How Long For An Ear Infection To Clear

Do You Need Antibiotics

Your physician may recommend a watch-and-see approach rather than prescribing antibiotics right away. Typically, you will keep an eye on symptoms for three days to see if they improve. This approach usually is used for children whose ear infections cannot be definitively diagnosed or who are under the age of 2.

If the infection does not clear up, you will need antibiotics. In some cases, a doctor will write you a prescription just in case the infection does not clear up.

If the ear infection is caused by a virus, antibiotics will not be prescribed because they do not work against viruses. Relieving symptoms while keeping an eye on the progression of the infection is the best course of treatment for a viral ear infection.

Ear Infection Signs And Symptoms

The telltale sign of an ear infection is pain in and around the ear. Young children can develop ear infections before they are old enough to talk. That means parents are often left guessing why their child appears to be suffering. When your child can’t say “my ear hurts,” the following signs suggest an ear infection could be the culprit:

• Tugging or pulling the ear
• Crying and irritability
• Fever, especially in younger children
• Fluid draining from the ear
• Loss of balance
• Difficulty hearing or responding to auditory cues

Signs that require immediate attention include high fever, severe pain, or bloody or pus-like discharge from the ears.

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What Is Middle Ear Infection

The ear is made up of three different sections: the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. These parts all work together so you can hear and process sounds. The outer and middle ear are separated by the eardrum a very thin piece of skin that vibrates when hit by sound waves.

This page deals with middle ear infection which is the infection / inflammation of the air-filled space behind the eardrum. This space can become blocked and filled with mucus , which can become infected, causing inflammation.

There are two types of middle ear infection. An acute infection starts suddenly and lasts for a short period of time, while a chronic ear infection is one that does not get better or keeps coming back. Chronic ear infection can result in long-term damage to the ear.

Sometimes fluid will remain in the middle ear after an ear infection, causing “glue ear“, a relatively common condition that is often undetected among New Zealand pre-schoolers. Glue ear can adversely affect hearing and may take several weeks to resolve. Children with a suspected ear infection, or who have difficulty hearing, should see a doctor. Children with evidence of damage to the inside of the ear, hearing loss, or language learning delay are likely to be referred to an ear, nose, and throat specialist .

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How Long Does An Inner Ear Infection Last Without Treatment

Inner ear infections will usually clear up by themselves within a few weeks, although some can last for six weeks or more. If the symptoms are severe or they dont start to improve within a few days, then you should see a doctor. The doctor might prescribe antibiotics if the infection appears to be caused by bacteria.

Longer Term Effects Of Inner Ear Infections

Generally, the symptoms will clear up as soon as the infection is gone. However, the effects can sometimes last longer.

You might still feel dizzy and off-balance even when the other symptoms caused by the infection have gone. This can be a sign that the balance organs were damaged. Your brain can usually learn to work with these changes, so your sense of balance should usually come back by itself. However, if youre struggling to cope or the problem persists, you should see an ENT specialist. The doctor can check for any underlying causes and may refer you for vestibular rehabilitation therapy to help you to recover your balance.

Inner ear infections can also have a longer term effect on your hearing. This is more likely if you had bacterial infection, so your doctor might recommend a hearing test to check on your ears after the infection.

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Complications Of Outer Ear Infection

Most outer ear infections clear up quickly with the right treatment. But sometimes an outer ear infection is harder to get rid of, and may continue to cause symptoms for three months or longer. This is called a long-term infection. In time, this can cause your ear canal to become narrowed or blocked, and lead to hearing loss.

Its possible for the infection to spread deeper into your skin or form a large collection of pus . You may need antibiotic tablets to treat this.

Rarely, an outer ear infection can start to affect the skin and cartilage around your ear, and nearby bones. This is called necrotising or malignant otitis externa. It happens when your outer ear infection spreads from your ear to nearby tissues. This can lead to serious infections of your skin, bones, and the membrane surrounding your brain . Most people who develop malignant otitis externa have an underlying problem with their immune system. For instance, they may have a weakened immune system due to HIV/AIDS, diabetes, chemotherapy or taking medicines that suppress the immune system.

If you have malignant otitis, your ear is likely to be very painful. You may also have a high temperature, headache, ear discharge and dizziness. You may notice some loss of movement of the muscles in your face.

If you have these symptoms, its important to seek medical help straight away. Malignant otitis can be life-threatening if it isnt treated.

How To Get Rid Of Ear Infection

While some cases require medical attention, most ear infections clear on their own. Rest and some home remedies will usually do the trick.

