Medicines for Ear infection

What it is

An ear infection can affect different parts of the ear. A middle-ear infection (otitis media) sits behind the eardrum and is very common in children, often coming on after a cold; it typically causes earache, a blocked feeling and sometimes a fever, and most cases are caused by viruses and settle by themselves within a few days. An outer-ear infection (otitis externa), sometimes called "swimmer's ear", affects the skin of the ear canal and tends to cause itch, soreness, a feeling of fullness and sometimes discharge, and is more common after water gets trapped in the ear or after scratching or cleaning the canal. Knowing which part of the ear is affected matters, because the two are managed differently — the middle ear sits behind an intact eardrum, while the outer-ear canal can be treated directly with drops. Most ear infections are uncomfortable but short-lived, and the main aim early on is comfort while the body clears the infection.

How it is treated

The approach depends on which part of the ear is involved and on how unwell the person is. For most middle-ear infections, especially in otherwise well children, the mainstay is good pain relief while the infection settles on its own, as antibiotics often make little difference and the body clears it in a few days; an oral antibiotic such as amoxicillin (a penicillin) is reserved for those who are more unwell, not improving, very young with both ears affected, or who have other risk factors. For outer-ear infections, treatment is usually applied directly to the canal as ear drops — often combining a topical antibiotic with a steroid to calm the inflammation — and keeping the ear dry is an important part of recovery. Simple pain relief such as paracetamol helps with the earache in both situations. Throughout, the focus is on relieving discomfort, using antibiotics only where they add real benefit, and watching for the uncommon warning signs that mean more urgent assessment is needed.