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A female asked:

I've been on antibiotics for 3 over 3 days for a ear infection but am still totally deaf in that ear. the pus doesn't seem to be draining out either.

2 doctor answers4 doctors weighed in
Dr. Alan Levine
Pediatrics 36 years experience
Med is working: An antibiotic will kill the bacteria that is causing the infection, but will not remove the fluid that remains. The fact that there is no drainage means that your eardrum has not ruptured--usually a good thing!!!. The deafness is due to the muffling effect of the fluid--this should improve with time.
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Dr. James Ferguson
Pediatrics 48 years experience
Takes time: For you to have a middle ear infection you first accumulated mucous in the middle ear. Then germs entered the ear from the throat/Eustachian tube & began living off the mucus, reproducing & causing the infection. The antibiotic can kill the germ in a few days, but it can take weeks before the mucus/dead germ debris is absorbed & normal hearing returns.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Last updated Mar 22, 2017

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