Dr. Christina McAlpin is a licensed, experienced, skilled, board-certified medical doctor with a practice called The Ear, Nose, and Throat Doctor Los Angeles, CA. She serves patients in LA and surrounding areas with ear, nose, and throat issues, including ear infections.
She serves Los Angeles, CA, and surrounding areas for patients with ear, nose, and throat issues. Because she sees many patients suffering from ear infections, she finds it essential to give the public information concerning ear infections.
Ear Infections and How to Manage Them
Ear infections can become insanely painful, so seeking medical help as soon as possible is essential. Ear infections can target the outer ear, middle ear, or inner ear.
While ear infections primarily target babies and children, they make their rounds with the adult populace. Seeking medical assessment and treatment helps you eliminate the disease faster, stop it from spreading, and alleviate the pain.
If you notice your child pulling or rubbing their ear, this could be a sign they have an ear infection. Symptoms of an ear infection include,
- Pain at the site
- Itching
- Redness
- Swelling
- May or may not experience drainage
However, once our doctor diagnoses and treats the child with antibiotics, you can start preventive measures at home to manage these infections. Most ear infections tend to clear up on their own with some homegrown help, such as applying hot or cold compresses several times a day to the ear and over-the-counter pain relievers for pain.
Sleep on the unaffected side because the pressure on the infected ear increases the pain. Sleep on two pillows, ensuring your ear is higher than the rest of your body. Some patients find comfort in sleeping on the infected ear.
Stretching your neck can help relieve pressure in your ear canal. A successful pain reliever is ginger juice with anti-inflammatory properties rubbed only on the outside of the ear. Instilling hydrogen peroxide into the ear may be helpful, but only a few drops are sufficient to help decrease the pain and infection.
Do not use oils or numbing drops to manage ear infections.
Ear Infection for Two Days? Call Us
Prevention measures for ear infections and some home remedy options are available. However, if you have had symptoms of an ear infection for two to three days, you should see our doctor, and she will diagnose your ear infection. She will order the appropriate medication to eliminate the pain and the disease.
Please call Dr. McAlpin at The Ear, Nose, and Throat Doctor in Los Angeles, CA, at (213) 745-4060 immediately if the ear infection symptoms worsen, or you have a fever of over 101 degrees, have trouble chewing, talking, or yawning.