Inner ear infections can cause worrisome symptoms such as vertigo, dizziness and balance problems. Most inner ear infections go away within two weeks with proper treatment.
The vestibular system works in a similar way to a stereo, with your left and right ears sending separate signals to your brain. If one ear becomes infected, these signals become out of sync, which confuses your brain and triggers symptoms such as dizziness and loss of balance.
The symptoms of an ear infection may include pain, tenderness, and hearing changes. Older adults may also experience balance problems and vertigo. Since an ear infection in adults can lead to serious health issues, it is important to see a doctor for treatment.
Nausea + Vomiting
For adults, children, and infants alike, inner ear infections can cause nausea and vomiting in addition to dizziness due to a buildup of fluid in the ears. This accumulation of fluid not only causes balance disorders but can have an effect on the body's ability to regulate perception.
Acute or chronic middle ear infections occasionally cause a weakness of the face due to swelling or direct pressure on the nerve. In acute infections the weakness usually subsides as the infection is controlled and the swelling around the nerve subsides.
Inner ear infections can cause worrisome symptoms such as vertigo, dizziness and balance problems. Most inner ear infections go away within two weeks with proper treatment. Your healthcare provider can confirm your diagnosis, determine an appropriate treatment plan and recommend ways to manage your symptoms.
Your immune system will also be working over time to fight off the invading pathogens causing the infection, which may make you feel weak and tired. This is a normal part of any infection. Pain medications and antibiotics may also make you feel tired.
It's important to talk with your health care provider if you think you have a middle-ear infection. If you have a high fever, severe pain behind your ear, or paralysis in your face, see your provider as soon as you can.
If an ear infection lasts for more than three months, it's considered chronic. If chronic ear infections aren't treated, it can lead to hearing loss and other serious problems.
The problem may go unnoticed and untreated for a long time. Symptoms may include: Ear pain or discomfort that is usually mild and feels like pressure in the ear. Fever, usually low-grade.
Antibiotics are a medicine prescribed by your doctor. If you're dealing with an ear infection caused by bacteria, you'll likely need antibiotics. They are the best way of quickly getting rid of a bacterial infection and preventing it from spreading to other parts of the body.
If children and adults have severe symptoms, a high fever, or both ears are infected, we would also recommend antibiotics,” she says. Ear infections that don't require antibiotics, especially in children older than 2, can resolve on their own.
Many times, a healthcare provider can diagnose an inner ear infection on symptoms alone. And that's good, because it's impossible to directly look at the inner parts of the ear on a physical exam. Your provider may also examine your eyes, because certain eye movements get affected when our balance is a little off.
If ignored, you run the risk of your eardrum rupturing. This could lead to hearing loss, so make sure to seek treatment right away.
Ménière's disease is a disorder of the inner ear that causes severe dizziness (vertigo), ringing in the ears (tinnitus), hearing loss, and a feeling of fullness or congestion in the ear. Ménière's disease usually affects only one ear.
These symptoms are present in a wide variety of medical conditions, including ear infections, middle ear inflammation, or having a tremor.
The most common causes of imbalance without dizziness are related to dysfunction of the muscles, joints and peripheral nerves (proprioceptive system), or the central nervous system (brain). People with bilateral vestibulopathy have balance issues but no dizziness if the damage affects both ears at the same time.
A person may take antihistamines or benzodiazepines to treat vertigo. Antihistamines can also help ease nausea and dizziness. Over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamines include fexofenadine (Allegra), diphenhydramine (Benadryl), and loratadine (Claritin).
Sleeping sitting up can allow fluid in your ear to drain easier, as well as easing pressure and pain in your middle ear – the likely source of the infection itself. Try propping yourself up on a stack of pillows, or better yet sleep in a reclining sofa or armchair.