Adult Ear Infection

What is Adult Ear Infection?

Though adults are not affected as frequently as children, it is important for adults to be aware of how adult ear infection can affect them. Adult ear infection is caused by infection in the Eustachian tube, near the inner ear. The Eustachian tube connects the inner ear to the nasal passages in order to drain fluid from the ears and equalize pressure between outside and inside of the body, but when fluid or mucous builds up in the Eustachian tube, it is an easy target for infection.

There are many situations in which adult ear infection can surface. A cold can cause fluid build up and infection in the Eustachian tube. Post nasal drip may also contribute. An adult does not necessarily need to be sick to get adult ear infection. Often, the infection is caused by mucous being blown into the Eustachian tubes by blowing the nose or failing to clean the liquid out of the ear with a cotton swab after showering.

In one of every four cases in children, ear infection is not caused by a bacterial infection but by a viral infection. Viruses often cause adult ear infection as well. Viral infections are much more difficult to eliminate.

Adult Ear Infection Complications

However adult ear infections are contracted there are complications to be aware of. If these complications are caught early, the infection can be more easily dealt with. Complications associated with adult ear infection include fluid in the ear, pressure, and pain.

Part of the reason for the pressure and pain is that the tissue in the inner ear swells due to infection or trapped fluid. Often, the adenoids also swell due to infection. The swelling pushes into the ear.

Other complications include temporary hearing loss. The sound is obstructed due to the swelling, but no damage is actually done to the inner ear when the infection is treated. Even after the pressure is relieved and the infection has subsided, fluid may build up permanently in parts of the ear.

Adult Ear Infection Treatments

Whether bacterial or viral, adult ear infection may be treated and any buildup removed. With bacterial infections, antibiotics are necessary. Fortunately, bacterial infections can be very simple to treat.

Viral infections are more complicated to treat and may necessitate a myringotomy, which is a minor surgery in which a small plastic tube is inserted into the eardrum. This acts as a vent to relieve the pressure of the buildup or infection. It also drains the fluid remaining in the ear. This little tube is not permanent; it falls out automatically after a short time.

If the adenoids have caused the build up and the infections in the ear, they may need to be removed. They are just like tonsils in that they arent necessary and can easily be removed without complications.

Adult Ear Infection Prevention

Prevention of adult ear infection is simple. Nasal spray flushes out bacteria and pollutants which could cause build up and infection. Even allergens can be washed out. The important element necessary in effective nasal spray is xylitol, which naturally repels bacteria before it has a chance to settle into the nasal tissue.

Chewing gum containing xylitol may also loosen and relieve pressure in the ear while at the same time releasing xylitol into the mouth and throat and preventing bacteria to move up to the nasal passages and into the ear. Studies have proven the use of xylitol-rich gum reduces the risk of ear infection.

Joe Miller is a specialist in online advertising. More information on adult ear infection, visit Xlear.com.

What is a Yeast Infection?

Candida, commonly called yeast infection or thrush, is a fungal infection of any of the Candida species, of which Candida albicans is possibly the most common.


The symptoms of a yeast infection are intense itching, redness, burning, discharge, painful urination and painful sexual intercourse, which can severely reducing your enjoyment of life. Men can also suffer from yeast infection in the form of inflammation at the tip of the penis. It is less common in men than in women.

If you wish to finally eliminate yeast infections from your life, feel more energetic and enjoy better health without using potentially dangerous prescription drugs, then read on.

Yeast infections can be treated successfully with either home remedies or, in the cases of a more severe infection, with either over the counter or antifungal prescription medications. Below you will find links to the best information on home remedies and prescription medication. http://yeast-infection-free.info


(c) Noel Hynes, 2005. Reprint rights granted to copy and publish this article as long as the article and by-line are reprinted intact. http://yeast-infection-free.info
 

Colostrum May Help Prevent Upper Respiratory Tract Infections

A 2003 study by the Health Sciences Department of the University of South Australia suggests that taking concentrated bovine colostrum supplements could reduce the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections.

