Symptoms of an Inner Ear Infection

Can ear infections are diagnosed in children more frequently, but still a problem for adults. A nuisance are more typically inner ear infections, but can be a problem sometimes. However, treatments are generally simple and can alleviate problems in a short time. Prevention is equally simple and includes measures that have already integrated many people in their daily lives.

Causes

Most ear infections begin with bacteria entering the ear through the eustachian tube, the mucus regulates air pressure in the inner ear as well as drainage. The resulting infection causes the inner ear lining to to thresholds and blocks the tube, forcing a buildup of mucus. Many times, ear infections accompany a cold or flu, if the suffering not too sick, to develop an infection.

 

Earaches

Ear infections are common in children, mostly because their tubes are smaller and do not take as much to be blocked. Be aware of children complaining of an earache or pulling at their ears often. Young children will be cranky and may have difficulty sleeping.

 

Hearing Loss

 

Adults suffer from a ear infection notice a temporary loss of hearing due to a blockage in the ear. Can ring it sensation in the ears, also known as tinnitus. When children not responding silent sounds that turn TV or volume and speak louder causes such symptoms. Children can also be displayed, be inattentive at school.

 

Fever

Because many ear infections as a result of developing a fight with a cold or flu, symptoms can be accompanied by fever. This can easily be treated with acetaminophen.

 

Dizziness

Since also the eustachian tube with balance helps sick Vertigo and dizziness occur if the tubes are blocked. An ill have the feeling that the space constantly rotate, move or is. In addition, can the eyes falsch-- move drive on one side before the snap again in the Center. These conditions are often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

 

Ruptured eardrum

It can be also a thick, yellow fluid out of the ear. This means enough to burst the ear drum causing pressure has built up in the ear, and that the liquid on its own is drained. It is usually harmless and heals the ear drum itself.

 

 

 

 

Inner Ear Infections

If an infection or a disease that the inner ear is affected, called labyrinthitis. An inner ear infection can cause balance and hearing problems. It can affect one or both ears, and the cause either viral or bacterial. The bacterial type can be effectively treated with antibiotics, but the viral type has run its course. It is important to understand a few things about the functions of the ear, why ear infections occur and how they handle.

Anatomy of the ear

When a person develops an inner ear infection, it is important to note that ear infections in contrast to other types of ear infections are internal. The inner ear consists of a series of small channels and different tubes. The technical term for this is the labyrinth, and it has two jobs: to interpret tone and figuring out the movement and position of the head. The maze can sometimes develop an infection.

 

Symptoms

If developed an infection in the inner ear symptoms can a feeling, the room turns, i.e. dizziness. Some people are nausea and vomiting, usually of Vertigo. Other features include an uncertainty, headache, ringing in the ears and possibly modified hearing or a hearing loss, is temporary. These symptoms worse, often overwhelm with head movements like in your bed, sit or look up.

 

Treatment

Doctors treat different inner ear infections. Some doctors would rather wait and see whether the infection go away its own up before they prescribe an antibiotic. It is common that the doctor wait no more than 72 hours before trying the next approach. The reason for this is because antibiotics do nothing for infections, are viral, making it the largest portion of the inner ear infections, according to the Mayo Clinic. These types of infections resolve usually on your own.

 

Drugs

If doctors prescribe antibiotics for an inner ear infection, they usually first prescribe amoxicillin. If this is the case, most symptoms will subside in a few days. It is important to round of medication stop full, so that the infection will not be returned. If the infection is caused by an accumulation of inner ear fluid, antibiotics will not help. The next approach might be, insert drainage tubes in the ears by a minor surgical procedure.

 

Self help

There are some things that you can do at home if you or a child has complaints from an inner ear infection. Over-the-counter pain relievers can help reduce pain or fever associated with the infection. Heat usually helps to relieve an inner ear infection, so many people find comfort in a warm compress or a heating pad. Adults find comfort in Antihistamines such as allergy often medicines or decongestants if the inner ear infection due to a sinus problem.

 

 

 

 

Problems of the Ears

Many problems and infections can occur in the thin fabric, tiny bones and cartilage, to create the ear. Hearing loss and serious diseases, from the effects of untreated ear infections can be numerous health issues. Even a result of other health issues can be ear pain.

