An ear infection often happens when a virus or bacteria causes inflammation in the ear. The most common type of ear infection is a middle ear infection, which occurs when fluid builds up behind the eardrum.
A health care provider usually prescribes antibiotics, pain relievers, and ear drops to treat an ear infection, but treatment plans vary from individual to individual.
If surgery or hearing aids are needed, a specialist, such as an otolaryngologist (also called an ENT or ear, nose and throat doctor), may be needed.
Ear infections often start as colds, flu, allergies, or other illnesses before turning into an ear infection.
Although there are six different types of ear infections, the most common is otitis media, otitis media. This is one of the most common reasons young children visit their pediatrician; 5 out of 6 children have at least one ear infection by their third birthday.
Typical treatment for ear infections includes antibiotics, pain relievers and ear drops, but this can vary depending on the type and severity of the ear infection.
Otitis media (middle ear infection)
You forget the mediaor middle ear infection, the most common is an ear infection. It primarily affects children, although adults can also get it. It is usually caused by viruses or bacteria and usually occurs when someone has a cold, flu or allergies.
Those with a middle ear infection usually have acute otitis media (AOM). This infection occurs when fluid gets trapped behind the eardrum and parts of the middle ear become infected. This causes ear pain and sometimes fever.
Treatment for a middle ear infection includes:
- Watchful waiting: An ear infection can sometimes clear up without antibiotics, so a doctor may advise waiting 2-3 days to see if symptoms improve. (They may also offer delayed prescribing, in which they prescribe an antibiotic but suggest waiting a few days to see if symptoms improve on their own.)
- antibiotics: If the infection is significant or if symptoms do not improve, your doctor will usually prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection.
- OTC pain relievers: Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil (ibuprofen) to ease discomfort and reduce fever.
- ear drops: When ear pain is more severe, your doctor may recommend or prescribe ear drops to relieve the discomfort.
Otitis externa (swimmer’s ear)
Otitis externa, sometimes called swimmer’s ear, is an infection or inflammation of the ear canal between the eardrum and the outer ear.
This infection is usually caused by swimming, exposure to dirty water, cleaning the earwax vigorously, or getting something stuck in the ear. People with swimmer’s ear often experience pain, itching, drainage and mild hearing loss.
Treatment for swimmer’s ear may include:
- ear drops: Your doctor may prescribe antibiotic ear drops to clear up the infection. These are local antibiotics that are dripped into the ear canal.
- Viking: If the ear is particularly swollen, a wick may be placed in the ear to allow the drops to travel to the end of the canal.
- antibiotics: Your doctor may also prescribe oral antibiotics, especially if you also have an ear infection.
- corticosteroids: A provider may prescribe these steroid medications to reduce itching and inflammation.
- OTC pain relievers: Your provider may recommend OTC pain relievers such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil (ibuprofen) to relieve ear pain.
- Vinegar drops: Vinegar-based drops are sometimes used to keep the ear dry.
Otitis media with effusion (glue ear)
Otis media with effusion (OME), sometimes called glue ear, is a common condition, especially in children ages 1-6. It is one of the most common infectious diseases that children get, but it can also occur in adults. A persistent stuck ear can lead to hearing loss if left untreated.
Glue ear occurs when fluid builds up in the middle ear and eustachian tube, putting pressure on the eardrum. In adults, the accumulation of fluid can be caused by large adenoids or carcinoma of the nasopharynx (type of cancer).
Treatment for sticky ear may include:
- antibiotics: If you have an infection or pus in your middle ear, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. In many cases, the infection has already cleared, leaving only fluid and making antibiotics unnecessary.
- Ear tubes: Children may need surgery to insert tubes to drain fluid from the ear.
- Adenoidectomy: If large adenoids are causing fluid to build up in the ear, an adenoidectomy (surgical removal of the adenoids) may be necessary.
- Hearing aids: If irreversible hearing loss has occurred, the person will need to be fitted with hearing aids.
- Speech therapy: A child will sometimes need speech therapy if the hearing loss has affected language development.
