Otitis Media

A bulging eardrum is an inflamed tympanic membrane. The tympanic membrane, also called the eardrum, is a thin flap of skin in the ear over the ear canal. When sound enters the ear, the eardrum vibrates. This vibration moves the tiny bones in the middle ear, sending sounds into the inner ear. A bulging eardrum can be caused by many different things, such as an ear infection. It can affect hearing because it impairs the eardrum's ability to vibrate and transmit sound. When the eardrum is inflamed, it can cause a person to experience fullness in their ear, ear pain, and pressure. Ian Hooton/Science Photo Library/Getty Images Symptoms Symptoms that may occur along with a bulging eardrum include: Pain in the affected ear or ears Fullness in the ear caused by trapped fluid behind the eardrum Temporary hearing loss Fever In children who have a bulging eardrum and are pulling their ears, they may be unable to sleep and irritable. ...

Several factors can increase a person's risk of developing cervical cancer. Some risk factors, such as smoking, a person can control. However, there are others, such as age, that a person cannot control. Risk factors increase a person's chances of developing a certain condition. Cervical cancer has two types of risk factors, which include those a person cannot control, such as age and family history, and those a person can control, such as diet, engaging in safe sexual practices, and smoking. Having one or more risk factors does not mean a person will automatically develop cervical cancer. This article explores the potential risk factors of developing cervical cancer and how a person can lower their risk. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) , HPV refers to a group of over 200 related viruses. Some of those viruses spread through sexual contact with others. Sexual activity can refer to vaginal, oral, or anal sex. There are two categories of sexually transmitted HPV ...

Do you ever hear what sounds like ringing, humming or noise in your ears or head? If so, you may be experiencing tinnitus. At times, everyone hears tinnitus noise but may not pay much attention to it until it's brought into focus. There is always internal information coming into our brain, but the noise may not be at the forefront until we're conscious of it. Thankfully, tinnitus is a symptom, not a disease, and it's very common. What does tinnitus feel like? Tinnitus is more than just ear ringing. It may be in one ear, both ears or alternating from side to side. The noise you hear may come in different forms, including ringing, scratching, pulsating, hearing your heartbeat, chimes, crickets, clicking, static, humming or whooshing.  What causes tinnitus?  Anything that causes hearing loss can cause tinnitus," says Geoffrey Casazza, MD, Nebraska Medicine otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon. "Many patients think it will lead ...

Antibiotics are medicines that are used to treat certain kinds of bacterial infections. They work to clear up infections either by killing bacteria or stopping their growth. They typically have to be prescribed by a healthcare provider. Learn more about using antibiotics, including when and how to take them safely. katleho Seisa / Getty Images Antibiotics Drug Information Antibiotics came into broader use in the 1940s, after British scientist Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin (the first antibiotic) in mold. Before Fleming started experimenting with penicillin, many people died of common bacterial infections.   Today, antibiotics are safe and effective for most people to use. They are usually prescribed to treat common bacterial infections, such as strep throat and urinary tract infections (UTIs). Types and Forms Antibiotics are divided into several classes based on how they work and what kinds of conditions they trea...

An entrepreneur from Dearborn, Mich., was shocked to learn that the constant ringing in her ears was actually a symptom of sinus cancer. In 2016, just as Page decided to open her own cosmetic teeth whitening spa, she learned that she had this rare type of cancer after a strange symptom popped up, causing her major discomfort. Valerie Page never thought the ringing in her ears could be a symptom of sinus cancer. Screengrab via FOX 2 "I constantly had a ringing in my ear — all day (and) all night. (I had) a lot of problems, but I never expected to hear 'sinus cancer,'" she said. She would also learn that what she thought were sinus infections — something she had been battling for nearly three years — were also a symptom of sinus cancer. Valerie's Recovery Shortly after her diagnosis, Page had a polyp — an extra piece of tissue that grows inside the body — removed, as it was blocking her nasal passage. A test would later reveal the polyp was cancerous. Valerie Page...

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Credit: Pixabay. Students in the US who are infected with a weird brain parasite commonly spread by cats are more likely to major in business studies, according to a new study. The findings suggest that the infection may be promoting entrepreneurial tendencies by reducing fear and enhancing risk-taking behavior. Toxoplasma gondii  is a parasite carried by cats and found in their feces, but which can also be acquired after consuming poorly cooked meat or contaminated water. A third of the world's population is thought to be infected with the parasite. Once it infects a human host, the parasite can cause toxoplasmosis, which is the leading cause of death attributed to foodborne illness in the United States. More than 60 million men, women, and children in the U.S. carry the Toxoplasma parasite, but very few display symptoms because the immune system usually keeps the infection from causing illness. But even though they might not fee...

Introduction: Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is a chronic infection of the middle ear cleft with a permanent perforation resulting in mucopurulent discharge and may include otalgia or fever, vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus. These compromise the quality of life of CSOM patients and affect their social communication and professional life also, which may induce social withdrawal and depression. Materials & methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of ENT, Indira Gandhi Medical College & Research Institute (IGMC&RI), Pondicherry, India, from May 2019 to May 2020. CSOM patients fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited for the study. The association of disease characteristics and hearing loss was evaluated by the Spearman correlation test. Correlation of variables such as age, sex, type of disease, laterality hearing loss type, and severity with respect to depression was done using Chi-square test. Re...

Sinus headaches are those that cause pain and pressure in the sinuses, which are a network of hollow cavities inside the skull. Migraine is a neurological condition that causes moderate to severe headaches, usually on one side of the head. Sinus headaches and migraine are different conditions with different symptoms, causes, and treatments. Knowing the difference between the two conditions will help people seek the appropriate treatment. This article outlines the differences between sinus headaches and migraine episodes, including their associated symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. We also list other types of headaches a person may experience and provide information on when to see a doctor. Sinus headaches affect the sinuses, which are a network of hollow, air-filled cavities inside the skull. The sinuses produce mucus and help moisten the nasal cavities. Sinus headaches often result from sinus infections, also known as sinusitis. Blockage within the sinuses can cause pressure, pain, ...