduces the pain that your ear may be in. A few drops directly in the aggravated ear will clean out what is causing the pain, creating immediate relief.

As you can see, there are many options for treating your ear ache. Whether you are dealing with the pain yourself or someone else in your family is suffering, a home remedy for ear pain may be exactly what you need.

It is important to remember when the ear infection is chronic or the pain persist you should consult your local professional health provider.