A 44-year-old member asked:
Could you explain how to get an ear infection?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Scott Rickertanswered
Pediatric ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Trapped bacteria: Ear infections can be outer ear infections (in ear canal) or middle ear (behind ear drum). Outer ear infections can be bacteria or fungus trapped on the skin in the ear canal causing a local skin infection.
Middle ear infections are virus/bacteria trapped typically from a nasal cold/infection in the warm sequestered space behind the ear drum. Either should be seen by an md/specialist.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 41-year-old member asked:
Please explain what gets rid of ear infection?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Ryan Phasoukanswered
Family Medicine 20 years experience
Infections: Ear infections are caused by a few things: 1) viruses-which are treatable with time and symptom relief such as decongestants or ibuprofen/acetaminophen, 2) bacteria-which are treated with antibiotics, and 3) fungal-which are treated with anti fungal agents.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Can you describe how to get a ear infection?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Scott Rickertanswered
Pediatric ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 19 years experience
Trapped bacteria: Ear infections can be outer ear infections (in ear canal) or middle ear (behind ear drum). Outer ear infections can be bacteria or fungus trapped on the skin in the ear canal causing a local skin infection.
Middle ear infections are virus/bacteria trapped typically from a nasal cold/infection in the warm sequestered space behind the ear drum. Either should be seen by an md/specialist.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 19-year-old member asked:
How can I get relief of an ear infection?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
Dr. Anifat Balogunanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 31 years experience
Ear Infection relief: Whether it is an external or middle ear infection you can get pain relief by taking a medicine like tylenol (acetaminophen) or ibuprofen. The key to resolve the infection is antibiotic +/- antiinflammatory drops in the event of an external ear infection and possibly and oral antibiotic, in the vent of a middle ear infection.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
What can I do to get rid of an ear infection?
4 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in
Dr. Mel Goldberganswered
Pediatrics 48 years experience
Antibiotics : Antibiotics are needed but there is the possibility of a viral etiology--some physicians would initially not prescribe an antibiotic because it could be viral or it may resolve on its own.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Why is it that i keep getting ear infections?
3 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Steven Neishanswered
Pediatrics - Cardiology 40 years experience
External or middle?: It is unusual for a 46 year old to have repeated middle ear infections, which suggests that there may be a structural problem. If you are experiencing otitis media, it would be reasonable to see an ENT specialist. If your problem is repeated otitis externa (ear canal infection, also known as swimmer's ear) you may be able to prevent the infections with vinegar/alcohol drops to change the ph.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Last updated Oct 29, 2012
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