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.
This test tells how well the middle ear is working. It can find any changes in pressure in the middle ear. Your provider may test your hearing with an audiogram hearing test or tuning fork. It is…. Your doctor will need to help you treat it. Here's what you need to know about the possible causes of ear bleeding. You should call your doctor if you're bleeding from your ear. Ear infections are often difficult to treat, and natural remedies can be hard to trust. Can essential oils be used to clear up an ear infection?
When protocol isn't followed, or if you don't follow post-piercing cleaning instructions closely enough, infection can occur. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Mental Health. Overview Ear infections may be more common in children than in adults, but grown-ups are still susceptible to these infections. Risk factors. Seeing a doctor. Read this next. Eardrum Rupture. Medically reviewed by Graham Rogers, M. Medically reviewed by Shuvani Sanyal, MD. Middle Ear Infection Otitis Media.
Medically reviewed by Karen Gill, M. Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph. Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M. Medically reviewed by Elaine K.
Luo, M. Chronic Ear Infection. What Causes Ear Bleeding? It's not always necessary to see your GP if you or your child have earache.
Your local pharmacist is always on hand to offer help and advice on how you can manage the problem. The pain will often improve in a few days and there are things you can do to help in the meantime. Return to Symptoms. Next Review Date:. Earache isn't usually serious and can be treated by a pharmacist. Your pharmacist may recommend that you contact your GP practice if required.
You can ask your pharmacist about using over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen to treat the pain. Children under the age of 16 should not take aspirin.
Your pharmacist may also be able to recommend over-the-counter eardrops for your earache, but let them know your symptoms and ask for their advice first. Eardrops or olive oil drops should not be used if the eardrum has burst, and they will not help an ear infection. If you or your child has an ear infection, you should avoid putting objects in the ear, such as cotton buds, or getting the affected ear wet.
The information below should not be used to self-diagnose your condition, but it may give you an idea as to what might be causing your earache. It does not include every possible cause, but outlines some of the most common reasons for earache.
If the cause of earache is an ear infection, there may be a watery or pus-like fluid coming out of the ear. Outer ear infections infections of the tube connecting the outer ear and eardrum and middle ear infections infections of the parts of the ear behind the eardrum are very common causes of earache. Many ear infections clear up on their own without treatment in a few days or weeks, but in some cases your GP may prescribe eardrops or antibiotics.
Read more about treating outer ear infections and treating middle ear infections. Glue ear also known as otitis media with effusion, or OME is a build-up of fluid deep inside the ear, which commonly causes some temporary hearing loss. The condition tends to be painless, but sometimes the pressure of this fluid can cause earache.
The GP may prescribe medicine for your ear infection, depending on what's caused it. Antibiotics are not usually offered because infections inside the ear often clear up on their own and antibiotics make little difference to symptoms, including pain.
They may also be prescribed if your child is less than 2 years old and has an infection in both ears. If you have a spot or boil in your ear, the GP may pierce it with a needle to drain the pus. You cannot always prevent ear infections, particularly inner ear infections caused by colds and flu. Page last reviewed: 16 June Next review due: 16 June
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