What is Adult Ear Infection?

Adult Ear Infection

Though adults are not affected as frequently as children, it is important for adults to be aware of how adult ear infection can affect them. Adult ear infection is caused by infection in the Eustachian tube, near the inner ear. The Eustachian tube connects the inner ear to the nasal passages in order to drain fluid from the ears and equalize pressure between outside and inside of the body, but when fluid or mucous builds up in the Eustachian tube, it is an easy target for infection.

Strain

There are many situations in which adult ear infection can surface. A cold can cause fluid build up and infection in the Eustachian tube. Post nasal drip may also contribute. An adult does not necessarily need to be sick to get adult ear infection. Often, the infection is caused by mucous being blown into the Eustachian tubes by blowing the nose or failing to clean the liquid out of the ear with a cotton swab after showering.

In one of every four cases in children, ear infection is not caused by a bacterial infection but by a viral infection. Viruses often cause adult ear infection as well. Viral infections are much more difficult to eliminate.

Adult Ear Infection Complications

However adult ear infections are contracted there are complications to be aware of. If these complications are caught early, the infection can be more easily dealt with. Complications associated with adult ear infection include fluid in the ear, pressure, and pain.

Part of the reason for the pressure and pain is that the tissue in the inner ear swells due to infection or trapped fluid. Often, the adenoids also swell due to infection. The swelling pushes into the ear.

Other complications include temporary hearing loss. The sound is obstructed due to the swelling, but no damage is actually done to the inner ear when the infection is treated. Even after the pressure is relieved and the infection has subsided, fluid may build up permanently in parts of the ear.

Adult Ear Infection Treatments

Whether bacterial or viral, adult ear infection may be treated and any buildup removed. With bacterial infections, antibiotics are necessary. Fortunately, bacterial infections can be very simple to treat.

Viral infections are more complicated to treat and may necessitate a myringotomy, which is a minor surgery in which a small plastic tube is inserted into the eardrum. This acts as a vent to relieve the pressure of the buildup or infection. It also drains the fluid remaining in the ear. This little tube is not permanent; it falls out automatically after a short time.

If the adenoids have caused the build up and the infections in the ear, they may need to be removed. They are just like tonsils in that they aren't necessary and can easily be removed without complications.

Adult Ear Infection Prevention

Prevention of adult ear infection is simple. Nasal spray flushes out bacteria and pollutants which could cause build up and infection. Even allergens can be washed out. The important element necessary in effective nasal spray is xylitol, which naturally repels bacteria before it has a chance to settle into the nasal tissue.

Chewing gum containing xylitol may also loosen and relieve pressure in the ear while at the same time releasing xylitol into the mouth and throat and preventing bacteria to move up to the nasal passages and into the ear. Studies have proven the use of xylitol-rich gum reduces the risk of ear infection.

What is Adult Ear Infection?

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How A C.Diff Infection Is Caused

A C.diff Infection occurs when the c.diff micro-organism grows out of control in the gastronintestinal tract (GI).

Ordinarily this kind of micro-organism is harmless and actually helps in the digestion of food and nutrients. As such, we all have micro-organisms have them in our bodies and c.diff can be present in around 3% of healthy adults.

Strain

But, a C.Diff Infection occurs when the c.diff micro-organism begins to grow out of control resulting in severe infectious diarrhea and inflammation of the large intestine. This can happen to hospitalised people and the presence of c.diff in hospitalised adults is ten times higher (up to 30%) than in ordinarily healthy adults.

A C.Diff Infection is by far the most common cause of diarrhea found in hospital patients.

Why Patients Hospital Patients Are Especially Susceptible

Basically, a C.Diff Infection occurs when a bodies preventative bacteria is not strong enough to stop the c.diff from outgrowing the GI tract. This happens for a number of reasons:

o A long stay in hospital. The potential for c.diff spreading in a clinical environment is very high and combined with the stress a patient will be under and the illness weakened body a hospital patient is a prime candidate for C.Diff Infection.

o Age. C.diff is an infectious disease and as in all diseases of this type the elderly are much more susceptible because their immune systems are weak, especially when hospitalised.

o Illness. Any serious or constant illness will weaken the bodies immune system and increase the risk of a hospital patient being infected.

o Antibiotics. A very real risk to a patient in a hospital environment can be posed by antibiotics. Because antibiotics can kill the bacteria which controls the growth of c.diff a patient becomes susceptible to a C.Diff Infection.

Unfortunately, a C.Diff Infection can spread very quickly and it is not easily killed by cleaning agents that most hospitals will use. C.diff forms spores which infected people can transfer by contact with each other and surfaces and those spores can live for up to five months.

It is because of the high degree of infection that c.diff poses such a threat to hospitals and the patients in their care.

The unfortunate truth about a C.diff Infection is that it is very hard to treat and treatment can last for several months. The evolvement of a new and more viral strain of c.diff which is resistant to treatment can be fatal and it is this strain of the disease which is proving so difficult for our hospitals to control.

Some antibiotics can be used in the treatment of the disease including Flagyl. Flagyl is the most common treatment and is usually taken in tablet form and is a Metronidazole is used to treat bacterial or protozoal infections.

Vancomycin is a stronger drug than Flagyl and is used to try and combat the more serious strains of C.Diff. Taken orally Vancomycin is a parenteral glycopeptide antibiotic and is a drug which has recently been improved during the manufacturing process to increase its purity and effectiveness against the stronger strains of c.diff.

Surprisingly simply washing hands is the best way to prevent the spread of a C.diff Infection although the usual alcohol based hand cleansers are not effective in preventing the spread of c.diff.

How A C.Diff Infection Is Caused

Craig Ellyard writes extensively about hospital acquired diseases. For more information on C.Diff Infection and how to claim compensation and to find a compensation solicitor visit his website

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