Do i have to take antibiotics for an ear infection as an adult?

Yes, but...: If you truly have an ear infection, you should take antibiotics. However, adults are less prone to ear infections than children, and ear pain in an adult is often due to congestion of the eustachian tubes rather than true bacterial infection. Decongestants often help.

Comfort measures: Some viral ear infections self heal in 2-4 day. Bacterial infections tend to persist and may lead to real complications. If not better after 3-4 days of comfort care, an evaluation and treatment is advised.Prior to antibiotics, hearing loss due to chronic middle ear disease was not uncommon and a significant complication called mastoiditis requires surgical drainage.