Ear infection treatments can vary based onwhich part of the earis infected.
Althoughearacheis the primary symptom of both middle and outer ear infections, the underlying cause can differ.
Illustration by Brianna Gilmartin, Verywell
Can You Heal an Ear Infection Without Treatment?
Illustration by Brianna Gilmartin, Verywell
Middle ear infections often heal on their own without treatment.
The differences are due to how each jot down of infection develops.
Middle Ear Infections
Otitis media is more common in children thanadults.
Children are more often affected because theirimmune systemsare less developed.
Their eustachian tubes are also smaller and more horizontal, making it harder to drain fluid from the ear.
Because of this, they can have recurrent infections, sometimes as many as four or five per year.
URTIs associated with middle ear infections are typically viral.
More often than not, the ear infection will clear once the viral URTI runs its course.
Outer Ear Infections
Otitis externa can affect both children and adults.
This includes home remedies and over-the-counter (OTC) medications used to relieve inflammation, pain, and swelling.
The at-home treatment of otitis media is mainly focused on pain relief.
Cough and cold medicines are generally avoided in children under 4 years unless recommended by a healthcare provider.
In addition to OTC medications, rest and plenty of fluids can help address the underlying URTI.
Additional home remedies that can help include:
The treatment of swimmer’s ear primarily involves ear drops.
Options include:
Ear drops are usually applied three or four times daily for five to seven days.
Instructions vary, so speak with your pharmacist or healthcare provider to ensure you are using them correctly.
This is because four out of five children with otitis media will get better without antibiotics.
Because of this, otitis media in adults is more often treated with antibiotics than not.
The recommended treatment isAugmentin (amoxicillin and clavulanate)taken every 12 hours for 10 days.
These are often prescribed for people who have swelling and obstruction of the ear canal.
Antibiotic ear drops used for otitis externa are sometimes combined with a corticosteroid likehydrocortisonethat helps ease inflammation.
Ear wicks can be left in place for two to three days and replaced with fresh ones if needed.
But this is not always the case, and some acute infections can resist treatment and become chronic.
Depending on the symptoms, there are several ways a healthcare provider can deal with a chronic ear infection.
Tympanostomy tubes improve hearing and also prevent recurrent infections and the overuse of antibiotics.
The hole will usually close on its own.
Mastoiditis
Mastoiditis is a rare bone infection usually triggered by severe untreated otitis media or otitis externa.
It affects part of the skull called themastoid bonelocated just behind the ear.
Symptoms include ear pain, fluid discharge, hearing loss, and a visible swelling behind the ear.
Ear tubes are also frequently part of the treatment plan.
The infection can damage bones, tissues, and nerves and is life-threatening.
It requires hospital admission and intravenous antibiotics, followed by long-term antibiotics and monitoring.
Middle ear infections (otitis media), most common in children, often clear on their own.
Infections that are severe or don’t clear may require antibiotics.
Children under 6 months are commonly treated whether symptoms are severe or not.
These include over-the-counter ear drops that are mildly acidic or reduce moisture in the ear canal.
Outer ear infections may require prescription ear drops containing an antibiotic, antifungal, or corticosteroid drug.
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