Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesRisk FactorsTreatmentHome RemediesPossible ComplicationsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Risk Factors
Treatment
Home Remedies
Possible Complications
Frequently Asked Questions
An outer ear infection, also known asotitis externa, refers to an infection in the ear canal, which connects yourouter earto yourmiddle ear. The canal also carries sound from outside your body to your eardrum. An outer ear infection is the most common cause ofear pain, and about one in 10 adults will get an outer ear infection at some point in their lives.
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An outer ear infection comes with inflammation, tenderness, and ear pain. Symptoms can start within 48 hours.Your child may tell you they have ear pain or fidget with their ear.
Along with ear pain, you may experience the following:
In about one out of three people, the symptoms are so severe that it affects their everyday lives.About one out of five people has to stay home from work or school for a few days because of the infection.
What Is Low-Frequency Hearing Loss?
Viral illnesses like the flu or a certain type ofshingles(zoster oticus) may also lead to an outer ear infection. Sometimes allergic reactions like to a shampoo can cause an ear infection.
Symptoms of Ear Infection in Babies
Swimming, injury to the ear canal, and other things can increase your risk of getting outer ear infections:
Treating Inner and Outer Ear Cysts
In most cases, topical antimicrobials with or without corticosteroids are the primary course of treatment for an acute outer ear infection.
Cost of antibiotic treatment can vary widely, so talk to your provider about price comparisons and insurance coverage. Treatment also includes cleaning the canal or removing any obstructions in some cases.
Topical antibiotic examples include:
In extreme cases, you may be given a wick of compressed cellulose or a gauze that can then be inserted into your ear to facilitate medicine administration.
Do not stop taking antibiotics (or administering them to your child) even if you feel better. The infection will return if you do not finish the full course of medication.
How to Use Ear Drops
Your doctor may decide oral antibiotic treatment is best if:
You may also treat the ear pain with an oral painkiller such as anonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug(NSAID) or Tylenol (acetaminophen).
Examples of common NSAIDs include:
How Are Ear Tubes Used to Treat Ear Infections?Tympanostomy, or ear tubes, are a treatment option for people with chronic ear infections, especially children. They provide rapid relief and are recommended for children who are developing their speech and language skills.
How Are Ear Tubes Used to Treat Ear Infections?
Tympanostomy, or ear tubes, are a treatment option for people with chronic ear infections, especially children. They provide rapid relief and are recommended for children who are developing their speech and language skills.
Depending on how severe your pain is, you may feel relief from using a warm or cold compress on your ear to help relieve the swelling.
Otitis Media With Effusion in Children and Adults
Over-the-Counter Ear Drops
There’s insufficient evidence to support that over-the-counter ear drops are as effective as antibiotics or steroids. You should consult your doctor to decide which drop is best for your infection.
Hydrogen Peroxide
About half a dropper full of 3% hydrogen peroxide solution can be used to help clean your ear.You can expect it to bubble and fizz, and you may experience an uncomfortable sensation.
Tilt your head to let it drain, and if necessary, use a hair dryer around the area (not pointed directly into the ear canal) to add some dry heat and remove excess moisture from your ear.
Do not use hydrogen peroxide if you have a hole in your eardrum (tympanic membrane perforation).
12 Home Remedies for Ear Infections
Apple Cider Vinegar
Do not use apple cider vinegar if you have a tympanic membrane perforation.
The apple cider vinegar you have in your refrigerator, if opened, has been exposed to potential contaminants. Even if it hasn’t, apple cider vinegar shouldn’t be used as a replacement for prescription treatment.
Essential Oils
Essential oilsare not FDA regulated, and their claims often lack evidence to back up their use. Not only that, but they are potent plant chemicals that can do serious harm, like poisoning.
Talk to your child’s pediatrician for advice, a clear diagnosis, and treatment plan.
Essential oils should only be ingested with the guidance of a qualified essential oil therapist, and dosed and diluted appropriately for safety. Because essential oils are fat soluble, it’s important to eat some sort of dietary fat at the same time they’re taken.
