Ear Infection

An ear infection is an infection of the middle ear, the space behind the eardrum. It usually follows a cold and causes ear pain, pressure, and muffled hearing. Many clear on their own, but some need antibiotics.

What Is It

A cold or allergies can swell the small tube that drains the middle ear. Fluid gets trapped behind the eardrum, and germs grow there. They are most common in children ages 6 months to 2 years, and they peak in fall and winter. Swimmer’s ear is different. It is an infection of the outer ear canal.

Symptoms

Ear pain, often worse when lying down
A full or plugged feeling in the ear
Muffled hearing
Fever
Fluid draining from the ear
In young children, tugging at the ear, fussiness, and poor sleep

Not sure it’s an ear infection? Ear pain often starts during a cold. Ear pain with a sore throat and no cough may be strep throat.

Treatment

At your visit: A provider looks at the eardrum with a lighted scope. Older children and adults are often treated with antibiotics. Some mild cases in kids are watched for 2 to 3 days first. Swimmer’s ear is treated with ear drops.

At home:

Use over the counter pain relievers as directed
Hold a warm cloth against the ear
Raise your head when sleeping
Keep the ear dry until it heals

Pain usually eases within 1 to 3 days. Hearing can stay muffled for a few weeks while fluid drains.

When to Get Care for an Ear Infection

Watch at Home

Mild ear pressure during a cold
Pain eased by over the counter medicine
No fever, and improving each day

Come to Urgent Care Today

Ear pain lasting more than a day
Ear pain with fever
Fluid or pus draining from the ear
A baby under 6 months with ear pain or fever
Ear pain that returns after treatment

Go to the Emergency Department

Swelling, redness, or pain behind the ear that pushes it forward
Severe headache, stiff neck, or confusion
Weakness or drooping on one side of the face
Sudden hearing loss with dizziness

FAQ

How do I know if I have an ear infection?

An ear infection usually causes ear pain, a plugged feeling, and muffled hearing, often a few days after a cold starts. Fever and drainage from the ear are also common.

Do ear infections go away on their own?

Many mild ear infections go away on their own within 2 to 3 days. Infections with high fever, severe pain, or drainage, and those in babies, usually need antibiotics.

Are ear infections contagious?

Ear infections are not contagious. The cold that often comes before an ear infection is contagious, so handwashing helps prevent both.

What is the difference between an ear infection and swimmer’s ear?

An ear infection is behind the eardrum and usually follows a cold. Swimmer’s ear is in the outer ear canal, hurts when you pull the ear, and is treated with ear drops.

Can urgent care treat an ear infection?

Yes, urgent care can diagnose and treat an ear infection in one visit. At Vitality Urgent Care, a provider can examine the eardrum in children and adults and explain treatment.

Can adults get ear infections?

Yes, adults can get ear infections, usually after a cold, sinus infection, or allergies. Adults often have ear pain, pressure, and muffled hearing, and many need antibiotics.

Last reviewed October 2026