While most cases of ear infections clear up on their own, there are a handful of at-home remedies that can help, like applying a hot or cold compress, using over-the-counter pain relievers or adjusting your sleep position. “There are several home remedies for earaches,” says ENT-otolaryngologist Anh Nguyen-Huynh, MD.
Generally, an ear infection will improve within the first couple days and clear up within one to two weeks without any treatment. It is recommended to use the wait-and-see approach for: Children age 6 to 23 months with mild inner-ear pain in one ear for less than 48 hours and a temperature less than 102.2 F.
Olive oil is thought to help break up hardened wax in the ear canal while hydrating the skin of the ear. Putting olive oil in the ear does not appear to be harmful, but there is little evidence that it can help treat earwax or ear infections.
Antibiotics are a medicine prescribed by your doctor. If you're dealing with an ear infection caused by bacteria, you'll likely need antibiotics. They are the best way of quickly getting rid of a bacterial infection and preventing it from spreading to other parts of the body.
We would recommend that olive oil is applied as it is gentle, lubricates the skin inside the ear and softens the plug of wax.
One difference is you have a higher fever with a bacterial ear infection. However, fevers can also happen with viral infections. Often, it's a bit of a waiting game. If the ear infection goes away on its own within a week or so, you can assume it was caused by a virus.
Drops should be placed in the ear until the ear is full. After drops are administered, the patient should remain lying down for a few minutes so that the drops can be absorbed. Cotton balls should not be placed in the ear.
Tea tree oil, oregano oil, basil oil, and garlic oil, in particular, are known to alleviate ear pain. Try mixing a couple of drops of essential oil with a few drops of olive oil and placing them directly inside the ear.
A cold, allergies, or a sinus infection can block the tubes in your middle ear. When fluid builds up and gets infected, your doctor will call it otitis media. This is the most common cause of ear pain. If your doctor thinks the cause is a bacteria, she may prescribe antibiotics.
Itching in your ear canal. Slight redness inside your ear. Mild discomfort that's made worse by pulling on your outer ear (pinna or auricle) or pushing on the little “bump” in front of your ear (tragus) Some drainage of clear, odorless fluid.
Most ear infections clear up within 3 days, although sometimes symptoms can last up to a week. If you, or your child, have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities, try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until you feel better.
Effective home remedies for safe fluid drainage include jiggling the earlobe, using gravity, creating a vacuum, using a blow dryer, trying ear drops or sprays, trying more water, inhaling steam, and gargling with saltwater.
Consider talking with a doctor about your symptoms and options for treatment if: Symptoms persist – or get worse – over two to three days. Infection is recurring.
An earache is a pain in the ears, affecting one or both ears, and isn't always due to bacterial infections. Ear infections, on the other hand, are caused by a bacterial or viral infection. Bacterial infections usually require treatment such as antibiotics.
A painful tooth is sometimes mistaken for an ear infection. “That's because tooth pain often radiates up into the jaw, which is very close to the ear,” says Jamison. Mastoiditis. An inflammation of the mastoid bone, which is located behind your ear, can cause pain and be mistaken for an ear infection.
When the inner ear is infected, the problem is sometimes known as labyrinthitis. The infection can be caused by a virus or bacteria, which usually reach the inner ear after affecting another part of your body. Viral Infections: Lots of different viruses can affect the inner ear, including the common cold and flu.
Both of these inner ear infections can cause a number of symptoms, including vertigo, dizziness, and nausea. A person with labyrinthitis may also experience hearing issues. Inner ear infections often go away without treatment after a period of time.
This can happen for brief periods during air travel, but also due to allergies, sinus or ear infections, or other respiratory viruses (including COVID-19). Sudden onset of muffled hearing in one ear may signal an urgent problem requiring prompt treatment to prevent or reduce possible hearing loss.
Use warm water. After a day or two, when the wax is softened, use a rubber-bulb syringe to gently squirt warm water into your ear canal. Tilt your head and pull your outer ear up and back to straighten your ear canal. When finished irrigating, tip your head to the side to let the water drain out.