Garlic (Allium Sativum)
Liquid dissolvable allicin (the main bioactive compound found in garlic) mixed with either sterilized water or diluted broth, or combined with menthol (mint), was tested against microorganisms like yeast and one of the most dangerous yet common Gram-positive strains,Staphylococcusaureus.
Allicin showed antimicrobial activities against:
Note, however, that using essential oils, including garlic oil, always comes with some risk of an adverse reaction, including contact dermatitis. Garlic supplements also carry the risk of interfering with other medications and increasing the risk of bleeding. Therefore, these should not be used with blood thinners.
What Is Allicin?
Tea Tree (Melaleuca Alternifolia)
One doctor at the University of Michigan says specifically that tea tree oil is not recommended for use in ears because it could cause damage to theinner ear.
Make sure you’re already accustomed to the oil or active ingredient you are using and that it’s not spoiled. If you run into problems, gently cleanse the area with oily soap and do not continue use. If irritation persists, talk to your doctor.
You will run into more serious health complications if you delay treatment, because inflammation can progress to:
When to Call Your DoctorYou should talk to your doctor or pediatrician about any ear infections and if you or your child has the following symptoms:Fever greater than 101 F (38.3 C)Severe ear pain and drainage from the earA stiff neck (a sign of meningitis)Pus or blood in the outer earAlso call your pediatrician if your child is sluggish, can’t stop crying despite efforts to soothe, shows signs of weakness, has a crooked smile, and/or is not walking straight.
When to Call Your Doctor
You should talk to your doctor or pediatrician about any ear infections and if you or your child has the following symptoms:Fever greater than 101 F (38.3 C)Severe ear pain and drainage from the earA stiff neck (a sign of meningitis)Pus or blood in the outer earAlso call your pediatrician if your child is sluggish, can’t stop crying despite efforts to soothe, shows signs of weakness, has a crooked smile, and/or is not walking straight.
You should talk to your doctor or pediatrician about any ear infections and if you or your child has the following symptoms:
Also call your pediatrician if your child is sluggish, can’t stop crying despite efforts to soothe, shows signs of weakness, has a crooked smile, and/or is not walking straight.
How can you tell if you have an outer ear infection?
If you have an ear infection, your ear will start bothering you from inside (expect pain, itching, or a hot andswollen outer ear). Your doctor can diagnose the cause and guide the appropriate course of treatment.
Do I need antibiotics for an outer ear infection?
How long does it take for an outer ear infection to heal?
Healing time is usually seven to 10 days, but this is dependent upon the underlying cause and how well you stick to your medicine routine. It is always important to complete your full course of antibiotics.
What is the difference between an outer ear infection and a middle ear infection?
An outer ear infection is an infection of the canal. A middle ear infection is an infection behind the eardrum and linked to eustachian tube swelling.
A Word From Verywell
We often don’t think much about our ears until there is a problem with one or both. You can’t ignore ear pain, though, as it can be highly bothersome and make sleeping, socializing, and even going to work and school challenging.
You should keep your ears free of headphones or earbuds when there’s an infection. You may not hear others when they’re speaking, and frustrations can grow.
Remember that an ear infection, although contained in a small space, isstill an infectionthat can have you feeling fatigued and generally unwell. It’s more than OK to rest.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.InformedHealth.org.Outer ear infection: overview.Schaefer P, Baugh RF.Acute otitis externa: an update.AFP; 86(11):1055-1061.Kids Health.Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa).Cleveland Clinic.Ear infection (otitis media).Cleveland Clinic.Best ways to steer clear of swimmer’s ear.Leontiev R, Hohaus N, Jacob C, Gruhlke MCH, Slusarenko AJ.A comparison of the antibacterial and antifungal activities of thiosulfinate analogues of allicin.Sci Rep.2018;8:6763. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-25154-9Asher GN, Corbett AH, Hawke RL.Common herbal dietary supplement—drug interactions.AFP; 96(2):101-107.University of Michigan.Tea tree oil (melaleuca alternifolia).Grandis RJ, Branstetter BF, Yu VL.The changing face of malignant (necrotising) external otitis: clinical, radiological, and anatomic correlations.Lancet Infect Dis. 2004;4(1):34–39. doi:10.1016/s1473-3099(03)00858-2Nemours KidsHealth.Eardrum injuries.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ear infections.TeensHealth from Nemours.Swimmer’s ear (external otitis).
