Many people encounter ear problems at some time in their lives and these can affect the outer, middle or inner ear.
Common conditions of the ear include infection, inflammation and wax build-up and while some of these can at worst cases be painful or uncomfortable at best, your community pharmacist can help as the staff there are used to seeing people with ear problems and helping them to choose the best treatment or referring them to a doctor when necessary.
Some ear problems which occur quite often include:
Otitis media – inflammation of the middle ear which usually starts from a common cold, it is painful and at times appear in a fever.
Glue ear – a chronic otitis media that mainly affects children and is identified by a build-up of thick, viscous or sticky fluid in the middle ear, behind the eardrum. This creates hearing impairment, and while the problem can clear up without medicines the ear must be checked by a health professional to see if treatment is needed.
Ear wax – an excess build-up of wax which dries out, creating a hard plug that blocks the ear. Your pharmacist may recommend wax-softening ear drops or it may need to be removed through syringing by a doctor or nurse.
Swimmer’s ear – is an inflammation of the ear canal (outer ear) which occurs when water enters the ear and causes infection or inflammation. This makes the area more prone to infection.
Infectious myringitis – it is inflammation of the eardrum which can be painful and pain medicines may be very helpful, antibiotics or other treatment may also be needed.
Acute mastoiditis –it is an infection of the bone behind the ear and can cause fever, intense pain and discharge from the ear. Immediate medical attention is required for this condition.
Tinnitus – the person experiences noises or ringing in their ears when no actual noise is present.
Neuronitis – the vestibular nerve becomes irritated and inflamed causing dizziness and vertigo along with vomiting and nausea.
Herpes zoster of the ear – when the herpes zoster virus (shingles) infects the cochlear nerve of the ear, causing pain, vertigo and small blisters on the outer ear and ear canal and sometimes on the face and neck.
Barotrauma – Ear barotrauma is a condition that leads to ear discomfort due to pressure changes. In each ear, there is a tube that connects the middle of your ear to your throat and nose. It also helps regulate ear pressure. This tube is called the eustachian tube and is named after the 16th-century anatomist who discovered it. When the tube is blocked for some reason, you may experience ear barotrauma.
There are some things we can do to help protect our ears and these include never inserting foreign objects, including cotton buds, into the ear. Repeated use of the cotton buds to remove ear wax results in the deep impaction of the wax within the ear.
Other tips include not diving in deep water when you have a cold, always use earplugs if you have swimmer’s ear, wearing hearing protection when in a loud environment and always seeking advice from your pharmacist at the first signs of any pain, discomfort or discharge from your ear.
