For mild cases of middle ear infection, your doctor might recommend watchful waiting or delayed antibiotic prescribing. Be careful about giving over-the-counter medicines to children. Not all over-the-counter medicines are recommended for children of certain ages. You can help prevent ear infections by doing your best to stay healthy and keep others healthy, including:.
Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Antibiotic Prescribing and Use. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Ear Infection. Minus Related Pages. On This Page. A person may want to lie down for 10 minutes, and then allow the liquid to flow out of the ear. Repeat this as needed. Babies who are nursing may feel better when allowed and encouraged to nurse as frequently as possible. Adults and children can suck on hard candy or cough drops.
Breast milk has antimicrobial properties. This means that breast milk is most effective in babies. However, some sources suggest that breast milk may even help adults. Infants and children should continue nursing to get the most benefits from breast milk. In nursing babies, as well as in children and adults, topical application of breast milk may also help. People can try dropping a few drops of breast milk in each ear, and repeat the application every few hours as needed.
Ear infections are the most common cause of ear pain. When the ear becomes infected, inflammation and buildup of pressure cause pain that can be intense. People with ear infections often have other symptoms, such as sinus pressure or a sore throat because infections from nearby areas may affect the ear.
An ear infection can also be a standalone condition. Most ear infections are bacterial, not viral. Only a doctor can diagnose an ear infection. People should not take antibiotics without a prescription, or assume that symptoms are due to an ear infection. However, earaches are not always caused by an ear infection. Other conditions can also cause pain in the ear. If left untreated, ear infections can spread to the jaw and other regions of the body.
They may also damage the ear itself and can cause dangerously high fevers. When symptoms of an ear problem are present and do not resolve on their own within a day or two, people should speak to a doctor. Doctors will check the way that the eardrum reacts to having air pushed against it, which can help diagnose a middle ear infection. Depending on the cause, some infections will clear up without treatment.
Symptoms may be managed during this time, and a doctor might recommend other treatments to speed up the healing process. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC , using antibiotics by mouth to treat ear infections may not be recommended in certain cases of middle and outer ear infections.
Treatment depends on the cause and severity of the infection, along with other health problems a person may have. Antibiotics are not effective against ear infections caused by viruses. Prescription eardrops may be the way a doctor will treat some ear infections.
Prescription eardrops can also sometimes be used to treat pain symptoms. Drugs, including acetaminophen Tylenol and ibuprofen Advil , help many adults with ear infections treat the pain associated with the accompanying inflammation. Tylenol and Advil are avalable to purchase online, and other brands are available. Decongestants or antihistamines, such as pseudoephedrine Sudafed or diphenhydramine Benadryl , may also help relieve some symptoms, especially those caused by excess mucus in the eustachian tubes.
Decongestants and antihistamines are also available to purchase online, as well as over-the-counter. Drugs such as these may help get rid of the pain of the ear infection, but they will not treat the infection itself.
Eardrops can be made at home or purchased over the counter. According to ear specialists, a simple at-home blend can be made by making a mixture of half rubbing alcohol and half white vinegar. Using a few drops into the ears can help dry out the ear canal and support the healing process.
These drops should also not be used in people who have ear tubes T-tubes , permanent injuries to their eardrum, or certain ear surgeries. If the infection is not getting better or other symptoms develop, a person should stop using the drops and see their doctor. Eardrops should not be used in an ear that has any discharge coming from it unless prescribed by a doctor.
Ear discharge, drainage, or blood is a sign of a bigger complication, such as a ruptured eardrum, which needs immediate medical attention. A warm compress may help relieve the pressure building up in the ear as well. Using a compress for minute periods while resting can help reduce pain.
This can be done along with other pain treatments, including over-the-counter medications. Some simple everyday steps help prevent many ear infections. Some basic hygiene tips and lifestyle choices will also support prevention.
Quitting smoking is an important step in preventing upper respiratory and ear infections. It also generates inflammation. Middle ear infections are common in children, but they can also happen in adults. An ear infection in an adult may mean a more serious problem than in a child. So you may need additional tests.
If you have an ear infection, you should see your healthcare provider for treatment. If they happen repeatedly, you should see an otolaryngologist ear, nose, and throat specialist or an otologist ear subspecialist. The middle ear connects to the throat by a canal called the eustachian tube. This tube helps even out the pressure between the outer ear and the inner ear. A cold or allergy can irritate the tube or cause the area around it to swell. This can keep fluid from draining from the middle ear.
The fluid builds up behind the eardrum. Bacteria and viruses can grow in this fluid. The bacteria and viruses cause the middle ear infection. These symptoms may be the same as for other conditions. If you have a high fever, severe pain behind your ear, or paralysis in your face, see your provider as soon as you can. Your health care provider will take a medical history and do a physical exam. He or she will look at the outer ear and eardrum with an otoscope or an otomicroscope. These are lighted tools that let your provider see inside the ear.
A pneumatic otoscope blows a puff of air into the ear to check how well your eardrum moves. Your provider may also do a test called tympanometry.
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