Patient education: Ear infections in adults (The Basics)

What is an ear infection? — An ear infection is a condition that can cause pain in the ear, fever, and trouble hearing. Ear infections are more common in children than in adults.

Ear infections often occur after a cold or problem with seasonal allergies. Ear infections in adults happen more often in people who have a problem with their Eustachian tubes. The Eustachian tube connects the middle ear (the part of the ear behind the eardrum) to the back of the nose and throat.

Fluid can build up in the middle part of the ear behind the eardrum. This fluid can become infected and press on the eardrum, causing it to bulge (figure 1). This causes symptoms.

The medical term for middle ear infections is "otitis media."

What are the symptoms of an ear infection? — In adults, the symptoms include:

●Ear pain

●Temporary hearing loss

●Feeling dizzy

How do I know if I have an ear infection? — If you think that you have an ear infection, see a doctor or nurse. They will ask you about your symptoms, do an exam, and look in your ears.

How is an ear infection treated? — Doctors treat ear infections in adults with antibiotics. These medicines kill the bacteria that cause some ear infections. Even though some ear infections are caused by a virus, doctors often prescribe antibiotics for adults anyway. That's because ear infections can lead to other problems if they are not treated quickly.

Is there anything I can do on my own to feel better?

●Take all of your medicines as instructed. If the doctor prescribes antibiotics, finish all of them, even if you start to feel better.

●You can take non-prescription medicines to relieve pain. Examples include acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol), ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (sample brand name: Aleve).

●You can try ice or heat to help with ear pain. Do not sleep with ice or heat on your ear.

•Put a cold gel pack, bag of ice, or bag of frozen vegetables on the ear every 1 to 2 hours, for 15 minutes each time. Put a thin towel between the ice (or other cold object) and the skin.

•Put a heating pad, warm towel, or hot water bottle on the ear every 1 to 2 hours, for 15 minutes at a time. Put a thin towel between the warm object and the skin.

●Do not put anything in your ear unless the doctor or nurse told you to.

●Airplane travel can make ear pain worse, especially as the plane starts to land. Chewing gum, drinking, or eating food might help.

Can ear infections be prevented? — To lower your risk of getting an ear infection:

●If you smoke, try to stop. Avoid places where others are smoking.

●Wash your hands often.

●Stay away from others who are sick with a cold or viral infection.

●Get all of the vaccines your doctor recommends.

When should I call the doctor? — Call for advice if:

●Your symptoms are not getting better in 2 to 3 days.

●You continue to have hearing problems after 2 to 3 weeks.

●You have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or chills.

●You have discharge or drainage coming from your ear.

More on this topic

Patient education: Eustachian tube problems (The Basics)
Patient education: Outer ear infection (The Basics)
Patient education: Ruptured eardrum (The Basics)
Patient education: How to use ear drops (The Basics)
Patient education: Cough, runny nose, and the common cold (The Basics)

Patient education: External otitis (including swimmer's ear) (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: The common cold in adults (Beyond the Basics)