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.InformedHealth.org.Outer ear infection: overview.Schaefer P, Baugh RF.Acute otitis externa: an update.AFP; 86(11):1055-1061.Kids Health.Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa).Cleveland Clinic.Ear infection (otitis media).Cleveland Clinic.Best ways to steer clear of swimmer’s ear.Leontiev R, Hohaus N, Jacob C, Gruhlke MCH, Slusarenko AJ.A comparison of the antibacterial and antifungal activities of thiosulfinate analogues of allicin.Sci Rep.2018;8:6763. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-25154-9Asher GN, Corbett AH, Hawke RL.Common herbal dietary supplement—drug interactions.AFP; 96(2):101-107.University of Michigan.Tea tree oil (melaleuca alternifolia).Grandis RJ, Branstetter BF, Yu VL.The changing face of malignant (necrotising) external otitis: clinical, radiological, and anatomic correlations.Lancet Infect Dis. 2004;4(1):34–39. doi:10.1016/s1473-3099(03)00858-2Nemours KidsHealth.Eardrum injuries.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ear infections.TeensHealth from Nemours.Swimmer’s ear (external otitis).
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
InformedHealth.org.Outer ear infection: overview.Schaefer P, Baugh RF.Acute otitis externa: an update.AFP; 86(11):1055-1061.Kids Health.Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa).Cleveland Clinic.Ear infection (otitis media).Cleveland Clinic.Best ways to steer clear of swimmer’s ear.Leontiev R, Hohaus N, Jacob C, Gruhlke MCH, Slusarenko AJ.A comparison of the antibacterial and antifungal activities of thiosulfinate analogues of allicin.Sci Rep.2018;8:6763. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-25154-9Asher GN, Corbett AH, Hawke RL.Common herbal dietary supplement—drug interactions.AFP; 96(2):101-107.University of Michigan.Tea tree oil (melaleuca alternifolia).Grandis RJ, Branstetter BF, Yu VL.The changing face of malignant (necrotising) external otitis: clinical, radiological, and anatomic correlations.Lancet Infect Dis. 2004;4(1):34–39. doi:10.1016/s1473-3099(03)00858-2Nemours KidsHealth.Eardrum injuries.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ear infections.TeensHealth from Nemours.Swimmer’s ear (external otitis).
InformedHealth.org.Outer ear infection: overview.
Schaefer P, Baugh RF.Acute otitis externa: an update.AFP; 86(11):1055-1061.
Kids Health.Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa).
Cleveland Clinic.Ear infection (otitis media).
Cleveland Clinic.Best ways to steer clear of swimmer’s ear.
Leontiev R, Hohaus N, Jacob C, Gruhlke MCH, Slusarenko AJ.A comparison of the antibacterial and antifungal activities of thiosulfinate analogues of allicin.Sci Rep.2018;8:6763. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-25154-9
Asher GN, Corbett AH, Hawke RL.Common herbal dietary supplement—drug interactions.AFP; 96(2):101-107.
University of Michigan.Tea tree oil (melaleuca alternifolia).
Grandis RJ, Branstetter BF, Yu VL.The changing face of malignant (necrotising) external otitis: clinical, radiological, and anatomic correlations.Lancet Infect Dis. 2004;4(1):34–39. doi:10.1016/s1473-3099(03)00858-2
Nemours KidsHealth.Eardrum injuries.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ear infections.
TeensHealth from Nemours.Swimmer’s ear (external otitis).
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