Ear Infections in Bakersfield
Ear infections can cause significant discomfort and even interfere with a patient’s ability to hear. At Bakersfield Sinus Center, we offer ear infection treatment to the residents of Porterville, Bakersfield, CA and nearby areas.
What Are Ear Infections?
Ear infections are an infection in the center part of the ear, caused by a buildup of fluids in the ear canal. Ear infections affect children more often than they affect adults, but adults can still develop ear infections from time to time. Ear infections often cause pain in the affected ear, difficulty hearing, and in some cases, discharge from the ear.
Ear infections are typically caused by allergies, colds, or other infections that cause fluid to be trapped in the middle ear. The only way to relieve ear infections is by eliminating the fluid that is trapped in the ear.
How Are Ear Infections Diagnosed?
Ear infections are often quite easy to diagnose, because the symptoms usually only affect one ear and indicate that something like an ear infection is going on. If you are experiencing discharge, ear pain or earaches, or difficulty hearing, you may be suffering from an ear infection.
The primary cause of ear infections is the buildup of fluid behind the ear. When you visit Bakersfield Sinus Center, we assess your symptoms and perform an examination to determine if you indeed have an ear infection. Once we confirm your condition, we can recommend a treatment that will work for you.
How Are Ear Infections Treated?
The treatment of your ear infection will depend on your diagnosis.
Many ear infections can be successfully treated with medications and at-home remedies. If your ear infection is mild, we may recommend one of these approaches.
If you are experiencing a severe ear infection or if you experience recurring ear infections, we may recommend ear tubes. Ear tubes provide air flow from the outer ear to the middle ear, allowing fluid to escape instead of being trapped and causing symptoms. Ear tubes are a long-term solution that can reduce your future risk for ear infections.
Can Ear Infections Be Completely Cured?
At Bakersfield Sinus Center, our goal is to help you achieve an improved quality of life by providing long-term relief from ear infections. However, the cause of your ear infections will determine the extent and duration of the results you are able to achieve.
If your ear infection is treated with standard medications and remedies, you may still be at risk for developing an ear infection in the future. However, if these treatments are effective, you can expect them to work again should you develop another ear infection.
If your ear infection is recurring and is treated with ear tubes, you can expect relief from ear infections until the ear tubes fall out or are removed. This is typically a period of about one year. Even after this time, patients continue to experience a reduced risk of ear infections.
Are you suffering from an ear infection? Contact us today to schedule your consultation at Bakersfield Sinus Center. We welcome patients from Bakersfield, Porterville, and the nearby communities of California.
