DURATION of the healing process
Since the formation of pus in the ear can have different causes, the duration of the disease varies. However, with the right treatment, healing should occur within one to two weeks. If an inflammation of the middle ear occurs for a longer period of time or recurs at certain intervals, it is a chronic inflammation.
In most cases, the eardrum is damaged. This makes it easier for the ear to become inflamed. The treatment is then carried out by restoring the eardrum (tympanoplasty). In most cases, healing is then achieved. In some cases, however, recurrent inflammation can occur despite tympanoplasty and must be treated again and again.
How contagious is pus in the ear?
Besides dead bacteria, the pus also contains living ones. Therefore the pus in the ear is also contagious. The infection can be caused by hand contact with the pus, for example.
However, this does not necessarily lead to an infection of the ear, but can also cause infections of the throat, respiratory tract or even the skin. How many bacteria are needed to cause an infection depends on the type of bacterium and its ability to cause disease in the body (virulence).In addition, the respective strength of the human immune system plays a role in whether an infection can develop easily or severely. Our next article might be interesting for you as well: How contagious is an inflammation of the middle ear?
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