Archive for May, 2010
What Is an Ear Infection?
May 10th, 2010 | 
Author: Do you remember ever having had an ear infection?
Although not remember, you probably had. Most children have at least one middle ear infection before their second birthday. These infections can cause ear pain and fever.
What is a middle ear infection?
Middle ear infections are on
e of the most common health problems in childhood. Start by talking about infections. An infection occurs when germs such as viruses and bacteria enter the body and cause trouble. Germs can enter your ears . The ear is divided into three parts: outer ear, middle ear and inner ear. When the germs bother your outer ear infection is called otitis externa or swimmer’s ear.
The middle ear is a small pocket of air behind the eardrum. A person gets an ear infection when germs enter the chamber of the inner ear and the area fills up with fluid (or pus), which contains cells that fight germs. When the pus builds up inside the middle ear, one gets the feeling that the ear has become a balloon that is about to explode, which can be very painful.
How I can get an ear infection?
Between the middle ear and throat, there is a passage called the Eustachian tube. The eustachian tubes (have one on each side) keep pressure from building up inside the middle ear by allowing air to enter and exit freely. When you were young, especially before you turned three years, your eustachian tubes were very small and less effective in preventing the entry of germs. Read the rest of this entry »