The study involved subjects being randomly allocated to consume 60g/day of Colostrum for eight weeks, then examining their occurrence of symptoms. Results from the first week were kept separate from those from the last seven weeks.

The results showed that during the first week of supplementation, there was no measurable difference in symptoms in the proportion of subjects taking the supplement as opposed to those who didn't. During the subsequent seven weeks, however, a much lower percentage of the subjects taking Colostrum reported upper respiratory infection related symptoms.

Symptom duration, however, did not differ. This suggests that the immune benefits achieved by Colostrum can be very good in terms of being a preventative, but that it does not have any measurable effect on an infection once it has already taken hold. That is why it is important to use Colostrum properly, as a preventative, and not depend on it to cure illness.

These overall results of this research study show that while Concentrated Bovine Colostrum doesn't take effect immediately, it does have definite immune enhancing and infection preventing effects when taken consistently, over an extended period of time.

Jeremy Maddock is the webmaster of http://www.immunewellness.com - your source for high quality information about a variety of health products, including Colostrum (www.immunewellness.com/colostrum.htm).

Sinus Infection Symptoms, Antibiotics, and Alternative Medicine

Modern Living, Complex Health Problems

In our post-modern industrial polluted stress-filled bad-diet culture, no one's health is simple. We are plagued by complex long-term illnesses like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, AIDS, even sinus problems... it may seem weird to you that I include sinus infections, but the root causes of sinus trouble can be quite complicated... Especially if they are long-term.

Antibiotic Overuse Problems

I hate to say it (because antibiotics are so great in some situations, and so popular overall), but antibiotics can complicate things even further - there are conditions that do not respond to them... and there are many situations in which they are not even indicated.

Physicians have over-prescribed antibiotics for years... they know it, there have been studies that show it, and as a profession they've moved away from that. But people still want to leave the doctor's office with a prescription, a magic-bullet. Of course, sometimes the issue is which antibiotic is the most appropriate one. They don't all work for everything.

Antibiotic Side Effects - When They're Wrong

If the sinusitis hasn't responded to antibiotics, then either the wrong ones were prescribed, or you need to try another kind of treatment. Chinese Herbal Medicine can address the full spectrum of complaints and causes; we often treat the conditions which are not responding to conventional treatments like antibiotics. A woman wrote me about how antibiotics weren't solving her diarrhea problem- this can happen when the disease is cold in nature. Antibiotics are cold and bitter; these qualities help it fight the dampness and heat of bacterial infections. But they are more of the same damage when the disease is cold or deficient in nature. Acupuncture and moxibustion (the warming of acupuncture points) can also be effective; some people respond very quickly... results vary depending upon a number of factors (the acupuncturist's education, accuracy of diagnosis, frequency of treatment, and patient compliance with diet and lifestyle suggestions).

Cold and Deficient

If the mucus is clear or white, then it is more likely cold in nature. That fits with a Spleen-system deficiency and dampness. That would fit with the pulse she felt. You would have lowered appetite, feel fatigued, have loose stool, and possibly feel cold easily. Antibiotics wouldn't help here, and could even make things worse.

Sinus Infection Symptoms

The classic acute sinusitis symptoms are nasal congestion, green nasal phlegm, facial/dental pain, eye pain, headache, and a cough at night. Some patients also complain of fever, feeling ill, bad breath and a sore throat. Chronic sinusitis is more difficult to diagnose. You can have the same symptoms above in a milder form. Chronic means long-term; it's not usually thought of as chronic unless it's been going on for 2 months or more.

Sinus Infection Causes

Sinus problems can be caused by many things- you have to think about environmental and food allergies (allergic sinusitis), chronic sinus infection, and chronic colds. Without more information, it's hard to be specific. Sinusitis often develops after colds, and can become a chronic problem. The sinuses are very small... one of our weak points, especially for people with weakened immune systems or in the presence of irritants (once again, pollution, allergens, etc.)... she probably asked about the farms and pesticides while she was thinking about the cause of your chronic sinusitis.