Mastoiditis

Mastoiditis was one of the leading causes of death of children before the era of antibiotics, according to Medline Plus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine offered. Although less common, as of 2010, yet difficult to treat mastoiditis is. Symptoms of mastoiditis ear drainage, ear pain, high fever, headache, hearing loss, redness in the ear or behind it and swelling behind the ear, which the cartilage shell stick out can lead. To test mastoiditis, doctors of CT scans of ear or head, skull X-rays or a culture of fluid from your ear can be ordered. The infection of the ear in the mastoid bone in the skull, distributed just behind the ear is located. Injections and oral antibiotics are the normal course of treatment, although part of the mastoid bone or Myringotomy, draining through the eardrum the middle ear removed may be required.

Swimmer's ear

Swimmer's ear is called otitis externa and occurs when water is trapped in the ear. The trapped water from bathing, swimming, or high humidity can bacteria grow and infect the ear, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology. Swimmer's ear can also be caused by a tear in the ear canal, hair spray and extensive cleaning with cotton bud. People with eczema or Seborrhea diagnosed are rather contract swimmer's ear. Unhandled swimmer's ear can cause hearing loss, recurrent ear infections or bone and cartilage damage. Swimmer's ear symptoms are itching, mild or moderate pain that feels worse when the ear on a blocked or full feeling in the ear, pain in the neck, face, or page which tugged neck head and swollen lymph nodes. Careful cleaning of the ear and ear drops will cure swimmer's ear.

Ruptured eardrum

A ruptured eardrum is a hole or tear in the eardrum, a thin tissue that separates the ear canal of the middle ear, according to Mayo Clinic. Within a few weeks the eardrum often even without treatment, will heal sometimes surgical repair is required. Sharp or sudden earache that is disappearing fast, ear discharge, hearing loss and dizziness are symptoms of a ruptured eardrum. Tears in the eardrum can loud explosions like shot are caused by pressure of fluids from an infection of the middle ear, weapon, a significant difference of pressure in the ear against outside of ear and severe head trauma. A ruptured eardrum can partial or full hearing loss and leaves the middle ear is susceptible to infections.

3 Measures for Avoiding Risks of Bloodborne Pathogens Due to Indirect Contact

Bloodborne pathogens are known to cause many contagious diseases including some that do not have any definitive cure, thus making them one of the biggest threats in the healthcare field. Realizing that taking adequate preventive measures is the best way to keep such diseases at bay, premier healthcare organizations and even the industry has stressed on the importance of bloodborne pathogen certification courses which impart the requisite knowledge to the employees for avoiding the ever-present risk of such infections.

Recognizing symptoms of such diseases, understanding and following the exposure control plan formulated by your employer and using the proper gear during the administration of minor treatments and for invasive medical procedures like surgeries are taught in such courses. However the threat of bloodborne pathogens continues to remain high even after administering treatment due to faulty and outright unsafe follow-up practices.

In addition to certain prominent topics like universal precautions and infection control a bloodborne pathogen certification also teaches you to avoid threats due to indirect contact by adopting the following 3 measures.

• Safe Disposal: Just because the treatment procedure is complete doesn't mean that you are no longer at risk from bloodborne pathogens. You can still contract diseases if you come in contact with carelessly discarded needles and other contaminated materials like used gloves, bandages and gauze. Some of the organisms remain potent for a number of days even if the blood or fluid dries up. One of the modules in your training will also tell you the importance of safe disposal of used materials. This will include using a sharps container for putting used needles, broken glass and any other sharp and disposable instruments so as not to injure yourself as well as others. Also any other contaminated items must be put in special bags meant for the purpose and promptly taken to the designated area for disposal by the waste management workers.

• Proper Labelling: A training course will further teach you the importance of labels and also how to identify standard signs and symbols used to indicate hazardous materials and areas. When disposing of contaminated materials you must ensure that the bags and containers are properly labelled so that the other staff will be cautious when handling the same. Similarly fluid and blood samples for testing must also be labelled and stored safely. In addition you will understand the danger of storing food and eating near places where such infected materials are kept.

• Maintaining Hygiene: Another important but oft neglected aspect of healthcare is the maintenance of proper hygiene. The course will tell you how following a set of simple hygiene steps are the most effective ways to prevent infection due to such pathogens. It will tell you the proper techniques for hand washing when performing routine duties and even in cases of accidental exposure.

