Ear infections

Ear infections are infections or inflammation of the ear, and are usually caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses.

The most common symptoms of outer ear infections are:

• Ear pain or discomfort
• Discharge from the ear canal
• Itchiness
• A feeling of fullness in the ear
• Swelling of the ear canal (leading to hearing difficulties)

Severe symptoms may include swollen lymph nodes and fevers.

Ear infections can be caused by bacteria, fungi or viral infections, with bacterial infections being the most common cause.

Common factors that can lead to bacterial overgrowth include:

• Increased water exposure from swimming, sweating, and high humidity
• Trauma to the ear canal (e.g. scratching or inserting foreign objects into the ear, such as cotton buds, in-ear headphones, hearing aids and earplugs)

Other possible causes and risk factors include:

• Skin conditions (e.g. eczema, psoriasis, or seborrhoeic dermatitis)
• Allergic reactions or irritation from chemicals (e.g. shampoo, conditioners, hair spray, hair dye creams, or ear drops)
• Previous radiation treatment to the head or neck
• Medical conditions (e.g. lupus, diabetes, HIV, chemotherapy)
• Narrow ear canals
• Infection of a hair follicle in your ear canal

Your healthcare provider will ask you about the symptoms you're experiencing, your medical history, and will also examine your ear.

If your symptoms keep returning, or if you are immunocompromised, your doctor may take a swab from your ear and send this to a laboratory for testing.

Otitis externa can get better without ear drops however, this may take a few weeks. Ear drops can help speed up the healing process.

The treatment options for ear infections depends on factors such as:

• The cause (e.g. bacteria, fungi, viruses)
• The severity of the infection
• Other medical conditions (e.g. a weakened immune system)
• Whether the eardrum is intact (not perforated)

Common treatments:

• Antifungal ear drops, which are prescribed when a fungal infection is suspected.
• Antibiotic ear drops (e.g. FLOXIN Otic), these are often used when steroids aren’t appropriate.
• Combination ear drops containing an antibiotic and steroid (e.g. Cortisporin Otic, Ciprodex, Neomycin and polymyxin B sulfates and hydrocortisone), these treat the infection and reduce inflammation.

Ear pain can be managed with simple analgesia, such as paracetamol or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen.

For outer ear infections, you should make lifestyle changes such as:

• Clean debris and wax from the ear canal
• Try to keep the ears dry, especially after water activities
• Avoid putting anything into your ear canal
• Avoid exposing your ears to chemicals e.g. hairspray, shampoo, conditioner
• Treat any underlying skin conditions

Yes, you can buy the combination ear infection treatment Neomycin and polymyxin B sulfates and hydrocortisone online at SpeedyHealth.

First, you must complete an online consultation to allow our doctors to check your symptoms, medical history and see if these ear drops are appropriate and safe for you to use. If approved, you will receive your treatment with free delivery and discreet packaging.

Please note, at SpeedyHealth we currently only provide treatment for external ear infections.