Mold, Fungus, and Sick Buildings

And we can't forget about mold! While some people appear to be more sensitive than others, fungus can cause fungal sinusitis. This gets into the whole 'sick-building' topic... Mold can grow in the walls of houses and offices, and is not always easy to detect.

Decongestant Side Effects

Decongestants are often prescribed. They work by drying you out. Unfortunately, they don't just dry the mucus. Long-term use of decongestants can lead to other problems, like the dry or heat types of sinus inflammation.

This is why, in Chinese Medicine, we always balance an herb with other herbs- if we are drying the phlegm, we also moisten at the same time. Moisture helps the sinuses drain- you remember that Crocodile-Dundee-put-your-head-under-the-steaming-pot-thing? Likewise, there are chinese herbs whose function it is to moisten and transform phlegm.

Serious Causes of Sinusitis, and Serious Solutions

For those with chronic sinusitis, tests need to be done to rule out the serious things. Sinusitis can be just a simple end-of-your-cold complication, but it can also show up as part of: nasal tumors, fungal infections, and HIV or other immunodeficiency. What about the sinusitis surgery? It works from 50-93% of the time... so it can be a great help if you're sick and tired of it, and nothing else has worked. but it's also a super-painful process! I would see an herbalist first.

Brian Carter has been making herbs and acupuncture fun and easy to understand since 1999. He founded Pulse Media International (http://www.pulsemed.org), previously known as the Pulse of Oriental Medicine. He is the author of "Powerful Body, Peaceful Mind: How to Heal Yourself with Foods, Herbs, and Acupressure" (2004 - http://www.pulsemed.org/famous-author.htm)

Brian is a medical professor and public speaker. He writes articles, blogs (http://americas-acupuncturist.blogspot.com/), and speaks on radio across the country, and has been quoted and interviewed by publications like Real Simple, Glamour, and ESPN magazines.

Obese Mice More Likely To Die Of Influenza Infection

A study suggested that obese people may be more likely to die of influenza infection.

In the study, 35 mice were fed a high-fat, high sugar diet for five months making them 37 percent heavier than 35 mice fed a regular diet high in carbohydrates. The obese mice had a body fat percentage of 31 percent in comparison to 21 percent in the regular mice.

After influenza infection at five months, the obese mice had significantly less capability of coping with influenza infection. As a result, 40 percent of the obese mice died while only 4 percent regular mice died of influenza infection. Its believed that obesity impairs the immune response that is needed for controlling influenza infection.

Although the study was conducted on mice, "Numerous marked alterations seen in the mice's immune response suggest that the growing obese population is at increased risk for immune dysfunction during influenza infection, which may lead in humans, as it did in the mice, to increased mortality," Dr. Melinda A. Beck, the principal investigator, was quoted as saying in a news release by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The study was conducted by Dr. Meinda A Beck and Alexia Smith from UNC School of Medicine. The results were presented on April 2 at an American Society of Nutritional Sciences scientific meeting in San Diego.

Dr. John Roberts is a freelance writer for http://foodconsumer.org. Contact him at foodconsumer@spamarrest.com if you have any questions.

Sinus Pressure: Infection Next?

One of the symptoms of sinus infection is sinus pressure infection. This happens when irritants enter to our body through the nose, thus if becomes severe the tendency therefore sinus membrane becomes irritated causing it to swell. Due to the swelling the sinus passages becomes constricted that result to blockage and congestion. Blockage causes the confined air, puss and mucus in the sinus cavities.

There are four pairs of sinus cavities: - Frontal sinuses this is located above the eyes in the forehead region - Maxillary sinuses found on either side of the nostrils in the cheekbones - Ethmoid sinuses located behind the bridge of the nose and at the base of the nose between the eyes - Sphenoid sinuses is found behind the ethmoid sinuses and the eyes.

Each of these sinus cavities contains an aperture called the ostium that opens out into the nasal passages for the exchange of air and mucus. These sinus cavities have mucous linings that continue up to the mucous linings found in the nasal passages. And with these linings there are cell called the cilia that shift the mucous from the sinus cavities and allows them to drain down into the nasal passages. If there are trapped air and secretions in the obstructed sinus cavity that may cause pressure in the sinus wall and this can result to extreme pain during a sinus attack.

