Ear Infection And Sore Throat

Can Ear Infections Go Away On Their Own

Yes, some ear infections can go away on their own. However, its essential to see a doctor if you think you might have an ear infection. This is because some bacterial or viral infections can cause severe complications if they arent treated properly. Additionally, your doctor can prescribe medication to help clear the infection and relieve any pain or discomfort that youre experiencing.

Sore Throats And Ear Infections

Infection and inflammation of the throat or tonsils it is one of the most common medical conditions experienced by people. These are generally thought of as cold weather maladies that commonly affect people during winter. In addition, although the winter season is thought of as the cold and flu season, people can suffer sore throats and ear infections at any time throughout the year. A person of any age group can suffer from sore throats and earaches. That being said, children, and older people are most often vulnerable to it due to their susceptibility to viruses like the flu virus, mononucleosis virus, and adenovirus. Common symptoms include discomfort in the throat, including dryness and throat hoarseness. Difficulty in swallowing may also be the result of a swollen throat or another form of viral throat infection.

Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours

• Urine is pink or tea color
• Taking antibiotic more than 24 hours, and sore throat pain is severe. The pain is not better 2 hours after taking pain medicines.
• Taking antibiotic more than 48 hours and fever still there or comes back
• Taking antibiotic more than 3 days and other Strep symptoms not better
• You think your child needs to be seen, but the problem is not urgent

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What To Do When You Have An Earache And Sore Throat

• What to Do When You Have an Earache…

An earache and a sore throat can mean a number of thingsbut the combination of both may send you to the doctor.

Because an earache can indicate that you are dealing with strep throat or an ear infection, its important that you take the two seriously.

To help determine if you have strep throat, its imperative that you see a doctor. He or she can also help treat the illness with antibiotics before complications arise.

Heres everything you need to know about an earache accompanied by a sore throat so you can get back on the road to recovery quickly.

Discharge Or Mucus In Eyes Ear Ache And Sore Throat

• Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Last Editorial Review: 8/31/2020

Certain causes of sore throat, including viral pharyngitis and Strep throat, as well as tonsillitis, can be associated with problems with the eyes such as watering or discharge. These conditions can also lead to earache or ear fullness. If you are experiencing these or other symptoms that do not go away, contact your doctor to determine the cause.

While the list below can be considered as a guide to educate yourself about these conditions, this is not a substitute for a diagnosis from a health care provider. There are many other medical conditions that also can be associated with your symptoms and signs. Here are a number of those from MedicineNet:

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Learn More About Mountain Ear Nose & Throat Associates

If youd like to learn more about Mountain Ear, Nose & Throat Associates and what we can do for you, you can contact the team using the following numbers depending on your location:

• Sylva: 828-586-7474
• Murphy: 828-835-1014
• New Asheville: 828-458-8100

Dont hesitate to get in touch and book your appointment with Mountain Ear, Nose & Throat Associates to come up with a solution for your situation today!

What Are The Signs Of An Ear Infection

The signs are a raised temperature, general irritability and pain or discomfort. The ears may be red and your baby may pull them because they are uncomfortable. They may even have a pus-like discharge, which can also be associated with a blocked feeling in the ear or hearing loss. Although most ear infections settle down without any serious effects, there can be mild hearing loss for a short time .

A child is more likely to have ear problems iftheir mother smoked during pregnancy or ifthey live in a smoking household.

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What You Should Know About Your Earache And Sore Throat:

• If the earache is an ear infection and sore throat, over the counter remedies cannot resolve the problem.
• An earache can also be one of the symptoms of strep throat.
• Strep throat is very painful and highly contagious.
• Strep throat should be treated with antibiotics otherwise, serious complications can develop.
• Visiting a doctor is the only way to know for sure if a sore throat is strep throat.

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When Should I Contact My Gp

Itâs not always necessary to see your GP if you or your child have earache. Your local pharmacist is always on hand to offer help and advice on how you can manage the problem. The pain will often improve in a few days and there are things you can do to help in the meantime.

You should contact your GP or local out-of-hours service if:

• you or your child also have other symptoms, such as a high temperature , vomiting, a severe sore throat, hearing loss, swelling around the ear, or discharge from the ear
• there is something stuck in your or your childâs ear
• the earache doesnât improve within a few days

To assess your condition at home use our earache self-help guide.