1. Holding a Warm Piece of Cloth over the Ear

Applying a warm compress relieves pain. You can do this in the following ways:

• Dip a piece of cloth in warm water, drain and hold it over the affected ear.
• Microwave a clean sock filled with either rice or beans for about 25 seconds and hold it on the ear.
• Alternatively, do the same with one cup of salt. Heat some salt and put it in a bean bag. Place it on the infected ear while lying down making sure that the temperature is not too high to make you uncomfortable. The heated salt will draw out any fluid from the infected ear and subsequently reduce pain and swelling.
• Do this for 10-15 minutes every day until the pain subsides.

2. Garlic

Garlic is an effective natural remedy for ear infection. It has antimicrobial and antiviral properties. You can use garlic in any of the following ways:

• Start by eating one or two cloves of fresh garlic every day to boost immunity and fight the infection.
• Crush a few cloves of boiled cloves add some salt before placing them in a clean piece of cloth and putting it on the affected ear.
• Fry some cloves of garlic in mustard oil until they are dark. Strain and leave to cool before putting a few drops into the affected ear using a dropper.

3. Olive Oil

4. Apple Cider Vinegar

You may substitute white vinegar for ACV if thats what you have.

5. Tea Tree Oil

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Prevention Of Ear Infections

There are a few things you can do to reduce your chances of getting an ear infection, although its important to note that you cant always prevent them.

• Make sure youre up to date with your vaccinations
• Dont try to clean your ears with your fingers or using cotton buds
• Make sure you dry your ears after a shower or going swimming
• Try to cover your ears when you go swimming
• Avoid exposure to smoky environments

FAQs

Can Ear Infections Affect Hearing

Fluid buildup in the middle ear also blocks sound, which can lead to temporary hearing problems. Kids having a problem might:

• not respond to soft sounds
• need to turn up the TV or radio
• talk louder
• seem inattentive at school

In kids who have otitis media with effusion, the fluid behind the eardrum can block sound, so mild temporary hearing loss can happen, but might not be obvious.

A child whose eardrum has ruptured might have ringing or buzzing in the ear and not hear as well as usual.

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When Should I Worry About A Blocked Ear

If youre on day two of a blocked ear, you might start thinking about possible causes. Maybe youll examine your behavior from the previous couple of days: were you doing anything that might have resulted in water getting trapped in your ear, for example?

You might also think about your health. Are you experiencing the kind of discomfort and pain that might be associated with an ear infection? If thats the case, you might want to make an appointment with your doctor.

Those questions are really just the tip of the iceberg. There are plenty of possible causes for a blocked ear:

• Water trapped in the ear canal or eustachian tube: Water and sweat can become trapped in the tiny areas of your ear with alarming ease. .

• Build-up of earwax: Earwax can cause blockages if its not properly draining or if it becomes compacted, hardening in place.

• Infection: An ear infection can cause inflammation and fluid buildup that eventually obstructs your ears.

• Sinus infection: Because your sinuses, throat, and ears are all connected, a sinus infection can cause excess fluids to become lodged in your ears .

• Growth: Certain kinds of growths, lumps, and bulges can cause a blocked feeling in your ears .

• Allergies: Certain pollen allergies can trigger the bodys immune system reaction, which in turn produces fluid and swelling.

How Is An Ear Infection Treated

Treatment of ear infections depends on age, severity of the infection, the nature of the infection and if fluid remains in the middle ear for a long period of time.

Your healthcare provider will recommend medications to relieve you or your childs pain and fever. If the ear infection is mild, depending on the age of the child, your healthcare provider may choose to wait a few days to see if the infection goes away on its own before prescribing an antibiotic.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics may be prescribed if bacteria are thought to be the cause of the ear infection. Your healthcare provider may want to wait up to three days before prescribing antibiotics to see if a mild infection clears up on its own when the child is older. If your or your childs ear infection is severe, antibiotics might be started right away.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended when to prescribe antibiotics and when to consider waiting before prescribing based on your childs age, severity of their infection, and your childs temperature. Their recommendations are shown in the table below.

American Academy of Pediatrics Treatment Guide for Acute Otitis Media

Pain-relieving medications

Ear tubes

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Why Is My Ear Infection Not Getting Better

If your symptoms get worse or dont improve, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor. They may prescribe antibiotics if your ear infection is chronic or doesnt appear to be improving. If a child under the age of 2 has ear infection symptoms, a doctor will likely give them antibiotics as well.

