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Patient education: Ear pain – ED discharge instructions (The Basics)

Patient education: Ear pain – ED discharge instructions (The Basics)

What are discharge instructions? — 

Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care in the emergency department ("ED").

What should I know? — 

You came to the ED for ear pain. Many different things can cause ear pain.

How do I care for myself at home? — 

Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.

You should also:

●Call your regular doctor and tell them you were in the ED. Make a follow-up appointment if you were told to.

●Take non-prescription medicines to relieve pain, such as acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol), ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (sample brand name: Aleve).

●Hold a cool, wet washcloth on the outside of your ear, if it helps with pain.

When should I get emergency help?

●Return to the ED if:

•Your face looks uneven or droops on 1 side.

•You are very confused or cannot function normally.

•You have trouble walking or are unsteady.

•You are too weak to stand.

When should I call the doctor?

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

●Your pain gets worse.

●You have redness behind your ear (this can be harder to see on dark skin).

●You have swelling behind your ear.

●Your outer ear is painful and swollen.

●You have blisters inside your ear.

●You have fluid, pus, or blood draining from your ear

●You have new or worsening symptoms.

More on this topic

Patient education: Ear infections in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Ear infections in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Outer ear infection (The Basics)
Patient education: Ruptured eardrum (The Basics)
Patient education: Eustachian tube problems (The Basics)
Patient education: Ear wax impaction (The Basics)

Patient education: Ear infections (otitis media) in children (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: External otitis (including swimmer's ear) (Beyond the Basics)

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: May 11, 2025.
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