Ear infection

Mareike Müller is a freelance writer in the medical department and assistant doctor for neurosurgery in Düsseldorf. She studied human medicine in Magdeburg and gained a lot of practical medical experience during her stays abroad on four different continents.

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An ear infection (otitis) is any inflammation of a structure of the ear. According to the anatomical division of the ear, a distinction is made between external, middle and inner ear inflammation. They are triggered by bacteria, viruses or fungi. Depending on the type of ear infection, the symptoms can be very different. Here you can read everything you need to know about ear infections.

ICD codes for this disease: ICD codes are internationally recognized codes for medical diagnoses. They can be found, for example, in doctor's letters or on certificates of incapacity for work. H65H67H60

Ear infection: description

An ear infection (otitis) is the inflammation of a structure in the ear. According to their anatomy, they are divided into external, middle and inner ear inflammation. In order to better understand this, first an overview of the structure of the ear:

The ear

The ear is both a hearing and a balance organ. It consists of three parts. The outer ear, middle and inner ear are responsible for hearing, the inner ear is exclusively responsible for the sense of balance.

The outer ear is made up of the auricle and the external auditory canal and borders the middle ear with the eardrum. The glands in the ear canal are used to produce the wax in the ear. This kills bacteria and fungi and prevents insects from entering the ear. The external auditory canal is bent forward and down. In order to have a clear view of the eardrum during an otoscopy, the doctor must therefore pull the ear back and up.

The eardrum forms the border between the outer ear and the middle ear. It consists of a membrane that is vibrated by incoming sound waves. It transmits this vibration further into the middle ear, because it is connected to the ossicles, hammer, anvil and stapes. These lie in the so-called tympanic cavity, a space in the skull bone that is filled with air. The ossicles increase the effect of the vibrations of the eardrum. An air channel between the middle ear and the nasopharynx (ear trumpet, Eustachian tube) ensures that the middle ear is adequately ventilated and any fluid that may develop can drain away.

The inner ear is also known as the labyrinth. This is where the bony cochlea for hearing and the semicircular canals of the organ of equilibrium lie.

Classification of ear infections

Depending on which section of the ear is inflamed, a distinction is made:

• Inflammation of the ear canal (otitis externa): inflammation of the outer ear.
• Otitis media
• Inflammation of the inner ear (otitis interna): This is usually called labyrinthitis.

Inflammation of the ear canal (otitis externa)

You can read more about this in the article Inflammation of the ear canal.

Otitis media

You can read more about this in the article otitis media.

Ear infection: symptoms

Since the ear is well innervated and the skin over the cartilage and bones is very thin, an ear infection is always very painful. The affected ear is overheated. Hearing loss and dizziness can also occur. Other signs of illness such as fever or fatigue are also possible. If the ear infection occurs as part of a cold, the sinuses may also cause discomfort, lymph nodes swollen or other respiratory problems (such as coughing).

Ear infection: examinations and diagnosis

When patients with earache see a doctor, he or she first asks detailed questions about the medical history (anamnesis). For example, he asks:

• When did the complaints arise?
• Have you had similar complaints in the past?
• Do you have fever?
• Do you feel exhausted?
• Are you dizzy?
• Do you hear worse in one ear?
• Do you have another underlying disease such as diabetes or are you taking medication?

The doctor will then examine your ear by first looking closely. He pays particular attention to redness, swelling and discharge. Then he feels the ear to see if touching is painful.

The doctor also performs an otoscopy. In doing so, he pulls his ear upwards on the auricle to have a clear view of the eardrum. He looks at the external auditory canal and eardrum with a magnifying glass. Here, too, he looks for redness, swelling, discharge or foreign bodies.

In addition, hearing tests and tests of balance can be carried out to clarify an ear infection.

Ear infection: treatment

An ear infection is treated differently depending on the type and cause.

In the case of an ear infection, measures such as the administration of antibiotics and glucocorticoids ("cortisone") as well as surgical interventions are available. Home remedies can help alleviate the discomfort.

You can read more about the treatment of inflammation in the outer or middle ear in the articles ear canal inflammation and otitis media.

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