Bullous myringitis
With this infection, tiny blisters form on the eardrum due to viruses or bacteria. Bullous myringitis it can be extremely painful, causing a sharp, sudden pain in the ear that is often worse than the pain of a middle ear infection.
The pain tends to subside when the blisters burst, but broken blisters can cause a bloody discharge from the ear.
Typical treatment for this infection includes:
- Pain relievers: A healthcare provider will prescribe or recommend OTC pain relievers to treat severe ear pain.
- antibiotics: Your doctor will usually prescribe antibiotics right away instead of waiting to see how the infection progresses.
- Hearing test: Because of the high incidence of hearing loss with this condition, most people will need a hearing test once the infection has cleared and the area has healed.
- Hearing aids: If hearing loss is detected, the person will be fitted with hearing aids.
Acute mastoiditis
Acute mastoiditis it occurs when the mastoid, the bone just behind the ear, becomes infected. Acute mastoiditis is usually due to complications of a middle ear infection or because the infection has spread to the bone. Symptoms may include redness, discharge from the ear, fever and intense pain.
This condition can progress quickly and have serious complications, such as deafness, meningitis, blood clots and facial paralysis, so it’s important to get treatment right away.
Potential treatments for acute mastoiditis include:
- antibiotics: Antibiotics are usually the first course of treatment for mastoiditis and may be prescribed along with anticoagulants (blood thinners) and corticosteroids. Depending on the severity, they may be given through an intravenous (IV) tube.
- Ear tubes: Your healthcare provider may insert a tube into the ear to allow the fluid to drain.
- myringotomy: This procedure involves making a hole in the eardrum so that the trapped fluid can be drained away.
- mastoidectomy: In severe cases, the surgeon will remove the part of the mastoid bone that is infected.
Herpes Zoster Oticus
Also known as Ramsay Hunt syndrome, herpes zoster oticus occurs when an outbreak of shingles affects a nerve near one of your ears. This viral infection causes intense ear pain, a rash near or inside the ear, bumps in the ear canal, and possibly paralysis (loss of muscle function) on the side of the face.
The infection can also affect the cochlear nerve (hearing nerve), causing hearing loss, vertigo (dizziness and loss of balance) and tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Early treatment is needed to reduce the risk of permanent hearing loss. Treatment usually includes one or more of the following prescription medications:
- Antiviral drugs: These drugs are used to treat the shingles virus.
- corticosteroids: These medications help reduce pain and inflammation.
- diazepam: Valium (diazepam) can sometimes help treat dizziness.
Most ear infections will resolve without problems as long as the treatment plan is followed. Take all prescribed antibiotics as directed. Do not stop taking the antibiotic when your symptoms are gone – unless your healthcare provider tells you otherwise.
The most challenging part of living with an ear infection is usually pain management. To ease the discomfort, try applying a warm washcloth to the infected ear. You can also ask your doctor what medications can help relieve pain.
Your doctor may recommend pain-relieving ear drops or OTC pain relievers such as Advil (ibuprofen) or Tylenol (acetaminophen). A pediatrician can advise on safe doses of these medications for young children.
Contact your doctor if your pain does not improve within a few days or if it gets worse. They can determine if you need another antibiotic or if there is a complication. Make an appointment right away if you or your child experiences the following:
- Swelling behind the ear
- High temperature
- Severe pain
- Pain that stops suddenly (may indicate a ruptured eardrum)
- Headache or dizziness
- Facial muscle twitching
Ear infections are common and are usually the result of an ear infection caused by a virus or bacteria. They primarily affect children, but they can also occur in adults.
Treatment for an ear infection will vary depending on the type and severity of the infection. In most cases, ear infections can be treated with prescription drugs such as antibiotics and cause no further problems.
If the ear infection progresses or develops into a more significant infection, additional treatment options, such as surgery, may be needed. In severe cases, an ear infection can cause hearing loss.
If you suspect you have an ear infection, see your doctor right away to create a treatment plan.