What Does It Feel Like When You Have an Ear Infection?

Ear infections are more common in children than adults, but anyone can get an ear infection. Most ear infections do not require antibiotics; in fact, the CDC urges physicians to avoid overprescribing antibiotics for ear infections that will likely clear up without them. The body will fight the infection and most kids will recover within a few days. While ear infections in children are more common, it can be far more serious when adults have ear infections, as it can be a symptom of an underlying issue that needs to be addressed.

How Do I Know If I Have an Ear Infection?

An ear infection must be diagnosed by a physician, who will examine your ear with an otoscope. However, there are many symptoms that provide clues that you have or are developing an ear infection. Those include:

• Tenderness or pain in and around the ear, which in children is often manifested in pulling or tugging on the ear
• Stuffiness in the ear or hearing changes
• Dizziness, sometimes accompanied by nausea or vomiting
• Swelling
• Headache
• Fever

These symptoms should resolve on their own in a few days. If they don’t, or if you have drainage from your ear, you should see a physician.

Does My Child Need Ear Tubes?

If your child has recurring ear infections or has had to be treated by antibiotics more than once in a year to get over an ear infection, surgery to implant tubes in the ears to help with drainage may be necessary to avoid long-term complications like hearing loss.

Lakeside Allergy ENT is home to three board-certified otolaryngologists who specialize in diagnosis and treatment of all ear, nose, and throat related disorders for patients of all ages, including both middle ear infections and outer ear infections. Ear infection treatment requires expert care. With our on-site Hearing Center, we are also equipped to monitor and diagnose hearing loss associated with ear infections. If you or your child has any of the symptoms of an ear infection, call our office at 972-771-5443 or get started by requesting an appointment using the form on this page.