Even though earaches can be debilitating, they are not always treated with antibiotics. Prescription recommendations for ear infections have changed throughout time. In some cases, antibiotics are not even advised. Not all ear infections are caused by bacteria, and some don’t even need treatment. To help you treat an ear infection at home in Bury, we’ve put together this in-depth guide.

What causes earwax to build up?

An excessive accumulation of earwax may be the cause of symptoms such as vertigo and hearing loss. Normally, this wouldn’t be a problem.

Wax build-up can be caused by a variety of different environmental factors, such as:

– Narrow or hairy ear canals
– Ageing – as you get older, wax is harder and tougher to remove
– A natural tendency to make more earwax
– Having bony growths on the exterior of your ear canal
– Hearing aids, earplugs, and any other items inserted in the ear. This is a result of their capacity to push wax deeper inside.

How would you identify an ear infection?

Some of the most typical signs of an ear infection include the ones listed below:

– An ache or tingling inside your ear
– An enduring sensation of pressure inside your ear
– A pus-like leaking from the ear
– Loss of hearing

These signs and symptoms could be persistent or sporadic. You can have symptoms in one or both of your ears. An infection that affects both ears, or a double ear infection, typically hurts more.

As opposed to an acute ear infection, a chronic ear infection may not show as many symptoms.

Symptoms in children

Along with adult symptoms like ear pain and drainage, young children and infants may also exhibit other signs of an ear infection, such as:

– Pulling on their ear or scratching it
– Fever
– Being unable to react to specific sounds
– Easily losing their balance
– Headache
– Anger or fussiness
– A loss of appetite

Ear infections normally stay up to 3 days, but they can go up to a week in some instances.

If a child below the age of six months experiences fever as well as other ear infection symptoms, they should see a doctor. Seek medical attention if your child develops a fever of more than 39°C or persistent earache.

Does an ear infection have complications?

Even though they occasionally recur, ear infections typically go away on their own. These uncommon but severe outcomes could follow an ear infection:

– Hearing loss
– Speech or language delays in children are more common when there is chronic fluid in the middle ear
– Mastoiditis
– Meningitis
– A ruptured eardrum

Can you treat an ear infection at home in Bury?

Doing nothing at all or engaging in “watchful waiting” is the most natural treatment.  Your pharmacist may employ this approach for mild cases of acute otitis media, often known as middle ear infection, to help the immune system fight the infection without the need for antibiotics.

Can you treat an inner ear infection at home in Bury?

You can use the following methods to eliminate the symptoms of a mild ear infection:

– Wrap a warm cloth around the hurt ear
– Use over-the-counter or prescription ear drops to relieve pain
– Use decongestants available over-the-counter, like pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)
– It is not advised to sleep on the impacted ear

OTC medication to treat an ear infection at home in Bury

You’ll want to get rid of the discomfort as soon as possible if you or your child gets an infection.

For quick relief, your pharmacist may advise using an over-the-counter pain reliever with or without antibiotics. Ibuprofen or acetaminophen may be beneficial, but you should always speak with your pharmacist first.

Antibiotics won’t help if a virus is the cause of your ear infection. Your pharmacist might recommend an antibiotic if they believe that the infection is caused by bacteria based on your medical history.

Additionally, you can talk to your pharmacist about what you can do at home.

When should you visit your pharmacist to treat an ear infection?

We recommend that you visit the pharmacy if you are experiencing any of the symptoms above. We will be able to recommend the right treatment for you.

You are advised to seek medical assistance urgently if you experience any of the following symptoms:

– A temperature above 102.2 °F
– An ear that oozes pus, discharge, or fluid
– A worsening of symptoms
– Signs and symptoms that last for more than two to three days
– Hearing loss
– Additional unsettling symptoms

Contact us today for more information or visit us to get ear infection spray in-store.

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This blog post was written on behalf of Pimhole Pharmacy by Pharmacy Mentor.