Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesSymptomsCausesReliefDiagnosisTreatmentDurationAre They Contagious?PreventionOutlookNext in Ear Infection GuideEar Infection Symptoms: Middle, Inner, or Outer Ear Pain
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Symptoms
Causes
Relief
Diagnosis
Treatment
Duration
Are They Contagious?
Prevention
Outlook
Next in Ear Infection Guide
Ear infections can occur in the inner, middle, and outer parts of the ear. Outer ear infections are the most common for adults. Middle ear infections (otitis media) occur more often in children, but 20% of adults get them too.
Bacterial, viral, or fungal infections can cause ear infections. Allergies, exposure to cigarette smoke, too much water in the ear for too long, and fluid buildup can also be the culprits. Treatment for an ear infection ranges from self-care to surgery, depending on the underlying cause.
This article reviews types of ear infections, symptoms, causes, diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and outlook.
Types of Ear Infections
Otitis Media With EffusionOtitis media with effusion (OME) is fluid collection in the middle ear without signs of infection.Usually, this occurs when theeustachian tubes(narrow tubes that connect your middle ears to your throat) are not working correctly, causing fluid and pressure to build.
Otitis Media With Effusion
Otitis media with effusion (OME) is fluid collection in the middle ear without signs of infection.Usually, this occurs when theeustachian tubes(narrow tubes that connect your middle ears to your throat) are not working correctly, causing fluid and pressure to build.
Ear Anatomy, Function, and Care
Ear Infection Symptoms
The symptoms of an ear infection vary depending on the location (type). Symptoms can come and go or remain constant. They also range in severity, depending on the level of infection.
Inner Ear Infection
Inner earinfectionscan cause the following:
Middle Ear Infection
Symptoms of otitis media infections include:
What Causes Fluttering in the Ear, and What Can You Do About It?
Outer Ear Infection
Outer ear infections may cause:
Acute vs. Chronic Ear InfectionsAcute ear infections come on quickly and can cause significant ear pain. They involve fluid buildup behind the eardrum.Chronic ear infectionslast a long time (more than three months) or recur (come back) repeatedly over six months to a year.
Acute vs. Chronic Ear Infections
Acute ear infections come on quickly and can cause significant ear pain. They involve fluid buildup behind the eardrum.Chronic ear infectionslast a long time (more than three months) or recur (come back) repeatedly over six months to a year.
What You Need to Know About Double Ear Infections
What Causes Ear Infections?
The most common cause of an ear infection is a pathogen (germs such as bacteria, viruses, orfungi). The common pathogen type is more specific to the infection location, as follows:
Swimmer’s EarSwimmer’s ear is an outer ear infection. It typically results from water that stays in the ear too long. The water may contain bacteria or provide a moist environment for bacteria to grow. You can get swimmer’s ear after a bath, pool, hot tub, lake, pond, or the ocean.
Swimmer’s Ear
Swimmer’s ear is an outer ear infection. It typically results from water that stays in the ear too long. The water may contain bacteria or provide a moist environment for bacteria to grow. You can get swimmer’s ear after a bath, pool, hot tub, lake, pond, or the ocean.
The following are general risk factors for ear infections:
In addition, the following scenarios put babies and young children at higher risk:
Why Do Adults Get Ear Infections?
Outer ear infections are the most common type inadults. Adults witheczema, or those who frequently use cotton swabs in their ear canal, are at higher risk.
While middle ear infections are more common in children, 20% of adults also get them. The underlying cause is inflammation in the nasal cavity and throat due toallergies, a cold, flu, sinus infection, or strep throat.
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Why Do Babies Get Ear Infections?
Otitis media is common in infants and young children. They are more prone to middle ear infections because their eustachian tubes are shorter, smaller, and more narrow. This makes it easier for pathogens to get into the middle ear and for the tubes to clog.
Infants typically get ear infections from a respiratory infection, but they can also get them from:
Can Ear Infections Go Away on Their Own Without Treatment?
Many ear infections go away on their own or with minimal treatment within a few days.
