4 ms·

The following anecdote may not really be applicable to children, but you might find it interesting anyway. I went through a period of getting an ear infection,

by mrow84 11y ago

The following anecdote may not really be applicable to children, but you might find it interesting anyway. I went through a period of getting an ear infection, being prescribed antibiotics, having it clear up, but then having it recur sometime later. After quite a few goes round this loop I decided to just take painkillers (ibuprofen was very effective for me) and wait it out, and the infections stopped coming back.

pygy_ 11y ago
Ibuprofen is a NSAID where 'AI' stands for anti-inflamatory. Reducing the inflamation probably helped draining your ear through the Eustachian tube.
maratd 11y ago
Ear infections aren't always bacterial. They can be fungal. Antibiotics will do zero if it's fungal. Do NOT go to a general practitioner with an ear infection. They will prescribe antibiotics and tell you to get lost. Bad idea. Go to an ENT (ear-nose-throat doctor) instead. They have the right equipment on hand and the experience necessary to properly identify what you have and how to treat it. They will take away the pain in minutes by relieving pressure using specialized equipment. Huge mistake to go to a regular doctor.
- meric 11y ago
  Or go to the pharmacist. There's a few products that you can drip in your ear for ear infections and you'll save a doctor visit.
- hanklazard 11y ago
  Pediatric doc here. True, many are not bacterial but fungal ear infections are quite rare. The majority of otitis media is viral, which is not surprising given the concurrent URI that most kids (and adults) have when they get a painful ear. This is also the reason I try to have parents wait out ear infections in their kids ... I'd rather not use antibiotics, especially when they have a viral infection that wouldn't respond anyway. I'm not sure what tools you're referring to in the ENT office. If the ear infection is external (i.e. Swimmer's Ear) any GP office should be able to culture and treat it. If it's a middle ear infection (and that's usually what we're talking about), an ENT still has to deal with the fact that the tympanic membrane blocks access to the middle ear. Only in very extreme cases would an ENT consider violating the TM to sample the middle ear.
  - maratd 11y ago
    > I'm not sure what tools you're referring to in the ENT office. I don't know the exact terminology, but it's essentially a vacuum with a thick needle point. They use it to suck out and clean the debris from inside the ear. All the pus and other liquid in there. You regain your hearing and the pain subsides. They can then put the medicine in after. I've only had fungal infections, so I can't speak to viral or bacterial. For fungal, they essentially treat it with vinegar and steroids. The vinegar kills the fungus and the steroid is for inflammation. I had to pay $100 bucks at the pharmacy for the otic solution for what is essentially vinegar. Not a doctor, just what I was told.

by mrow84 11y ago

pygy_ 11y ago

Ibuprofen is a NSAID where 'AI' stands for anti-inflamatory. Reducing the inflamation probably helped draining your ear through the Eustachian tube.

maratd 11y ago

Ear infections aren't always bacterial. They can be fungal. Antibiotics will do zero if it's fungal. Do NOT go to a general practitioner with an ear infection. They will prescribe antibiotics and tell you to get lost. Bad idea. Go to an ENT (ear-nose-throat doctor) instead. They have the right equipment on hand and the experience necessary to properly identify what you have and how to treat it. They will take away the pain in minutes by relieving pressure using specialized equipment. Huge mistake to go to a regular doctor.

meric 11y ago
Or go to the pharmacist. There's a few products that you can drip in your ear for ear infections and you'll save a doctor visit.
hanklazard 11y ago
Pediatric doc here. True, many are not bacterial but fungal ear infections are quite rare. The majority of otitis media is viral, which is not surprising given the concurrent URI that most kids (and adults) have when they get a painful ear. This is also the reason I try to have parents wait out ear infections in their kids ... I'd rather not use antibiotics, especially when they have a viral infection that wouldn't respond anyway. I'm not sure what tools you're referring to in the ENT office. If the ear infection is external (i.e. Swimmer's Ear) any GP office should be able to culture and treat it. If it's a middle ear infection (and that's usually what we're talking about), an ENT still has to deal with the fact that the tympanic membrane blocks access to the middle ear. Only in very extreme cases would an ENT consider violating the TM to sample the middle ear.
- maratd 11y ago
  > I'm not sure what tools you're referring to in the ENT office. I don't know the exact terminology, but it's essentially a vacuum with a thick needle point. They use it to suck out and clean the debris from inside the ear. All the pus and other liquid in there. You regain your hearing and the pain subsides. They can then put the medicine in after. I've only had fungal infections, so I can't speak to viral or bacterial. For fungal, they essentially treat it with vinegar and steroids. The vinegar kills the fungus and the steroid is for inflammation. I had to pay $100 bucks at the pharmacy for the otic solution for what is essentially vinegar. Not a doctor, just what I was told.