Ear Pain

Ear Pain (aching, throbbing, dull or sharp pain or discomfort inside or outside of the ear)

Emergent Care - Have you identified one or more of the following symptoms?

Ear injury or foreign body in the ear
Bleeding from the ear after an injury
Sudden hearing loss with or without pain, drainage, dizziness
Ear pain, fever, severe headache and stiff neck

Yes No

Seek Immediate Medical Attention!
These symptoms can be life-threatening.

A middle ear infection is called otitis media

An infection of the outer ear is called otitis externa (Swimmer's ear)

An antibiotic is prescribed for treatment of otitis media

Do not put Q tips or other foreign objects in the ear

Chew gum or suck hard candy as a plane descends

Persons with a history of asthma, emphysema, high blood pressure, diabetes, renal, thyroid disease or other chronic disease should contact their Health Care Provider before taking any over the counter (OTC) medication

Urgent Care - Have you identified one or more of the following symptoms?

Bloody, white or yellow drainage from ear with or without fever
Ear pain and history of chronic disease
Ear pain and fever or cold
Ear pain lasting more than 24 hours
Pain and redness on outside of ear (Swimmer's ear)

Yes No

Contact Your Health Care Provider.

Self-Management - You can help in the following ways:

Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) for fever, headache and body aches, if no reasons to the contrary
Decongestant (Sudafed) to relieve middle ear pressure
Warm compresses or heating pad (low temperature) to relieve pain
Keep ear dry for 3 weeks if Swimmner's ear (no swimming, careful attention when bathing or showering)
Ear drops of vinegar and warm water (equal parts) can be used for Swimmer's ear

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Call Your Health Care Provider If:

You do not get better, new symptoms appear, you are concerned in any way or you have questions.