Does an ear infection ever go away on it's own without anti-biotics?

[KidsHappen]

I have had severe ear pain off and on for about two weeks now. With everything that is going on I have been hoping that it would go away on it's own but so far, no luck. Do I need to give in and go to the dr.?:(

[partyof5]

I do think that two weeks is too long and I'd be headed to the dr. if I were you...that seems too long, IMHO.

 

Antibiotics are not always as necessary as some say they are, esp. for ear infections, but I'm no doc. We've rarely gotten meds for our dd's ear infections and they have always gone away except once when meds were obviously necessary.

 

Hope things get better...

[Sue G in PA]

only b/c it might be something other than an ear infection. Usually, infections clear up on their own before 2 wks. Usually. Have you tried cleaning your ears? Anyway, just to be certain it's nothing more serious...go to the dr. Take care of you!

[Doran]

I have had severe ear pain off and on for about two weeks now. With everything that is going on I have been hoping that it would go away on it's own but so far, no luck. Do I need to give in and go to the dr.?:(

 

But, in this case, you need to be seen. Soon. Tomorrow if possible. Ruling out other issues is important. Dealing with this one is even more important. Plus, you need to feel GOOD! Go. :glare:

 

Please.

 

Doran

[MJN]

So, I'm not sure which route you should take. Maybe go in and at least see what is going on and go from there. At least you'll know what is causing the pain, right?

 

Hope you feel better soon!

[Whisperlily]

Doran's right. GO!

 

Ear infections do usually go away on their own if left untreated, but not without pain. Even with antibiotics it takes 10 days to make sure it's really gone. Without meds, it can develop into something more severe and you don't know for sure that it IS an ear infection.

 

If you have no moral objections to antibiotics, you shouldn't let yourself suffer needlessly any longer.

 

I hope you feel better soon!!

[yslek]

I would go to the Doc at this point, too. :iagree: For future reference, though, I've often found it helpful to massage a few drops of warm olive oil (or garlic-infused olive oil) in the hurting ear several times a day. Usually that clears things up for me, when just waiting hasn't helped after a few days.

HTH

Kelsy

[Julie in CA]

When I was a child I had an ear infection that my mom "let go a little too long". To make the story short, my eardrum ruptured. Talk about misery! Bloody pus from the ear for a while, and then no hearing in that ear for years. I've been prone to ear infections, and I take the antibiotics when I need them. At the first sign of an earache, I take meds to dry up any possible fluids, and then I push myself to drink a ton of water. It doesn't work for me if I wait too long, though.

Hope you feel better soon!

~Julie~

[lynn]

I'm impressed you put up with it this long. I had really, really bad think pilot landing a plane bad, change of pressure cabin bad ear pain. I made it to morning with lots of tylenol and a heated pad. Went to the dr and was on double antibiotics and 800mg motrin. Within a couple hours it was over finally. Yes, go in please.

[Melissa in Australia]

here in Australia, they don't give you antibiotics for an ear infection unless the ear drum bursts. my son has had his ear drum burst several times.

MelissaL