Acute Otitis (Ear Infection)

Ear infections are very common, particularly in children. You do not always need to see a GP for an ear infection as they often get better on their own within 3 days.

Check if it's an ear infection

The symptoms of an ear infection usually start quickly and include:

pain inside the ear
a high temperature
being sick
a lack of energy
difficulty hearing
discharge running out of the ear
a feeling of pressure or fullness inside the ear
itching and irritation in and around the ear
scaly skin in and around the ear

Young children and babies with an ear infection may also:

rub or pull their ear
not react to some sounds
be irritable or restless
be off their food
keep losing their balance

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.

Differences between inner, middle and outer ear infections

How to treat an ear infection yourself

To help relieve any pain and discomfort from an ear infection:

Do

use painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen (children under 16 should not take aspirin)
place a warm or cold flannel on the ear
remove any discharge by wiping the ear with cotton wool

Don’t

do not put anything inside your ear to remove earwax, such as cotton buds or your finger
do not let water or shampoo get in your ear
do not use decongestants or antihistamines – there's no evidence they help with ear infections

A pharmacist can help with an ear infection

Speak to a pharmacist if you think you have an ear infection.

They can recommend eardrops to help stop bacteria or fungus spreading. They can also provide other treatments if you need them, without you seeing a GP.

Find a pharmacy

Non-urgent advice:See a GP if you or your child have:

earache that does not start to get better after 3 days
regular ear infections

Urgent advice:Get advice from 111 now if you have:

become generally unwell
a very high temperature or feel hot and shivery
swelling around the ear
fluid coming from the ear
hearing loss or a change in hearing
other symptoms, like being sick, a severe sore throat or dizziness
a child under 2 with earache in both ears
a long-term medical condition (such as diabetes or a heart, lung, kidney or neurological disease) and symptoms of an ear infection
a weakened immune system (for example, because of chemotherapy) and symptoms of an ear infection

What happens at your appointment

The GP will often use a small light (an otoscope) to look in the ear.

Some otoscopes blow a small puff of air into the ear. This checks for blockages, which could be a sign of an infection.

Treatment from a GP

The GP may prescribe medicine for your ear infection, depending on what's caused it.

Infections inside the ear

Antibiotics are not usually offered because infections inside the ear often clear up on their own and antibiotics make little difference to symptoms, including pain.

Antibiotics might be prescribed if:

an ear infection does not start to get better after 3 days
you or your child has any fluid coming out of the ear
there are other factors that increase your or your child’s risk of complications, such as having a weakened immune system

They may also be prescribed if your child is less than 2 years old and has an infection in both ears.

If antibiotics are not prescribed, eardrops containing a painkiller and an anaesthetic might be prescribed.

Outer ear infections

The GP might prescribe:

antibiotic eardrops – to treat a bacterial infection
steroid eardrops – to bring down swelling
antifungal eardrops – to treat a fungal infection
antibiotic tablets – if your bacterial infection is severe

If you have a spot or boil in your ear, the GP may pierce it with a needle to drain the pus.

Eardrops may not work if they're not used correctly.

How to use eardrops

Preventing ear infections

You cannot always prevent ear infections, particularly inner ear infections caused by colds and flu.

To help avoid inner ear infections:

make sure your child is up to date with vaccinations
keep your child away from smoky environments
try not to give your child a dummy after they're 6 months old

To help avoid outer ear infections:

do not stick cotton wool buds or your fingers in your ears
use earplugs or a swimming hat over your ears when you swim
try to avoid water or shampoo getting into your ears when you have a shower or bath
treat conditions that affect your ears, such as eczema or an allergy to hearing aids