TREATMENT
Treatment of an inner ear infection begins by monitoring the disease to see if it will get better on its own. Up to 80 percent of ear infections will go away on their own without a prescription antibiotic.
You may be enticed to try a homoeopathic remedy for your infection. However, you should never insert a substance into your ear unless you’re under the guidance of a doctor, especially if you have an infection.
Once you introduce a foreign substance into your ear canal, there is no way to drain it out. Trapped substances in your ear can worsen an infection and hurt your hearing. Results from homeopathic remedies are inconclusive.
As well, if you’re experiencing labyrinthitis, the problem is in the inner part of your ear. There isn’t a connection from your outer ear to the inner part where the problem is. So you’ll want to avoid putting anything into your ear canal unless instructed by your physician.
Causes and Risk factors
It isn’t clear what causes labyrinthitis. It was once thought that a virus caused it. But people with labyrinthitis report having had an infection less than half the time. As such, doctors don’t know what the risk components are for developing it.
Complications
Even the worst cases of labyrinthitis will usually go away after a day or two of treatment. Nevertheless, in many cases, the symptoms are bad enough that you’ll want to see a doctor quickly. In some rare situations, labyrinthitis can cause permanent damage to your hearing. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, seek out a medical professional right away:
- A fever that doesn’t subside after 48 hours
- Diminished hearing
- Intense pain in your ear
It can be harmful to your hearing to assume that you’re dealing with an ear infection that your body can fight off on its own.