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Throat And Ear Pain While Swallowing

The ear and throat are connected by the auditory tube , which opens and closes when you swallow.

Since these parts of your body are linked, you might have pain in your throat and your ear when you swallow if you have tonsillitis or an infection like mono or strep throat.

These infections can also cause problems in the auditory tube, including inflammation, infection, and mucus build-up.

Throat And Ear Pain That Doesn’t Go Away

Throat and ear pain can come and go or can be constant and slow to get better, depending on what is causing the symptoms.

For example, acid reflux is more likely to cause pain that is worse in the morning and gets better later in the day. Seasonal allergies, strep throat, and mono are more likely to come with throat and ear pain that does not go away until the conditions are treated.

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What Are The Types Of Middle

Infections can affect the middle ear in several ways. They are:

• Acute otitis media. This middle-ear infection occurs suddenly. It causes swelling and redness. Fluid and mucus become trapped inside the ear. You can have a fever and ear pain.

• Otitis media with effusion. Fluid and mucus build up in the middle ear after the infection goes away. You may feel like your middle ear is full. This can continue for months and may affect your hearing.

• Chronic otitis media with effusion. Fluid remains in the middle ear for a long time. Or it builds up again and again, even though there is no infection. This type of middle-ear infection may be hard to treat. It may also affect your hearing.

Sore Throats And Ear Infections In Children

Experts say that the anatomy and physiology of young children’s ears make them vulnerable to infection. The ear has three parts: the inner ear, the outer ear, and the middle ear. For infants and toddlers, the tube that leads from the nose to the middle ear, the Eustachian Tube, is different compared to an older child or an adult. This tube is horizontal, wider, and shorter in children. The shape of the Eustachian Tube in children makes it easier for germs to travel into the middle ear. When the tube is blocked, as is typical from the congestion of a cold or flu, the fluid that normally drains from the middle ear cannot exit. Bacteria or a virus can incubate in this build up, ultimately leading to an ear infection. The fluid that pushes on the eardrum is what causes ear pain. The younger a child is when he had his first ear infection, the more likely he will have repeated infections in the future. In general, more boys get ear infections than girls do.

Here are some symptoms to watch for in your children regarding sore throats and ear infections:

• Pain and tugging on the ears.
• Head shaking, especially when coupled with a fever.
• Problems sleeping .
• In addition, since sucking and swallowing are painful when a sore throat is present, your child may have trouble eating.
• In infants, sometimes irritability may be the only clue. Frequent crying and nasal discharge are also clues to look for when trying to diagnose a sore throat or ear infection in babies.

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Infections Inside The Ear

Antibiotics are not usually offered because infections inside the ear often clear up on their own and antibiotics make little difference to symptoms, including pain.

Antibiotics might be prescribed if:

• an ear infection does not start to get better after 3 days
• you or your child has any fluid coming out of the ear
• you or your child has an illness that means there’s a risk of complications, such as cystic fibrosis

They may also be prescribed if your child is less than 2 years old and has an infection in both ears.

If antibiotics are not prescribed, eardrops containing a painkiller and an anaesthetic might be prescribed.

Can A Toothache Cause Ear Pain

Just like with how a wisdom tooth infection can cause a sore throat, an abscessed molar can be felt in the corresponding ear leaving patients to think they have an ear infection.

Its always advisable to look for additional symptoms to determine whether you have a tooth infection. Refer to our list of symptoms below.

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To Reduce Ear Infections

• A babyâs ears need to be treated with care.

• Never use a cotton bud inside your childâs ear.

• If they have a temperature, wax may ooze out.

• Use different, clean damp cotton wool on each ear to gently clean around the outer area.

• Avoid smoky environments.

• Do not use ear drops or oil unless prescribed by your GP.

• If you think your child is still having problems with their hearing six weeks after infection, your GP or health visitor can refer them for an early hearing test for further investigations.

