They correspond to the three main parts of the ear: inner, middle, and outer. If the ear infection is behind the eardrum, oral antibiotics are generally used.There are three main types of ear infections. “If the infection is located in the outer part of the ear-the ear canal-topical antibiotics drops may be used. “Ear infections are typically treated by antibiotics based on the location,” Dr. “Viruses don’t get better with antibiotics,” she points out.īut, if you have a more severe ear infection or your pain has lasted longer than two to three days, your doctor may recommend that you are treated with antibiotics to get relief. It also depends on the cause of your infection, Dr. Your body’s immune system can usually fight off middle ear infections on its own, and you may not need to take anything, the Mayo Clinic says. What other treatment options are available?ĭepending on your symptoms and how severe your ear pain is, your doctor may recommend a wait and see approach. You’ll also definitely want to see someone if you have drainage from your ear, hearing loss, ringing in your ears, or dizziness, he says. Kozin says it’s time to talk to your doctor immediately. If you’ve tried at-home remedies, you’re not getting relief, or your symptoms have gotten worse, Dr. You don’t want to sit with ear pain for long. When should you see a doctor for an ear infection? “One should never put anything in the ear if concerned for an ear infection, such as a cotton tip, as manipulation of the ear can make the infection worse,” he warns. It can be tempting to use a cotton swab to see if that will help you get relief, but Dr. While this won’t necessarily help with drainage, it may lessen your pain, Dr. This can help any excess fluid that’s behind your eardrum drain through your Eustachian tubes and down your throat, Dr. “That will help drain mucus in your ear.” “Drinking a lot of water can help thin the secretions in your ear rather than keeping them thick,” says Omid Mehdizadeh, M.D., an otolaryngologist and laryngologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif. Rest allows your body’s immune system energy to do its job and try to help you heal, says Arashdeep Litt, M.D., an internal medicine physician at Spectrum Health. Acetaminophen (aka Tylenol) can help with the pain, Dr. There are a few things you can try to get relief from your pain: How can you treat an ear infection at home? If your ear is healthy, it should move if it’s filled with fluid, your doctor will see little to no movement, the Mayo Clinic explains. When your doctor uses this, they gently puff air against your eardrum. That includes using a tool called a pneumatic otoscope, which allows your doctor to look at your ear and see if there’s fluid behind your eardrum, the Mayo Clinic explains. Your doctor will usually want to inspect your ears to make a proper diagnosis.
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