However, if ear infection symptoms persist longer than a couple of days or worsen, it’s important to see a healthcare provider. Symptoms of ear infections can be a sign of something serious. Some ear infections can lead to long-term complications, including hearing loss, if left untreated.
If infants under 6 months old have afever, they should see a healthcare provider as soon as possible. Children over 6 months old should see a healthcare provider if they have a fever over 102 degrees F, have severe ear pain, or appear ill.
How to Diagnose an Ear Infection
Your healthcare provider will use an instrument called anotoscopeto examine your ears when diagnosing an ear infection.
Healthcare providers might also usetympanometryto identify reasons for hearing loss. During this test, providers use a device called a tympanometer, which is similar to an otoscope, but it delivers sound waves and creates a vacuum. This helps providers evaluate the eardrum and indirectly measure middleear pressure.
When they look in your ears with the otoscope, they are checking for:
Ear Infection Treatment
Ear infection treatmentdepends on the underlying cause, severity of symptoms, and length of infection.
Over-the-Counter Treatments
Some ear infections clear up on their own with rest and a warm compress. Others may require mild over-the-counter (OTC) treatment such as:
Over-the-Counter Ear Drops for Ear Infections and More
Does Hydrogen Peroxide Help?Putting a few drops ofhydrogen peroxidein your ears can help soften orremove ear wax, which may help prevent middle or outer ear infections.If you or your child has aperforated (ruptured) eardrum, do not use ear drops (including hydrogen peroxide) unless you have instructions from a healthcare provider.
Does Hydrogen Peroxide Help?
Putting a few drops ofhydrogen peroxidein your ears can help soften orremove ear wax, which may help prevent middle or outer ear infections.If you or your child has aperforated (ruptured) eardrum, do not use ear drops (including hydrogen peroxide) unless you have instructions from a healthcare provider.
12 Home Remedies for Ear Infections
Antibiotics or Antifungals
Your healthcare provider may prescribeantibioticsfor underlying bacterial infections. For infections due to a fungus, they may prescribe antifungals.
Antibiotics do not work for viral infections, so providers won’t prescribe them for every ear infection. This is to help reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance.
Ear Tube Surgery
If you or your child has an infection that doesn’t go away or recurs frequently, your healthcare provider may recommend ear tubes.Ear tube surgeryhelps drain fluid in the middle ear, resolving the current infection and preventing future ones. This is a quick surgical procedure in which an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeon (otolaryngologist) puts tiny metal or plastic tubes in the ear drums.
Ear tube surgery is done under general anesthesia, so you or your child is asleep during the procedure. It begins with amyringotomy, asmall incision (hole) in the tympanic membrane (eardrum). The ENT will suction the excess fluid before placing the ear tubes in the incision.
How Long Do Ear Infections Last?
Typically, ear infections last from three days up to two weeks. With middle ear infections, the fluid buildup can remain for a few months but doesn’t always continue to cause symptoms.
If an ear infection makes you or your child feel bad or run a fever, staying home from work and school until you feel better is best.
Are Ear Infections Contagious?
Ear infections themselves are notcontagious. However, the infections that cause some can be contagious. They might spread from person to person through contact with respiratory secretions, coughing, or sneezing.
If someone gets an ear infection from blocked eustachian tubes or bacteria already in their body, there is no risk of spreading the infection.
How to Prevent Ear Infections
Prevention of ear infections begins with good handwashing and avoiding others who are sick. These measures help stop the spread of germs that can lead to ear infections.
Other ways to help prevent ear infections include:
To helpprevent swimmer’s earor outer ear infections:
Most people fully recover from their ear infections without long-term side effects. Sometimes ear infections cause short-term hearing loss that resolves when the fluid clears. If you or your child has persisting symptoms for more than two or three days, seek treatment. Treatment helps reduce the risk of complications such as hearing loss or permanent damage to your inner ears.
