How long ear ache last

Ear infections usually go away in a few days. At that point, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic if the infection is caused by bacteria.

Doctors are cautious about prescribing antibiotics for ear infections unless they are chronic and frequent. Research shows that over prescribing antibiotics for ear infections is not effective. The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends doctors wait 2 to 3 days before prescribing antibiotics for an ear infection in children 2 to 12 years of age who have non-severe symptoms.

This allows time to see if the OTC medicines will work. If your child has chronic ear infections, signs of hearing loss, or speech delays because of hearing loss, your doctor may refer you to an ear, nose, and throat ENT doctor. The ENT may suggest your child have surgery. The tubes relieve the pressure and allow the fluid to drain. Some children naturally have small Eustachian tubes, so this helps correct that problem.

Sometimes, the tubes fall out too soon and have to be replaced. For some children, they never fall out and eventually have to be surgically removed. The surgery is quick and does not require overnight hospitalization. Your doctor also may recommend this surgery if your child has frequent ear infections, or if your child has Down syndrome , a cleft palate or a weakened immune system.

This article was contributed by: familydoctor. This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject. When the inner ear is infected, it causes a condition known as labyrinthitis that describes swelling and irritation of the inner ear.

Causes of inner ear infections are most commonly viral, but in rare scenarios bacterial infections that preexist in the middle ear can spread into the inner ear. Viruses that lead to infections in the inner ear are predominantly cold and flu viruses, although other viruses such as measles, mumps, herpes , and glandular fever can also cause infections.

Symptoms of inner ear infections share some commonality with middle and outer ear infections such as pain in the ear, fever, and reduced hearing. Nausea and tinnitus can also occur during an inner ear infection. Inner ear specific symptoms include vertigo and loss of balance, which can be severe enough to cause falling. Unfortunately inner ear infections last longer. Severe symptoms usually clear within 7 days, but complete recovery may take as long as 2 to 3 months.

Older adults may have dizziness symptoms that last even longer. The middle ear is an air-filled reservoir behind the eardrum that contains a series of small bones called ossicles. The middle ear is connected to the back of the throat by a small tube known as the Eustachian tube, which provides pressure regulation and drainage of normal secretions and debris. An infection in the middle ear, known as acute otitis media, is the most common type.

This is particularly common amongst children between 3 months and 3 years of age, because their Eustachian tubes are less well developed and more prone to blockage. Causes of middle ear infection are predominantly related to preexisting infections such as the common cold or flu. Respiratory infections cause dysfunction of the Eustachian tubes resulting in a damp and dirty middle ear. The wetness created in the middle ear during Eustachian tube dysfunction provides a prolific environment for invasive microorganism to reproduce.

The common cold and flu are both viruses, but bacterial infections can occur in the middle ear too. Allergies, smoke, fumes, and other environmental toxins can have effects on the Eustachian tubes similar to the cold and flu and thus also may lead to middle ear infections.

Severe symptoms usually last for less then one to two days. If such symptoms last longer than one to two days, then it is important to consult with a doctor. Otitis media with effusion is when noninfected fluid builds up in the ear. It might not cause symptoms, but in some kids, the fluid creates a sensation of ear fullness or "popping.

Kids especially in the first 2 to 4 years of life get ear infections more than adults do for several reasons:. Other things that can put kids at risk include secondhand smoke , bottle-feeding, and being around other kids in childcare.

Ear infections are more common in boys than girls. Ear infections are not contagious, but the colds that sometimes cause them can be. Infections are common during winter weather, when many people get upper respiratory tract infections or colds a child with an ear infection also might have cold symptoms, like a runny or stuffy nose or a cough. Middle ear infections often go away on their own within 2 or 3 days, even without any specific treatment.

In some cases, an infection can last longer with fluid in the middle ear for 6 weeks or longer , even after antibiotic treatment. Doctors will do a physical exam and examine the ear. They use an otoscope , a small instrument similar to a flashlight, to see the eardrum. 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. Also, overuse of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which are much harder to treat.

If a doctor does prescribe antibiotics, a 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. 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.

Your health care provider may also have you try autoinsufflation. This helps adjust the air pressure in your ear. For this, you pinch your nose and gently exhale. This forces air back through the eustachian tube. The exact treatment for your ear infection will depend on the type of infection you have. Occasionally, you may need CT scan or MRI to check for rare causes such as a cholesteatoma or tumors. Sometimes fluid stays in the middle ear even after you take antibiotics and the infection goes away.

In this case, your health care provider may suggest that a small tube also called a tympanostomy tube be placed in your ear.

The tube is put at the opening of the eardrum. The tube keeps fluid from building up and relieves pressure in the middle ear. It can also help you hear better.