What may increase your risk for an ear problem?
Many conditions, lifestyle choices, medicines, and diseases interfere with your ability to heal or fight infection. You may be at risk for a more serious problem from your symptoms if you have any of the following. Be sure to tell your health professional.
Conditions
- History of surgery or injury in or near the ear, mouth, or jaw
- Living with a person who smokes
- Personal or family history of hearing loss
- Previous ear infection
- Previous surgery to remove the spleen (splenectomy)
- Problems present since birth (congenital abnormalities), such as cleft lip or palate or Down syndrome
- Use of hearing aids
Lifestyle choices
- Alcohol abuse or withdrawal
- Drug abuse or withdrawal
- Repeated exposure to loud noise, either at home or in the workplace
- Listening to loud music or going to concerts
- Smoking
Medicines
- Corticosteroid treatment, such as prednisone
- Medicines used to treat cancer (chemotherapy)
- Medicines to prevent rejection after an organ transplant
- Radiation therapy
Diseases
- Cancer
- Chronic skin conditions, such as:
- Acne
- Eczema
- Psoriasis
- Seborrheic dermatitis
- Diabetes
- Hemophilia
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
- Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
- Malnutrition
- Ménière's disease
- Sickle cell disease
- Thyroid problems
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS | Last Updated: February 13, 2008 |
| Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine Donald R. Mintz, MD - Otolaryngology | |
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