Common Types of Ear Infections in Adults

ear-infectionAn ear infection occurs when a bacterial or viral infection affects the middle ear, the sections of your ear just behind the eardrum. Ear infections can be painful because of inflammation and fluid build up in the middle ear.

Ear infections can be chronic or acute. Acute ear infections are painful but short in duration. Chronic ear infections do not clear up, or they recur many times. Chronic ear infections can cause permanent damage to the middle and inner ear.

Types Of Infections

There are two types of ear infection that develops in adults and may include:

• Outer ear infections: This type of ear infection is more common among swimmers and hence known as swimmer’s ear or otitis externa. It is the painful condition caused by infection of the outer ear. While swimming the polluted water gets trapped into the ear along with bacteria and other microorganisms and cause infection. This type of ear infection is more common in adults. Continue reading