As an experienced ear, nose, and throat physician, Dr. William B. Clark offers a variety of treatments for chronic ear infection. Dr. William B. Clark sees patients at his self-owned practice, ENT Associates of Northwest Florida.
2. As an experienced ear, nose, and throat physician,
Dr. William B. Clark offers a variety of treatments
for chronic ear infection. Dr. William B. Clark sees
patients at his self-owned practice, ENT
Associates of Northwest Florida.
Chronic ear infections are defined as those
infections that either fail to resolve or recur at least
three times over the course of six-months. Chronic
infection typically indicates a problem with the
Eustachian tube, which when working properly
serves to drain fluid from the middle ear.
3. In patients with chronic ear infections, this tube
routinely becomes blocked and causes infectious fluid
to build up inside the ear.
To treat this chronic buildup, physicians often prescribe
antibiotics in conjunction with home treatments, such
as over-the-counter pain relief or numbing drops.
Infection patterns that do not respond to these
recommendations may require surgery, which
commonly takes the form of tubes placed through the
eardrum. These tubes allow the inner ear to more
effectively drain, which can reduce the incidence and
severity of infection.