15 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.Houston Methodist.Earaches in adults: What you need to know.Szmuilowicz J, Young R.Infections of the ear.Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America. 2019:37(1):1-9). doi:10.1016/j.emc.2018.09.001.Plitnik G. Ear infections and disorders. In:Magil’s Medical Guide. Pasadena, Ca: Salem Press. 2022.National Library of Medicine.Swimmer’s ear. MedlinePlus.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Ear infections - Antibiotic use.National Library of Medicine.Otitis media with effusion (OME). MedlinePlus.National Library of Medicine.Ear infection - Acute. MedlinePlus.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Swimmer’s ear: Otitis externa.Nemours Kids Health.Middle ear infections (otitis media).Nemours Kids Health.Ear tube surgery.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Healthy swimming.National Library of Medicine.Tympanometry. MedlinePlus.National Guideline Centre (UK).Chapter 10: Management of earwax. In: Hearing loss in adults: Assessment and management. London: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE):2018.Nemours Kids Health.Eardrum injuries.National Library of Medicine.Antibiotic resistance. MedlinePlus.
15 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.Houston Methodist.Earaches in adults: What you need to know.Szmuilowicz J, Young R.Infections of the ear.Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America. 2019:37(1):1-9). doi:10.1016/j.emc.2018.09.001.Plitnik G. Ear infections and disorders. In:Magil’s Medical Guide. Pasadena, Ca: Salem Press. 2022.National Library of Medicine.Swimmer’s ear. MedlinePlus.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Ear infections - Antibiotic use.National Library of Medicine.Otitis media with effusion (OME). MedlinePlus.National Library of Medicine.Ear infection - Acute. MedlinePlus.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Swimmer’s ear: Otitis externa.Nemours Kids Health.Middle ear infections (otitis media).Nemours Kids Health.Ear tube surgery.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Healthy swimming.National Library of Medicine.Tympanometry. MedlinePlus.National Guideline Centre (UK).Chapter 10: Management of earwax. In: Hearing loss in adults: Assessment and management. London: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE):2018.Nemours Kids Health.Eardrum injuries.National Library of Medicine.Antibiotic resistance. MedlinePlus.
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.
Houston Methodist.Earaches in adults: What you need to know.Szmuilowicz J, Young R.Infections of the ear.Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America. 2019:37(1):1-9). doi:10.1016/j.emc.2018.09.001.Plitnik G. Ear infections and disorders. In:Magil’s Medical Guide. Pasadena, Ca: Salem Press. 2022.National Library of Medicine.Swimmer’s ear. MedlinePlus.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Ear infections - Antibiotic use.National Library of Medicine.Otitis media with effusion (OME). MedlinePlus.National Library of Medicine.Ear infection - Acute. MedlinePlus.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Swimmer’s ear: Otitis externa.Nemours Kids Health.Middle ear infections (otitis media).Nemours Kids Health.Ear tube surgery.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Healthy swimming.National Library of Medicine.Tympanometry. MedlinePlus.National Guideline Centre (UK).Chapter 10: Management of earwax. In: Hearing loss in adults: Assessment and management. London: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE):2018.Nemours Kids Health.Eardrum injuries.National Library of Medicine.Antibiotic resistance. MedlinePlus.
Houston Methodist.Earaches in adults: What you need to know.
Szmuilowicz J, Young R.Infections of the ear.Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America. 2019:37(1):1-9). doi:10.1016/j.emc.2018.09.001.
Plitnik G. Ear infections and disorders. In:Magil’s Medical Guide. Pasadena, Ca: Salem Press. 2022.
National Library of Medicine.Swimmer’s ear. MedlinePlus.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Ear infections - Antibiotic use.
National Library of Medicine.Otitis media with effusion (OME). MedlinePlus.
National Library of Medicine.Ear infection - Acute. MedlinePlus.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Swimmer’s ear: Otitis externa.
Nemours Kids Health.Middle ear infections (otitis media).
Nemours Kids Health.Ear tube surgery.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Healthy swimming.
National Library of Medicine.Tympanometry. MedlinePlus.
National Guideline Centre (UK).Chapter 10: Management of earwax. In: Hearing loss in adults: Assessment and management. London: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE):2018.
Nemours Kids Health.Eardrum injuries.
National Library of Medicine.Antibiotic resistance. MedlinePlus.
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