How Long Does An Ear Infection Last In Adults

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What Are The Treatments For Ear Infections

If your pediatrician recommends antibiotics, shell usually start with amoxicillin, an effective and safe antibiotic for bacterial infections that is one of the most commonly prescribed for young children. Whether or not your doctor opts for antibiotics or a watch-and-wait approach, rest and fluids are key as with any childhood respiratory infection or virus.

For pain relief at home, your pediatrician will usually recommend Acetaminophen for babies under 6 months and Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen for children 6 months and older. Remember that according to the CDC, over-the-counter cough medicines should not be given to children under 4 and should only be given to older children with your doctors approval. Recent research has shown that the negatives of these OTC medicines often outweigh any benefits.

How Are Ear Infections Treated

To treat an ear infection, health care providers consider many things, including:

• the type and severity of the ear infection
• how often the child has ear infections
• how long this infection has lasted
• the child’s age and any risk factors
• whether the infection affects hearing

The type of otitis affects treatment options. Not all kinds need to be treated with antibiotics. Because most ear infections can clear on their own, many doctors take a “wait-and-see” approach. Kids will get medicine for pain relief without antibiotics for a few days to see if the infection gets better.

Antibiotics aren’t routinely prescribed because they:

• won’t help an infection caused by a virus
• won’t get rid of middle ear fluid
• can cause side effects
• usually don’t relieve pain in the first 24 hours and have only a minimal effect after that

Also, overuse of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which are much harder to treat.

If a doctor does prescribe antibiotics, a 10-day course is usually recommended. Kids age 6 and older who don’t have a severe infection might take a shortened course for 5 to 7 days.

Some children, such as those with recurrent infections and those with lasting hearing loss or speech delay, may need ear tube surgery. An ear, nose, and throat doctor will surgically insert tubes that let fluid drain from the middle ear. This helps equalize the pressure in the ear.

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How Is An Ear Infection Diagnosed

Your doctor will check for an ear infection by using a small scope with a light to look into your childs ear. They will know if the eardrum is infected if it looks red. Other signs of infection they may see include fluid in the ear or a ruptured eardrumwhich leaves a hole. Your doctor will also look for other symptoms in your child, such as a runny nose, cough, fever, vomiting, and dizziness.

Preventing Outer Ear Infection

The following tips can help to reduce your risk of having an outer ear infection.

• Try to keep the inside of your ears dry by keeping shampoo and water out of your ears when youre having a shower or a bath. Dry your ears with a dry towel or hair dryer afterwards.
• Dont use cotton buds or other objects to clean your ear canal.
• Use ear plugs and/or a tight-fitting swimming cap when you go swimming, to prevent water getting in your ears. Dont swim in polluted water.
• Consider using acidic drops before and after swimming if youre prone to outer ear infections. You can buy these from a pharmacy.
• If you have a skin condition such as eczema or psoriasis, make sure you keep it under control as much as possible.
• If you have a build-up of earwax, see a doctor or nurse to check if you need to get it removed. Dont try to do it yourself.

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What Causes Fluid In The Inner Ear In Adults

Common causes for developing fluid in the ear for both adults and children include: Allergies1 Any kind of congestion, from a cold virus, similar infection, or even pregnancy. Enlarged sinus tissue, nasal polyps, tonsils, and adenoids, or other growths which block the auditory tube (usually caused by chronic sinusitis .

What To Do If You Think You Have An Ear Infection

Speak to a pharmacist if you think you have an outer ear infection. They can recommend acidic ear drops to help stop bacteria or fungus spreading. Your GP will often use a small light to look in the ear. Some otoscopes blow a small puff of air into the ear. This checks for blockages, which could be a sign of an infection.

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How Long It Takes An Ear Infection To Heal In Adults

Ear infection is a common condition with known treatments antibiotics and painkillers. Although these treatments have a time frame for treating ear infections, ear infection healing time may be different from one person to the other.

If you need more information or you have a question regarding Ear Infection, you can discuss it with our HearingSol healthcare professionals, just give us a call on +91-9899437202. We are always here to help you.

Ear infections healing time varies between individual. The recovery time of ear infection based on the age, anatomy, and surroundings of the patient.

Children may experience pain for several days, while adults may heal faster since their Eustachian tube is wide enough.

Normally, the healing time for middle ear infection may vary from 2 days to 3 days, an outer ear infection can last to 2 weeks and inner ear infection can last even up to 2 months until full recovery.