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Ear infection home remedies

How do I cure an ear infection at home
(22 Jan 2008)

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The first thing to ascertain is whether the infection is in the inner ear, which is beyond the eardrum, or whether the infection is on the skin of the outer ear – before the eardrum. Middle ear infections are quite common and sometimes follow on from an upper respiratory tract infection. This is because the entire region of the ear, nose and throat is connected.

The ear connects to the back of the nose through a thin tube called the Eustachian tube and the nose to the throat by the respiratory tract itself. The reason why you end up with an ear pressure problem when you have a cold is because; the Eustachian tube also ends up being blocked with mucus.

If the infection to your ear is on the outer ear, then you can treat this condition by using home remedies that are used for regular skin infections.

The first task is to dislodge any of the debris and dead skin that might be populating the area by using hydrogen peroxide. Pour some hydrogen peroxide into your ear and let it stay there for a few minutes before draining it out. Repeat this twice in each ear. Once all debris and dead skin is cleared out, the next step is to make the ear completely microbe free. To do this, apply some diluted tea tree oil into your ear and drain it out but do not try to stick a cotton swab in your ear and completely dry your ear. In the event that the infection is in your middle ear, which is the region beyond you eardrum, you would need to use antibiotics and analgesics to deal with the infection.

Most middle ear infections can be cured by administering antibiotics like erythromycin, amoxicillin and variants of penicillin. The infection can usually be cleared up in the space of a week with these medicines. Antibiotics are usually used in consonance with analgesics, as there is usually pain that accompanies any infection. Analgesics like acetylsalicylic acid or acetaminophen or even ibuprofen can be administered to reduce the pain and inflammation of the area. Pressure imbalances usually occur during this time so this is something else that needs to be looked after. As mentioned earlier, the Eustachian tube is responsible for correcting the pressure in the ear and therefore in the course of an ear infection, it can be blocked. To relieve this pressure, decongestants should be used as well as a high fluid intake to keep mucus at a thin consistency.

answered by G M on 23 Sep 2009, 6:46:33

Ear infection home remedies

You have not specified what kind of an infection you are suffering from and which part of the ear is affected. Perhaps you need to consult a doctor in order to identify the nature of the infection that you have. The ear consists of three parts. Any one of these parts can develop an infection that requires some attention. The most common type of infection is one known as otitis, which occurs when the ear suffers an invasion of bacteria or viruses, resulting in inflammation.

An ear can get infected if you have not dried it properly. The moist condition of the ear makes it an inviting place for bacteria to move in and cause infections. That is why people who swim regularly often complain of an ear infection. Also, if you are the kind of person who spends ages digging out ear wax, then you are likely to get an infection.
One simple home remedy is to mix two spoonfuls of white vinegar with two spoonfuls of water. Now, using a dropper or a piece of cloth, drop this solution into your infected ear.

Keep your ear clean and dry at all times. Use a soft cloth to dry your ear after a bath. If you are not satisfied with the way your ear dries, then use a hair dryer to dry your ears completely.

answered by G M on 13 Feb 2008, 12:23:39

Ear infection home remedies

How do I cure an ear infection at home (22 Jan 2008)

How do I cure an ear infection at home
(22 Jan 2008)