Middle Ear Infection – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment and Home Remedies
The ear is the organ of hearing and one of the most important parts of the body. It is divided into three parts, known as the external part, middle part or drum and the internal part. Ear is a very sensitive organ and its inner structure is inaccessible. It is therefore necessary to deal with the disorders of this organ promptly. The most serious of these disorders is middle-ear infection, known as otitis media in medical parlance.
Symptoms
In otitis media, inflammation occurs on that portion of the ear which is directly behind the ear drum. There is discharge of pus into the outer ear. As the condition progresses, the inner ear becomes seriously affected, and hearing is considerably impaired. There is suppuration of middle-ear through a perforation of drum. In case of children, suppuration may start slowly without any reason. If the suppuration is left unattended, it mat result is deafness.
Causes
Middle-ear infection generally follows the infection of upper respiratory tract. The swelling of the mucosa in the throat blocks the Eustachian tube which connects the ears with the throat and nose. This cause pus to collect in the middle ear cavity.
The real cause of middle-ear infection is, however, the outcome of previous medical treatment of childhood fevers or due to operations for the removal of tonsils or adenoids. The disease denotes that toxins, which nature has been trying to throw off through the usual channels of elimination, have been diverted back into the system and have been lodged in the inner-ear structure. This causes the continual suppuration and discharge associated with the disease.
Treatment
A thorough internal cleansing of the system is essential to get rid of toxins, which is the root of the trouble, and clear up the infection. To begin with, the patient should be on an orange juice diluted with water for three to five days. After the short juice fast, the patient should adopt an exclusive diet of fresh fruits for further three to five days. Thereafter, he may gradually adopt a well-balanced diet, with emphasis on whole grain cereals, raw or lightly-cooked vegetables and fresh fruits.
Further short juice fast followed by an exclusive fruit diet should be undertaken at two or three monthly intervals, until the discharge has completely cleared up. Children can, however, commence the treatment with an all-fruit diet, instead of juice fast, for four or five days, with two or three consecutive days at monthly intervals.
The patient should avoid white flour, sugar and all products made from them, pickles, condiments and flesh foods. He should completely eliminate the foods which raise the amount of phlegm like milled rice, sugar and lentils.
The pain of middle-ear infection can be relieved by hot fomentations to the side of the head over the ear or by hot foot bath. Irrigation of the ear with very hot water temperature (120 to 130 F) will also help relieve the pain.
Home Remedies
Certain home remedies have been found beneficial in the treatment of earache and discharge from the ear resulting from middle-ear infection. The most important of these is the use of garlic. A few cloves should be warmed and mashed with salt. This mixture should be wrapped in a piece of woolen cloth and placed on the painful ear. Simultaneously, two or three cloves of garlic should be chewed daily for few days. It will give relief.
Garlic
Garlic oil is also a popular remedy for earache. If garlic oil is not available, a few peeled cloves of garlic can be put in a tablespoon of any sweet oil, except groundnut oil. This oil should be heated, till the oil becomes brown with charred garlic pieces. The oil should then be filtered and cooled and a few drops should be put in the affected ear. This will give immediate relief.
Neem
The use of margosa (neem) oil has been found effective in infection and inflammation of the ear. One or two drops of this oil can be instilled into the ear with beneficial results.
Breast Milk
The use of breast milk is a popular remedy for the inflammatory condition of the ear. Few drops of this milk put in the affected ear will give relief. Mother’s milk would be preferable, but if it is not available, the milk of any healthy lactating women can be used.
Onion
Onion is beneficial in the treatment of pus in the ear. The juice extracted from an onion should be slightly warmed and put in the ear two or three times daily. It will bring good results.
Exercise
The patient should undertake regular exercises and outdoor games. Fresh air and sun bathing are of vital importance. The patient should sit in the sun so that sunlight penetrates the inner part of his ear for 15 minutes. It will help stop the discharge of pus from the ear.
