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Patient education: Ear infection – ED discharge instructions (The Basics)

Patient education: Ear infection – ED discharge instructions (The Basics)

What are discharge instructions? — 

Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care in the emergency department ("ED").

What should I know? — 

You came to the ED for an ear infection. You might have ear pain and a fever. You might also have trouble hearing. This can happen from fluid buildup in the middle ear behind the eardrum.

Most ear infections are caused by viruses, but some are caused by bacteria. If the doctor thinks your infection is caused by a virus, they will wait to see if it gets better on its own. If they think the infection is caused by bacteria, they probably gave you antibiotics. Antibiotics kill bacteria, but they do not work on viruses.

If you got antibiotics, it is very important to finish them, even if you start to feel better.

How do I care for myself at home? — 

Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.

You should also do the following:

●Call your regular doctor and tell them you were in the ED. Make a follow-up appointment if you were told to.

●Take non-prescription medicines to relieve pain, if needed. Examples include acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol), ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (sample brand name: Aleve).

●Do not put anything in your ear, unless the doctor told you to.

When should I call the doctor? — 

Call for advice if:

●You have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or chills.

●Your symptoms do not improve in 2 to 3 days.

●You still have problems hearing after 2 to 3 weeks.

●Fluid or discharge is coming from your ear.

●You have new or worsening symptoms.

More on this topic

Patient education: Ear infections in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Ear infections in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Outer ear infection (The Basics)

Patient education: Ear infections (otitis media) in children (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: External otitis (including swimmer's ear) (Beyond the Basics)

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: May 11, 2025.
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