“May all be happy, may all be healed, may all be at peace and may no one ever suffer."
An ear infection, also known as otitis media, is an infection that affects the middle ear, which is the space behind the eardrum that contains the small bones that transmit sound from the eardrum to the inner ear. Ear infections can occur in one or both ears and are usually caused by bacteria or viruses.
Symptoms of an ear infection may include ear pain, difficulty hearing, a feeling of fullness in the ear, fever, and sometimes drainage from the ear. In young children, symptoms may also include pulling or tugging at the ear, fussiness, and difficulty sleeping.
Treatment for an ear infection depends on the severity of the infection and may include antibiotics, pain relievers, and sometimes prescription ear drops. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to drain fluid from the middle ear or to insert small tubes into the ears to help ventilate the area and prevent future infections.
To prevent ear infections, it is important to practice good hygiene, such as washing hands regularly and avoiding exposure to people who are sick. Breastfeeding infants for the first six months of life has also been shown to help reduce the risk of ear infections.