About this topic
Otitis media means you have an infection in your middle ear. Your eardrum and the space behind it is your middle ear. If you have a cold, your middle ear can become filled with mucus. Germs can infect this mucus. It can cause ear pain, fever, short-term hearing loss, and problems with balance. ‚
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Use a heating pad or warm water bottle on the ear to help ease the pain. If your doctor tells you to use heat, put a heating pad on your ear for no more than 20 minutes at a time. Never go to sleep with a heating pad on as this can cause burns.
- Place an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel over the painful part. Never put ice right on the skin. Do not leave the ice on more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time.
- You may go back to school or work when you feel well.
- Do not swim if you have a burst eardrum.
- Ask your doctor if you should wear earplugs while swimming.
- Do not put anything in the ear unless told by your doctor.
What follow-up care is needed?
Otitis media may need to be monitored. Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. Have ear and hearing tests done regularly as ordered by your doctor. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain
- Fight an infection
Will physical activity be limited?
Do not drive or run machines if you are taking drugs that make you drowsy. You should avoid flying and diving. You may return to normal activities when signs have gone away. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Loss of hearing
- Very bad infection in the bone behind the ear
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- If you smoke, quit. Do not go near people who smoke.
- Stay away from people who have colds.
- Wash your hands often.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher after 3 days of taking antibiotics
- Feeling drowsy or confused
- Neck pain, stiff neck, or headache
- Fluid or blood drains from the ear canal
- Seizure
- Health problem is not better or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you what may help ease my pain.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have neck pain, a stiff neck, or fluid draining from my ear.
Where can I learn more?
American Academy of Otolaryngology ¢ ˆ ’ Head and Neck Surgery ‚
http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/otitisMediaHearingLoss.cfm ‚
http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/Earaches.cfm ‚
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders ‚
http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/Pages/earinfections.aspx ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