Studies have pointed out that the risks of infection in a healthcare facility continue to be high due to poor implementation of safety measures. A bloodborne pathogen certification course will tell you the importance of such measures and also how to implement them for increasing safety.

3 Reasons Why First Aid Certification Is So Vital For First Responders

First aid is the procedure for providing immediate assistance in case of injuries or illnesses to stabilize the person till a more advanced medical help takes over treatment or until the person reaches a hospital. The versatility and range of this initial procedure is such that it can address certain minor issues entirely and can even prevent fatality in a life threatening situation.

During an emergency the first responders on the scene provide the required first aid. At times they can be members of the public who happen to be nearby and have had some prior training in first aid, however in a majority of cases professionals like paramedics and even firefighters and the police arrive first and have to administer suitable first aid.

The nature of the job of first responders is such that completing a first aid certification course is a must; the following points will bring out the importance.

• Increased Threats: The environment you live in today is changing rapidly where constant advances in the society and economy have a huge impact on your lives. While such development has its advantages, the increase in population, number of vehicles, increased traffic, reliance on machinery and electronic gadgets, more high-rises, and changed lifestyle have all lead to an increase in the number of accidents and also cause a significantly higher number of health problems. In current times the first responder has to tackle many more cases and that too of diverse types. A first aid course will ensure that such a professional learns about all the different possibilities and the ways to handle them.

• Stress Management: The job of a first responder is extremely stressful. These professionals arrive on the scene when the person's condition is the most precarious and to add to that they do not have the support of any kind of prior knowledge or test reports unlike the hospital staff, and have to ascertain the situation and proceed to administer treatment as quickly as possible. Moreover there is often a group of bystanders at such places who might make the movement difficult. More often than not first responders will find themselves in chaotic and rather unfavorable circumstances and thus come under a lot of stress. First aid training teaches such professionals how to manage stress and still provide the most effective treatment to the victim.

• Safety: A scene of an accident often poses several safety issues like fire, falling debris, live wires, oncoming traffic, poisonous gases and rapidly flowing water. Besides effective management of the victim a first aid course will teach you to look for any potential dangers nearby before approaching the site because the safety of first responders is as important as that of the victim.

Getting a first aid certification is required if you want a job as a first responder like a paramedic, but in addition such training is advantageous as it will give you the competence to address any unknown threats and in better management of the victim, onlookers and even your own self.

How Does Ultrasound Therapy Work?

Ultrasound Therapy:

Definition
Ultrasound; sound waves vibrating at frequencies above those that the human ear can hear, greater than 20,000cycles per second (hertz, Hz).

Therapeutic ultrasound is that which is used for therapeutic (rather than diagnostic) purposes and is usually produced at 1 million cycles per second or 1 megacycle (MHz). Generally US frequency is between 0.7 and 3.3 MHz.

Introduction

Ultrasound was first researched in Europe and was introduced to the United States in the early 1950`s, since this time, the use of ultrasound has grown, and it remains a very popular modality today.

Mechanism of action

US is produced by a high-frequency alternating current being applied to a crystal made of quartz or a synthetic (i.e. barium titanate or lead zirconate). The current causes the crystal to bend, first in one direction and then the other, as the current alternates. This deformation of the crystal creates what is called piezoelectric energy. The vibration energy is transferred to a metal plate, usually nickel-plated brass, and then the patient's tissue. The crystal and metal plate are housed in the transducer or sound head of the unit.

Physical properties
It is not transmitted through a vacuum
It is transmitted poorly through gases
It is transmitted best through gas-free liquids and high-density solids
The console
Similar to a radio transmitter.
Has an oscillator that produces electromagnetic wave at high frequencies.

Transducer head

Converts electromagnetic waves into sound waves.
Larger transducer surface is better (7-13cm*), but small enough to maintain skin contact.
Waves are emitted in a cylindrical beam perpendicular to traducer surface. Therefore hold the transducer head parallel to tissue surface.
Never allow the beam to shoot straight into the air without gel or water as this may damage the crystal.

