Ear Infection
Treatment

Yes. Ear infections are one of the most common reasons people walk in to TrufaMED Urgent Care. A board-certified physician examines the ear with an otoscope, identifies whether the infection is in the outer ear (swimmer’s ear), the middle ear, or elsewhere, and prescribes the right treatment on the spot, including oral antibiotics, prescription ear drops, and pain relief. No appointment or referral is needed, and most visits finish in under an hour.

Common signs in children include pulling or tugging at the ear, unusual fussiness or crying, trouble sleeping, fever, fluid draining from the ear, difficulty hearing or responding to sounds, and a loss of appetite. Children often cannot describe ear pain, so these behavior changes are the clearest clue. If you notice them, bring your child in for a quick evaluation.

No. Some ear infections, particularly mild middle-ear cases in children over two and in healthy adults, improve on their own with pain relief and time. Your physician assesses the severity, your age, your fever, and how long symptoms have lasted, then recommends either antibiotics or supportive care with a clear follow-up plan. Bacterial infections usually benefit from antibiotics; many viral ones do not.

With the right treatment, most ear infections start improving within 48 to 72 hours, and full resolution usually takes 7 to 14 days. If symptoms are not getting better after two to three days of antibiotics, or if pain worsens, come back for a re-evaluation. We also offer a telehealth follow-up if symptoms linger beyond the expected timeline.

Yes. Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa) is an outer-ear-canal infection that is common in South Florida because of frequent swimming, water sports, and humidity. We diagnose it on exam, treat it with prescription antibiotic and anti-inflammatory ear drops, and, for a severely swollen canal, may place a small ear wick so the medication reaches the infected tissue. We also walk you through how to keep the ear dry and prevent it from coming back.

Most ear infections are safely treated at urgent care. Seek emergency care or call 911 for severe pain with a high fever, redness or swelling of the bone behind the ear, a stiff neck with confusion, sudden severe dizziness or balance loss, or facial weakness. These can signal a spreading infection and need immediate evaluation. When in doubt, walk in and a physician will tell you directly what level of care you need.

A middle ear infection (acute otitis media) develops behind the eardrum, often after a cold or sinus infection, and causes deep, throbbing pain, muffled hearing, and fever. Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa) is in the outer ear canal and causes itching and pain that gets worse when you pull on the earlobe or press in front of the ear. They are treated differently: the middle ear usually needs oral antibiotics, while swimmer’s ear responds to ear drops. The otoscope exam tells your physician which one you have.

Adults get ear infections too. Middle-ear infections in adults often follow an upper respiratory infection, sinus problems, or allergies, and swimmer’s ear is common at any age in our climate. Adults tend to have more noticeable ear pressure, muffled hearing, and drainage. The exam and treatment are the same physician-led approach we use for children.

For swimmer’s ear, use earplugs while swimming, tilt your head to drain trapped water, dry the ear with a hairdryer on a low cool setting, and never push cotton swabs into the canal. For middle-ear infections in children, keep vaccines like the pneumococcal shot up to date, practice good hand hygiene, and avoid secondhand smoke. Adults can lower their risk by treating congestion and allergies promptly and avoiding flying or diving while congested.