Health's Book

Definition

Chronic ear infection is inflammation or infection of the middle ear that persists or keeps coming back, and causes long-term or permanent damage to the ear.

See also: Acute ear infection

Symptoms

A chronic, long-term infection in the ear may have less severe symptoms than an acute infection. It may go unnoticed and untreated for a long time.

Symptoms include:

* Ear pain or discomfort, earache
o Usually mild
o May feel like pressure in the ear
* Fever
* Fussiness
* Pus-like drainage from the ear
* Hearing loss

Note: Symptoms may be continuous or come and go, and may occur in one or both ears.