Ear infections are very common, especially in children but when we get them, we don’t always know where to turn for help. You do not always need to see a GP for an ear infection as they often get better on their own within 3 days.

Ear infections can be either bacterial or viral infections. They can occur in your middle ear, the part of your ear just behind your eardrum, as well as the outer and inner ear. They often clear up on their own but can be painful due to inflammation or fluid buildup.

Ear infections can be chronic or acute. Acute ear infections are painful but short in duration. Chronic ear infections either don’t clear up or recur many times. They can cause damage to the middle and inner ear, which is infrequently permanent.

You are welcome to book an appointment for an ear assessment with you local pharmacist in Charlton Pharmacy if you think you have an ear infection. We can recommend antibiotic treatments to help stop a bacterial infection.

How Do I know if I have an ear Infection?

The symptoms of an ear infection usually start quickly and include:

• pain inside the ear
• a high temperature
• being sick
• a lack of energy
• difficulty hearing
• discharge running out of the ear
• a feeling of pressure or fullness inside the ear
• itching and irritation in and around the ear
• scaly skin in and around the ear

Young children and babies with an ear infection may also:

• rub or pull their ear
• not react to some sounds
• be irritable or restless
• be off their food
• keep losing their balance

Most ear infections clear up within 3 days, although sometimes symptoms can last up to a week.

If you, or your child, have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities, try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until you feel better.

See a GP if you or your child have:

• a very high temperature or feel hot and shivery
• earache that does not start to get better after 3 days
• swelling around the ear
• fluid coming from the ear
• hearing loss or a change in hearing
• other symptoms, like being sick, a severe sore throat or dizziness
• regular ear infections
• a long-term medical condition – such as diabetes or a heart, lung, kidney or neurological disease
• a weakened immune system – because of chemotherapy, for example

What treatments are available for inside the ear infections?

Antibiotics are not usually offered because infections inside the ear often clear up on their own and antibiotics make little difference to symptoms, including pain.

Antibiotics might be prescribed if:

• an ear infection does not start to get better after 3 days
• you or your child has any fluid coming out of the ear
• you or your child has an illness that means there’s a risk of complications, such as cystic fibrosis

They may also be prescribed if your child is less than 2 years old and has an infection in both ears.

If antibiotics are not prescribed, eardrops containing a painkiller and an anaesthetic might be prescribed.

How can We help?

We can assess the affected ear by using an Otoscope to look in the ear and diagnose the issue.
An ear assessment costs £20 and, if treatment is needed, we can offer medication for £50 with the cost of the assessment taken off