Ear Infection
Ear Infection Treatment at KnowNOW
Otitis media, also known as middle ear infection, occurs mostly where the Eustachian tube connects your ear to the back of your throat and drains fluid that the ear produces. If it doesn’t drain properly due to post nasal leakage, a sinus infection, a common cold or allergies, bacteria can build up, causing a non-contagious infection. These infections mostly affect children, though adults can get them as well.
*Note: Ear infections cannot currently be examined via telehealth. Please contact your local KnowNOW location to confirm availability of in-person exams.
Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment
Most ear infections can be treated by your primary care physician or your child’s pediatrician. However, if an appointment is not readily available and you would like to be relieved of your pain and get started with treatment, consult the medical professionals with the ease of a walk-in clinic at KnowNOW Health.
Fever
Ear pain or throbbing
A feeling as though your ear is clogged or under pressure
Slight difficulty hearing
Small amounts of clear or thick, yellow drainage from the ear
Dizziness
Nausea and/or vomiting
What are the symptoms
of an ear infection?
Ear Infections
When you walk into KnowNOW, our medical providers will carefully examine both ears, looking for:
Redness, air bubbles or leaking fluid in the middle ear
Perforation in the eardrum
A collapsed eardrum
If the infection is worse than expected or is considered advanced, we also may want to take a scan of your head to ensure it has not spread far past the middle ear. We may also recommend a hearing test to determine whether hearing loss has occurred.
How is an ear infection diagnosed?
Our medical providers will determine a treatment plan suited to your infection. Treatments may include warm compresses, ear drops, antibiotics or ibuprofen. You should seek emergency care if you experience bleeding from your ear, severe hearing loss or if you suspect the eardrum may be perforated.
