Ear Infection

[jasmin26]

I have had one ear infection after another for the last year . They are really bad tonight again,is there anything i can buy over the counter that may help ?

[Sqad]

Not sure what you mean by "ear infection" Do you mean pain with discharge from the ear or do you mean pain with no discharge from the ear?

[jasmin26]

Hi sqad had inner ear infections , pain but no discharge.

[Sqad]

Well it sounds as though it is NOT an inner ear infection, but an outer ear (Otis externa). The only thing that you can do at the moment is take two 400mgm Ibuprofen tablets or Paracetamol 1,000mgms,(2* 500mgms) and go to bed.

let us know how you feel in the morning.

[jasmin26]

Ok thanks sqad will take your advice and will let you know how i am tomorrow .

[lcg]

there really is nothing otc that you can get to benefit your ears. go to a walk in centre tomorrow if you have one and follow squads advice. hope you feel better soon x

[jasmin26]

Thank you hopefully will get some sleep and feel a bit better tomorrow .

[jasmin26]

Feeling pretty rotten this morning, cant touch my ear its so painful, hopefully will be able to get an appointment at doctors tomorrow. On a different note I see an answer was removed lat night, why do some people on here feel the need to be nasty or sarcastic ?

[Sqad]

jasmin......it could have been an advertiser.

It sounds almost certainly like a boil in your ear (otits externa) so you had better keep on with the painkillers, pop into A&E if one is present and they will put a soothing dressing onto your ear.

[jasmin26]

Thanks Sqad I never thought about an advertiser, guess I am a bit tetchy this morning ! I will let you know how i get on.Once again thanks for your help .

[boxtops]

The minor injuries units are open too, jasmin, if you have one near you.

[Sqad]

boxy.....a dressing would need to be inserted into the ear,by someone who knows what they are doing.....a A&E who would have an ENT SHO or reg on duty.

[saxy_jag]

I seem to get repetitive Otitis Externa, which sometimes turns to impetigo when attempt to scratch or rub the itching. I've found the pain usually subsides after a day or two, but I usually end up with Otomise spray (which is wonderfully cool and soothing) and penicillin from the doctor. Even then, I can stay deaf for a couple of weeks or more until the swelling goes down. Matter of fact, I'm about to see the doc again for a follow-up check from the last lot, just to make sure I haven't got a perforated eardrum (was so swollen before that he couldn't even see it!).

[saxy_jag]

Also meant to say - doc's instructions have always been to insert nothing else but prescribed meds into the ear, and to bung a piece of vaseline-covered cotton wool into it when I shower/wash my hair.

[hollie1586]

I have otitis externa at the moment too. Only in one ear but it causes spots and crudiness of the skin down the ear canal. Doctor said its just like eczema. Like saxy_jag, I am using the otomize spray too.

[sherrardk]

Most of my children have glue ear (which means they get terrible ear pain, then the ear drum gets a hoe in it and the goo comes out). One consultant told us to our Katvol (or similar) on them even if they are bit snotty to keep all the airways clear and it really seems to help. Hope you feel better soon.

[Sqad]

For information only.........a boil in the ear and otits externa are two different conditions requiring differing methods of treatment.

A boil would not respond in any way to otomize but otits externa would.
Both conditions may well respond to dressings inserted into the ear.
A boil is extremely painful, Otis externa, less so.