To test crystal: water on the head, turn up the intensity the water should stream.
Coupling agents
Air does not conduct well, must use a coupling medium. Use a commercial gels, not mineral oil and some gels will contain substances that can promote healing such as, vit E, aloe.
Attenuation
As US travels through human tissue, it gradually decreases in intensity due to attenuation. Attenuation is the result of absorption, reflection and refraction, with absorption accounting for about half of attenuation.
- Proteins are the major absorbers of US
- Increase protein content increase absorption
- Tissues with high water content decrease absorption (waves pass through)
- Homogenous tissues decrease absorption (fat)
- Heterogeneous tissues, fascia planes increase absorption
e.g. bone\ periosteum, fat \ muscle, diff muscle groups.
- Bone reflects waves, which meet incoming waves: resonance therefore heat production (periosteal burning)
- Metal artefacts reflects waves but absorb heat therefore caution
Absorption
Conversion of the mechanical energy of US into heat is expressed as an absorption coefficient and is dependent on tissue type and frequency. This coefficient is expressed in decibels/cm and is highest for tissues with the highest collagen content and increase in proportion to the US frequency.
Absorption coefficients in decibels/cm at 1 and 3 MHz
Half depth
The depth of tissue at which the US intensity is half its initial intensity is frequency and tissue type dependent
Half depths in mm at 1 and 3 MHz

Reflection
Is the redirection of an incident beam away from a reflecting surface at an angle equal and opposite to the angle of incidence. US waves are reflected at tissue interfaces with most reflection occurring where there is the greatest difference between the acoustic impedance of adjacent tissues.
There is 100% reflection of US at an air-skin interface and only a 0.1% reflection at couple medium- skin interface. In the body most reflection approx 35% occurs at soft tissue-bone interface.

Refraction

The redirection of a wave at an interface
When refraction occurs, the US wave enters the tissue at one angle and continues through the tissue at a different angle.

Frequency

The number of compressions-rarefactions cycles per unit of time expressed as (hertz). Increasing the frequency decreases the depth of penetration.
Use 1 MHz for tissue up to 5 cm deep and 3 MHz for tissue 1 to 2 cm deep.

Dosage

There is no certain way of exactly calculating how much energy is absorbed in any particular tissue, the decision about dosage is a matter of judgement to some extent. This judgement must be based on the known factors governing ultrasound absorption and is based on the following:
Mode of delivery:

- Continuous output
Continuous delivery of US throughout the treatment period
Used sub acute and chronic stages
- Pulsed output
Sound on and off alternately (variable ratio)
I.e. 20% or 1:5 duty cycle is on 20% of the time off 80% of the time: on for 2ms off for 8ms
When ultrasound is delivered in at pulse mode, with a 20% duty cycle or lower the heat generated during the time on is dispersed during the off time.

Used more for acute and sub-acute stage where heat is not desirable. Also pulsed US has been shown to increase cellular permeability more the constant US (see below) especially at 1:5 at an intensity of 0.5-0.75 W/cm.

Power
The amount of acoustic energy per unit time (Watts)

Intensity
The power per unit area of the transducer head expressed in Watts/cm and is limited to 3W/cm
The intensity applied should be altered in accordance with the nature of the lesion (chronic higher than acute) tissue type (see above) lower intensities for higher absorbers.

When applying US for non-thermal effects rules of thumb, use 0.5 to 1.0 W/cm. For thermal effects when using a frequency of 1 MHz use an intensity of between 1.5 to 2.0 W/cm, at a 3MHz frequency usually an intensity of 0.5 W/cm is sufficient due to the energy being absorbed in a smaller more superficial volume of tissue. When looking to achieve thermal effects you expect the patient to feel a mild warming after 2 to 3 minutes of treatment, if this does not take place increase the intensity.
Time The amount of energy applied to the tissues and hence the effects is dependent not only the intensity but also the length of time applied. In general, treatment duration should be increased when lower intensities or lower frequencies are used.

Minimum treatment times are considered to be 1-2 min, maximum 10-15 min. It is also suggested that chronic lesions benefit from longer treatment times.
Effects of US on human tissue

Thermal effects

The friction caused by the vibration of the molecules within the patient's tissues will produce heat. Therefore US can be used as a thermal agent to increase the temperature of deep tissues on average soft tissue temperature has been shown
to increase by 0.02C per minute at 1 W/cm at 1MHz. The thermal effects are similar to thermotherapy (see thermotherapy notes) however US can heat deeper structures and can be applied more accurately then superficial heating agents. US is also selective and will heat tissues with a higher absorption coefficient (bone, tendons, ligaments, joint capsules, fascia) more than those with low coefficients (fat, muscle).

