3 ms·

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.

by 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 maratd 11y ago

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.