How long does an ear infection last without antibiotics

Q: Will ear infection go away without antibiotics?

The bodys immune system can often fight off middle ear infection on its own. Antibiotics are sometimes not needed for middle ear infections. However, severe middle ear infections or infections that last longer than 2–3 days need antibiotics right away.

Q: What happens if you dont treat infected ear?

Untreated infections or infections that dont respond well to treatment can spread to nearby tissues. Infection of the mastoid, the bony protrusion behind the ear, is called mastoiditis. This infection can result in damage to the bone and the formation of pus-filled cysts.

Many parents bring their children to a health care professional with ear infections and request antibiotics, but antibiotics sometimes aren't the right choice. Most ear infections cure themselves without the help of antibiotics.

Table of Contents Show

What is an ear infection?
Ear infection symptoms
You can tell if children have an ear infection if they start showing any of these symptoms:
Home remedies for ear infections
How to treat ear infections
It's recommended to use the wait-and-see approach for:
Reduce ear infection risk
Before an ear infection occurs, you can reduce the risk of ear infection with these tips:
What are Middle Ear Infections?
How long can an ear infection be left untreated?
Will ear infection go away without antibiotics?
What happens if you don't treat infected ear?
Can an ear infection go away on its own?

What is an ear infection?

Let's first discuss what an ear infection is and alternative treatments to antibiotics. An ear infection is a bacterial or viral infection that affects the ear. It becomes painful when buildups of fluid and inflammation occur in the air-filled space behind the eardrum. Signs and symptoms of infection will quickly show. Children are more likely than adults to get ear infections.

Ear infection symptoms

You can tell if children have an ear infection if they start showing any of these symptoms:

Pain in the ear, especially while lying down
Pulling or tugging the ear
Difficulty sleeping
Difficulty hearing or responding to sounds
Fever or headache

Home remedies for ear infections

Home remedies can help manage children's pain. Try placing a warm, damp washcloth over the affected ear.

Most health care professionals recommend over-the-counter medication to relieve pain, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Use these medications as directed on the label.

How to treat ear infections

Generally, an ear infection will improve within the first couple days and clear up within one to two weeks without any treatment.

It's recommended to use the wait-and-see approach for:

Children age 6 to 23 months with mild inner ear pain in one ear for less than 48 hours and a temperature less than 102.2 F
Children age 2 and older with mild inner ear pain in one or both ears for less than 48 hours and a temperature less than 102.2 F

Your health care professional can suggest the best treatment for your children. Antibiotics may be beneficial for certain children with ear infections. A health care professional can explain the potential side effects and concerns about antibiotics creating strains of resistant disease.

If antibiotics are prescribed, be sure to use the entire antibiotic as directed. Failing to do so can result in recurring infection and resistance of bacteria to antibiotic medication.

Reduce ear infection risk

Before an ear infection occurs, you can reduce the risk of ear infection with these tips:

Teach children to wash their hands properly and frequently. Encourage children to cough or sneeze into their elbow.
Avoid secondhand smoke by staying in smoke-free environments.
Consider breastfeeding your baby for a minimum of 6 months. Breast milk contains antibodies that may protect from ear infections.
When bottle-feeding, hold your baby upright and avoid propping the bottle while your baby is lying down.
Talk to your children's primary care provider about vaccines, including the seasonal flu shot for children 6 months and older.

Timothy Slama, D.O., is a Family Medicine physician in Fairmont, Minnesota.

For the safety of our patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was either recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in a non-patient care area where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.

Parents of a child suffering from a middle ear infection raleigh nc are likely curious about treatment options or if the illness will go away on its own. To better understand these concerns, and because middle ear infections are the most common cause of ear-related illness in children, this article will examine the characteristics, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of middle ear infections.

What are Middle Ear Infections?

The middle ear is behind the eardrum and connects to the back of the throat via the Eustachian tube. Known as otitis media, middle ear infections tend to occur when allergy or cold congestion blocks the Eustachian tube. As pressure and fluid builds up, ear infections occur when viruses or bacteria that have traveled up the Eustachian tube multiply. The infections can cause a perforation (hole) in the eardrum or potentially spread to other areas, like the mastoid bone.

Otitis media can occur in adults but is more common in children. In fact, otitis media is the most common illness that leads to children visiting the pediatrician’s office and the most common cause of childhood hearing loss. Children that attend daycare are at an increased risk of developing otitis media du to the increased exposure to other potentially infected kids.

Symptoms

Decreased hearing and pain are the predominant symptoms of otitis media. Because infection and inflammation affects the tiny bones (ossicles) that normally transfer sound from the eardrum to inner ear, otitis media changes hearing capabilities. Additional symptoms may include general discomfort, fever, rubbing or pulling on the ear (in children), diarrhea and vomiting (in infants), dizziness, drainage from the ear, and loss of balance.

Diagnosis

The doctor will likely ask about any ear pain, fever, or discharge from the ear during the consultation. Using an otoscope, a lighted, cone-shaped instrument, the doctor will visually examine the ear canal and eardrum. In addition to looking for redness and building of the eardrum, the doctor will test it for normal movement by blowing a light puff of air through the otoscope (eardrums will not move if pressured or fluid has built up behind them). A hearing test (audiogram) may also be conducted to check for hearing problems.

Duration and Treatment

Luckily, the symptoms of a middle ear infection typically improve within 48-72 hours though the built up fluid in the middle ear could remain for up to 3 months.

Treatment options for otitis media depend on the severity of the symptoms and the underlying cause of infection. Many ear infections will resolve on their own and the only needed treatment is medication for discomfort. Roughly 80% of infections will clear up without antibiotics but children under 6 months or patients with severe symptoms generally will require antibiotics. Because many infections clear up on their own, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics but instruct the patient to wait 2 to 3 days before filling it to see if there is improvement in symptoms.

Overall, the prognosis for most patients with otitis media is very good. Typically, the infection and related symptoms resolve on their own but in rare cases, untreated infections can spread and lead to other complications. Consulting a doctor or healthcare provider is recommended to diagnose and recommend suitable treatment options.

More on Ear Infections : How can I cure ear infections?

How long can an ear infection be left untreated?

These infections create pressure in the Eustachian tube that connects the throat to the middle ear. This pressure causes the ear pain. A chronic ear infection can last for 6 weeks or more, but most infections are viral and go away on their own after 3 days without needing to see a doctor.

Will ear infection go away without antibiotics?

The body's immune system can often fight off middle ear infection on its own. Antibiotics are sometimes not needed for middle ear infections. However, severe middle ear infections or infections that last longer than 2–3 days need antibiotics right away.

What happens if you don't treat infected ear?

Untreated infections or infections that don't respond well to treatment can spread to nearby tissues. Infection of the mastoid, the bony protrusion behind the ear, is called mastoiditis. This infection can result in damage to the bone and the formation of pus-filled cysts.

Can an ear infection go away on its own?

Ear infections are less common in grown children and adults, but they can still happen. Ear infections often go away on their own and don't need medical attention.