What Are The Symptoms Of A Sore Throat

Whenever a sore throat is severe, lasts longer than the usual five- to ten-day duration of a cold or flu, and is not associated with an avoidable allergy or irritation, you should seek medical attention. The following signs and symptoms should alert you to see your physician:

• Severe and prolonged sore throat
• Difficulty breathing
• Swelling of the face or neck
• Blood in saliva or phlegm
• Frequently recurring sore throat
• Hoarseness lasting over two weeks

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What Are Some Home Remedies For An Earache

There are a few different options for treating an ear infection. The most common course of treatment is antibiotics, which can help kill the bacteria or viruses causing the infection. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to remove any fluid buildup in the middle ear. And in other cases, ear tubes may be placed to help drain any fluid accumulated in a middle ear infection. If you have an ear infection, you must see a doctor and get treatment as soon as possible. Thanks for reading! We hope this blog post helped answer your questions about ear infections and sore throats.

When Should I See A Doctor

Whenever a sore throat is severe, persists longer than the usual five-to-seven day duration of a cold or flu, and is not associated with an avoidable allergy or irritation, you should seek medical attention. The following signs and symptoms should alert you to see your physician:

• Severe and prolonged sore throat
• Difficulty breathing
• Blood in saliva or phlegm
• Frequently recurring sore throat

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What Are The Treatment Options

A mild sore throat associated with cold or flu symptoms can be made more comfortable with the following remedies:

• Increase your liquid intake.
• Drink warm tea with honey .
• Use a personal steamer or place a humidifier in your bedroom.
• Gargle with warm salt water several times daily: ¼ tsp salt to ½ cup water.
• Take over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen .

For a more severe sore throat, your doctor may want to do a throat cultureswabbing the inside of your throat to see if there is a bacterial infection. If it is negative, your physician will base their treatment recommendation on the severity of your symptoms and the appearance of your throat on examination.

If you have a bacterial infection your doctor will likely recommend an antibiotic that kills or impairs bacteria. Antibiotics do not cure viral infections, but viruses do lower the patients resistance to bacterial infections. When a combined infection like this happens, antibiotics may be recommended.

It is important to take an antibiotic as your physician directs and to finish all doses, even if your symptoms improve, otherwise the infection may not be gone and could return. Some patients will experience returning infections despite antibiotic treatment. If you experience this, it is important to discuss this situation with your physician.

You may also want to review these Sore Throat Prevention Tips.

How Are They Caused

An Ear infection can cause a sore throat in a few different ways:

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How Do You Relieve Ear Pain Instantly

When youre dealing with ear pain, it can be extremely uncomfortable. Because of this, its important that you know how to relieve the pain quickly.

Applying a cold or warm compress, such as a heating pad or a damp washcloth, is a great way to alleviate ear pain.

To help get rid of ear pain, cover the ear with the ice pack or warm compress and alternate back and forth between the two. Try to keep each on the ear for at least 10 minutes at a time.

Its also recommended that you sleep with the affected ear raised instead of placing it against your pillow to help the ear drain better.

How Is An Ear Infection Treated

Treatment of ear infections depends on age, severity of the infection, the nature of the infection and if fluid remains in the middle ear for a long period of time.

Your healthcare provider will recommend medications to relieve you or your childs pain and fever. If the ear infection is mild, depending on the age of the child, your healthcare provider may choose to wait a few days to see if the infection goes away on its own before prescribing an antibiotic.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics may be prescribed if bacteria are thought to be the cause of the ear infection. Your healthcare provider may want to wait up to three days before prescribing antibiotics to see if a mild infection clears up on its own when the child is older. If your or your childs ear infection is severe, antibiotics might be started right away.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended when to prescribe antibiotics and when to consider waiting before prescribing based on your childs age, severity of their infection, and your childs temperature. Their recommendations are shown in the table below.

American Academy of Pediatrics Treatment Guide for Acute Otitis Media

Pain-relieving medications

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How To Feel Better

Some ways you can feel better when you have a sore throat:

• Suck on ice chips, popsicles, or lozenges .
• Use a clean humidifier or cool mist vaporizer.
• Gargle with salt water.
• Drink warm beverages and plenty of fluids.
• Use honey to relieve cough for adults and children at least 1 year of age or older.
• Ask your doctor or pharmacist about over-the-counter medicines that can help you feel better. Always use over-the-counter medicines as directed.

A Problem With Your Jaw

Earache is occasionally caused by a problem with the joint of your jaw bone . This is known as temporomandibular joint pain and can be caused by problems such as arthritis or teeth grinding.

Jaw pain can often be treated with painkillers, warm or cold compresses, and trying not to clench your jaw and grind your teeth.

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