Ear infections
Common symptoms of ear infections include pain, ear drainage, fever and difficulty hearing. If symptoms do not improve on their own, urgent care doctors will typically scope your ear to diagnose an exact cause, while offering pain relief treatments.
Diagnosis and care for ear infections
While ear infections are frustrating to deal with, they can usually be alleviated with the appropriate treatment.
Get treatment at MD Now® urgent care to monitor your ear health. Our staff are able to offer different options for relief if you're experiencing uncomfortable pain or pressure.
Related specialties
Learn more about our related specialties.
Understanding ear infections
Ear infections are a common problem that may cause inconvenience in your day-to-day life. If you're experiencing ear pain or difficulty hearing, treatment is available.
Ear infection symptoms
Ear infection symptoms may develop rapidly and can indicate a variety of conditions. For this reason, it’s important to get an accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment.
Ear infections are more common in children. Symptoms include:
- A fever of 100.4ºF or above
- A loss of balance
- Ear drainage
- Ear pain that worsens when lying down
- Frequent crying
- Fussiness
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
- Trouble hearing
- Tugging or pulling at the ear
Symptoms of an ear infection in adults can include:
- Difficulty hearing
- Ear drainage
- Ear pain
Visit our clinics if ear infection symptoms last for more than one day, are present in a child younger than six months old or your infant or toddler becomes irritable during or after an upper respiratory infection. Please note, our providers evaluate patients ages 3 months and older.
Adults should seek treatment if ear pain is present, worsening or when any ear symptoms progress.
Diagnosing ear pain and ear infections
Although an earache or sore throat alone is rarely cause for concern, a combination of throat and ear pain may be a sign of tonsillitis, strep throat or another condition that requires treatment. Your provider will ask you about your symptoms and their severity, along with performing an exam to determine whether further treatment is needed.
Additional causes of throat and ear pain can include:
- Acid reflux
- Allergies
- Chronic sinusitis
- Irritants
- Mononucleosis (mono)
- Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD)
- Tooth infection
Evaluating your child for an earache
Although ear infections may clear up on their own, your provider can provide treatment to manage pain and monitor the infection. When ear infection symptoms are present, antibiotics may be necessary. Chronic ear infections can cause longer term complications, such as hearing loss.
Contact your provider immediately if your child:
- Becomes extremely lethargic, responds poorly or is inconsolable
- Complains of a stiff neck
- Develops hearing problems
- Develops a temperature above 100.4ºF (a high fever signals the possibility of a more serious infection in infants and young children)
- Has frequent ear infections (repeated bouts may lead to hearing loss or more serious infections)
Treatment for ear infections
Ear infections may clear up without treatment. However, for infections lasting longer than two or three days, your provider may prescribe antibiotics. As with all antibiotics, it is important to finish the prescribed dosage even when your symptoms have cleared up.
Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, can be used to treat symptoms like earache pain and fever, if needed.
The content provided on the MD Now® website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for receiving medical care and treatment from a qualified healthcare provider. Never delay seeking advice, evaluation and treatment from a medical professional because of what you've read on this site.