Inner ear infection is one of the most common diseases, and everyone of all ages, young and old, can suffer from this problem. Because of the role of the inner ear in converting sound waves into neural messages for the brain to be able to translate and absorb them, it is necessary not to neglect the importance of treatment if you feel any of the symptoms of inner ear infection. We will explain more details in the following lines.

Symptoms of inner ear infection

In fact, the problem of inner ear infection may not show any symptoms, but a number of mild symptoms may appear, including: Symptoms of inner ear infection في التالي:

• Headache.
• Mild headache.
• Disturbances in vision.
• Tinnitus.
• Feeling pain in the ear.
• Hearing loss.
• Lack of balance and loss of ability to walk.

Causes of inner ear infection

It should be noted that inflammation of the inner ear occurs in the case of swelling and irritation of the parts responsible for hearing and balance, as a result of a bacterial infection, a viral infection, or a respiratory infection, and one of the most common causes of infection is the patient’s exposure to any of the following viruses:

• flu.
• Herpes.
• Epstein Barr.
• polio.

Complications of inner ear infection

Usually there are no complications from inner ear infection, but there are a number of rare cases in which complications occur, and in this case the complications are as follows:

• Balance problems due to damage to the eighth nerve.
• Partial or complete loss of hearing.

Otolaryngologist Dr. Olga Olankina indicated that the causes of inner ear infection are bacteria or viruses (which are the most common) that enter from the nasopharynx and cause inflammation.

Book your consultation now at قسم الأنف والأذن والحنجرة At Al Mousa Specialist Hospital.

Methods of treating inner ear infection

If you suffer from a problem in your ear or feel any of the symptoms of an inner ear infection mentioned above, go to a specialist doctor to undergo treatment, which includes the following:

• Obtaining antihistamine medications, which have an effective role in treating vomiting and nausea, and treating loss of balance associated with inflammation.
• Take painkillers to relieve pain.
• Get steroid medications to calm inflammation.
• Obtaining antiviral drugs, if the inflammation is caused by a viral infection.
• Take antibiotics if the main cause of the infection is bacteria.

Frequently asked questions

We know that ear pain may make you feel very uncomfortable in your daily life, and that is why we are here to answer the most important questions on your mind, the most important of which are the following:

How do I know if my inner ear is inflamed?

There are several signs that indicate an inner ear infection, which are the symptoms of an inner ear infection, the most prominent of which is the feeling of acute pain in the inner ear, and the pain can increase by moving the head or pressing on the ear, and the feeling of constant ringing in the inner ear, which makes hearing difficult, in addition to blockage in the ear and difficulty in hearing, and a feeling of dizziness, or an increase in body temperature.

What is the difference between middle and inner otitis?

• Otitis media occurs in the middle part of the ear, while inflammation of the inner ear occurs in the area containing the balance and auditory nerve.
• Middle ear infection causes ear pain with tinnitus and difficulty hearing, while inner ear infection causes the same signs in addition to dizziness and lack of balance.

How do I treat inner ear infection without medication?

There are several natural treatments that can be relied upon to treat inner ear infection without medication, but it is best to consult a doctor and rely on appropriate treatment. Among the treatments that can be used are bathing with warm water to relieve the pain, provided that the water does not submerge the ear, gently cleaning the ear using cotton, and placing warm compresses on the affected ear. Drops of sweet almond oil or olive oil can relieve inflammation.

How long does an inner ear infection take to heal?

The duration of recovery varies from one case to another, and in mild cases it may reach between one and two weeks, and in more severe cases the recovery period ranges between two and four weeks, while in severe cases the recovery period reaches at least a month.

Can I sleep on a sore ear?

In fact, we do not advise you to sleep on the ear that suffers from inflammation, as this will add more pressure and pain to you, and will also increase the possibility of bacteria or fungi entering the inner ear, thus exacerbating the infection and increasing the severity of the inflammation. Also, constant pressure on the ear can lead to damage to the eardrum, which may cause temporary or permanent hearing loss, God forbid, and for this reason it is better for you to sleep on the sound side or on the back during your treatment.

After you learned about the symptoms of inner ear infection, the causes of the problem, and methods of treating it, and after we answered the common questions, Al Mousa Specialist Hospital is one of the most important treatment places that you can rely on in diagnosing and treating inner ear infection, so be sure to take the initiative to visit the hospital to obtain the appropriate treatment. And book your appointment now.

Sources and references

Inner Ear Infection – clevelandclinic

Labyrinthitis – nhsinform