Sinus infection and allergic reaction are some of the causes of sinus pressure. Sinus infection is caused by either virus fungi or bacteria. And if introduced to the nasal membranes, these pathogens can cause irritation in the membrane that causes the sinuses to swell. Due to the swelling the air, mucus, and pus can get trapped inside the sinus cavity and causes pressure to build inside. Allergic reaction to molds, pollen, dander, air pollution and dust is also a leading cause of irritation and swelling which can result to sinus pressure.

We denied that sinus pressure infection caused by infection of the sinuses can be really painful and troublesome. The causes of sinus infection cannot be totally eradicated but at least there are ways in which attacks can be lessened. In cases wherein sinusitis or sinus infection is the cause of sinus pressure infection, persons suffering from this condition can use decongestants, antibiotics, pain relievers and nasal sprays. For the cases wherein the cause is allergic reaction you must consult your doctor and do some tests in order to determine which particular element triggers the attack thus be able to avoid the said substance.

Marlon D. Ludovice

Actually Im not fond of writing, I dont even write at all. I am not expecting to be in this field. But nevertheless, I love to read books...almost everything interest me. Reading is my passion! And now that I am in an article writer team, writing gives me an additional thrill in myself...Before I love to read books but now Im also in a writing stuff. I can say that I am not a good writer but I am always trying to be one.

For additional information and comments about the article you may log on to http://www.sinusinfectionproblems.com

jona@sinusinfectionproblems.com

Sinus infection: The Four Way Treatment

If you feel like you may have a sinus infection, the right type of doctor that can answer your problem is an Otolaryngontolist or Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist. These doctors are well trained in the diagnosis and treatment of sinus infections.

In dealing with the infection doctor considers the following stages of treatment depending upon the severity of the problem. Diagnosis tells which among the four stages of treatment will be given to the sufferer.

The four treatments are as follows: Oral Antibiotics, Nebulized Antibiotics, IV Antibiotics and Sinus Surgery.

Oral Antibiotics

Oral antibiotics are one of the most prescribed treatments for chronic sinusitis patients. For this treatment, doctors prescribe a number of antibiotics that a patient takes on a daily basis for usually 2-3 weeks. Usually, this is given to a patient suffering a minor infection.

Nebulized Antibiotics

Nebulized antibiotics are a way of treating infections topically. A new treatment called SinuNEB aerosolizes the antibiotics so that you breathe the antibiotics in through your nose, getting directly to the source of the problem. This type of treatment usually lasts 2-3 weeks. This is commonly aid with nebulizer device.

IV Antibiotics

In select cases, a doctor may decide on an intravenous (IV) antibiotic therapy. For this treatment, antibiotics enter directly into the bloodstream through an injection. This type of therapy generally lasts 4-6 weeks. This is a more complex treatment compared to the first two given above. Injection from the bloodstreams allows a faster effect of the medicine given.

Sinus Surgery

Sinus surgery is generally a last resort for doctors encountering a patient with a severe infection. Definitely, the purpose of the surgery is to relieve the chronic sinusitis condition. Most surgeries are endoscopic surgeries, a new way of operating without making incisions on your face. The surgery is generally accomplished in 1-3 hours. It can take several weeks for a full recovery.

Undergoing in a different sinus treatment is not the last thing for you to do. It is important to visit your doctor oftentimes and take the prescribed medicines for the maintenance of your treatment.

Marlon D. Ludovice Actually Im not fond of writing, I dont even write at all. I am not expecting to be in this field. But nevertheless, I love to read books...almost everything interest me. Reading is my passion! And now that I am in an article writer team, writing gives me an additional thrill in myself...Before I love to read books but now Im also in a writing stuff. I can say that I am not a good writer but I am always trying to be one. For additional information and comments about the article you may log on to http://www.sinusinfectionproblems.com jona@sinusinfectionproblems.com