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Ear Infection treatment

Description

The most common infection of the ear is in the middle ear. This occurs when the fluid gets trapped inside the ear and causes unwanted germs and bacteria to replicate causing an infection. The fluid comes from the nose and throat and is supposed to drain out through the Eustachian tube, however sometimes this tube becomes inflamed and the fluid is not able to drain properly. This is the most comm View more...

Causes

Ear infection is caused when fluid gets trapped in the middle ear and causes bacteria to grow. The fluid does not drain properly due to inflammation of the Eustachian tube. The tube can become inflamed during a cold due to excessive fluids. Also, some children have smaller tubes than others.

Prevention

One way to prevent having an ear infection is to stay away from people who are ill (prevents the spread of infection). Another way to prevent ear infections is to stay away from people who smoke.

Common Symptoms

Extreme or mild pain/throbbing of the ear, possible fever, yellow drainage from the ear, difficulty hearing, diarrhea, and irritability.

Rare Symptoms

Temporary or permanent hearing loss.

Traditional Treatment

Before giving antibiotics, doctors usually wait to see if the infection clears up on its own. If the infection does not clear up the next step is to take some treatment, such as antibiotics. Ear drops, tylenol or motrin for pain, and antiobiotics can all be used.

Alternative Treatment

Many ear infections will go away on their own and solutions can be found to alleviate the pain, such as a warm washcloth on the ear. If the conventional treatments do not work then the next step would be to get the fluid surgically drained or replacing the Eustachian tube. This would be an option for children who experience chronic ear infections.

Treatment Comparison

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Brands	Effectiveness	Holistic Benefits	Side Effects	Number of Ratings
Augmentin ES-600	8.33	5.68	3.21	3
Augmentin	8	6.85	2.2	3
Amoxicillin	7.52	6.14	2.33	44
Amoxicillin + Clavulanate potassium	6	4.45	3.31	5
Pefloxacin	0	0	0	0
Omnicef	-2.67	1.89	6.03	3

View All	About these Scores
	Choose a condition to compare treatments based on user feedback. You can sort by Effectiveness, Holistic Benefits or Side Effects RateADrug user scores, or the number of Ratings. Scores gain significance with the number of ratings, so please share your experiences - rate your drug! Close

Research and Development

Tympanocentesis is a where doctor sticks a needle in the ear to remove the fluid in the middle ear. The fluid is then tested in the lab to reveal what is causing the infection, and the doctor prescribes an antibiotic accordingly.

Ear Infection Treatments

(Shown in order of most frequently rated)

70 Drugs

10 Supplements

Pefloxacin

Suprax

PediaCare Infants' Oral Decongestant Drops

Dramamine Less Drowsy

Capsaicin

Ceftin

Rocephin

Keflex