To increase heat being delivered the duration and/or intensity can be increased. Frequency will effect penetration with 3MHz will heat tissue up to 1 to 2 cm deep, whereas 1MHz will heat tissue up to 5cm
Note that with 3MHz the max temperature is higher, but the depth of penetration is lower.

Non Thermal effects

Cavitation
Cavitation is the formation of tiny gas or vapour filed bubbles in the tissues as a result of ultrasound. During the compression phase bubbles are compressed and during rarefaction phase they expand.

Stable cavitation: occurs when the bubbles oscillate in size within the ultrasound pressure waves but remain intact and when associated with acoustic steaming, is considered to have therapeutic value. See below Transient cavitation: occurs when the volume of bubble changes rapidly and than collapse causing high-pressures and temperature changes, resulting in gross tissue damage and free radical release. This happens at high intensities

Micro-streaming
As a result of cavitation there is a localised, unidirectional fluid movement around the vibrating bubble. These very small fluid movements around cells called micro-streaming and are believed to play a significant role in the therapeutic effect of US by altering the permeability of cell membranes so increase the diffusion rate of ions across the membrane, e.g. Ca which act as a second messenger, may stimulate the repair process. Na, which alters electrical activity in nerves, therefore could be involved in pain relief. Also associated with increase mast cell degranulation, increase chemotactic factors, histamine release increase macrophage responsiveness and increase the rate of protein synthesis by fibroblasts. All of which is thought to enhance healing.

Acoustic streaming
This is a steady circulatory flow due to radiation torque and is thought to alter cellular activity by transporting martial from one part of the US field to another.

Micro-massage
The waves of compression and rarefaction may produce a form of micro-massage which could reduce oedema and break down adhesion at high intensities.

Phonophoresis
Is the application of US in connection with a topical drug preparation as a couple medium as US pulsation's increase skin absorption of chemical substances i.e.
counter irritants, vitamins, salicylates etc.

Pain control
US is believed to control pain by altering its transition or perception or by modifying the underlying condition.

Stimulation of cutaneous thermal receptors
Changes in nerve conduction by thermal changes or non-thermal effects
Modulation of inflammation
Placebo

13 Must-Haves for a Good First-Aid Kit

In our fast-paced world, we could hurt ourselves while doing even the simplest tasks. Being trained in first-aid but not having a kit around would be quite pointless. A simple first-aid kit can be put together and kept at an easily accessible place in your house, work place, your handbag or even in the car. Tell a friend or someone in your family about your kit, in case there is ever a need where you need to be administered first-aid.

You could buy a commercially available kit or you could also assemble one to make sure the contents are carefully selected by you. A few essentials are:

• Band-aids, water-proof and the normal cloth ones. Keep a strip of 10-12 at any given point.
• Bandages, they are bigger than band-aids and help tie up bigger wounds or even to wrap around your arm or leg.
• An anti-pain balm, in case there is a muscle pull or a body-ache that you need to take care of.
• Couple of rolls of gauze, to tie up bandages or even cover a wound.
• An antiseptic cream, for small cuts, rashes and bruises.
• A disinfectant solution is always handy while cleaning an injury.
• A pair of scissors to cut band-aids or gauze.
• A pair of tweezers, in case you need to remove small thorns or glass pieces.
• A cream to treat burns either due to too much sun or a fire.
• Clean napkins and cotton swabs, to wipe or pat dry an injury. Or even to wipe a little child's tears.
• A small bottle of clean water, in case you need to wipe something off and are a little away from a tap.
• A pair of gloves so that you do not touch blood with naked hands, you cannot put yourself in trouble while helping others.
• A thermometer, just in case temperatures rise or fall due to the injury.

Make sure you keep a tab on the expiry dates for everything in your kit, the last thing you want to do is administer dated medication to an injured person. Try not to keep any kind of tablets or pills, you may never know about a person's medical allergies or reactions. If your kit is going to be for the house, you could add a few tablets keeping in mind what your family members are allergic to.

A first-aid kit can be altered according to where it will be used. The one for the house could have a host of other things added. The one for the playground, workplace or the one in your car could have a completely different set of things altogether.

In case you are taking a large group of people outdoors, your first-aid kit should be equipped to tackle more serious injuries such as snake or insect bites, sprains or fractures or even breathing problems. A good, clean first-aid kit is essential for first-aid training. You just never know when you need to use your training.