Can I go to school with an ear infection?

Ear infections are not contagious. Your child can safely return to child care or school after the pain and fever subside. However, he should continue taking the antibiotics as prescribed until the pills or liquid are used up.

Can ear infections spread to the other ear?

An untreated infection can spread to other nearby tissue in and around the ear, and in rare cases even into the skull, resulting in meningitis. Infections will more commonly spread to the mastoid, just behind the ear, which can damage the bone and form pus-filled cysts.

Do I need antibiotics for ear infection?

Antibiotics are often not needed for middle ear infections because the body’s immune system can fight off the infection on its own. However, sometimes antibiotics, such as amoxicillin, are needed to treat severe cases right away or cases that last longer than 2–3 days.

Can a contagious ear infection spread from person to person?

While a doctor may tell you that your ear infection is not contagious, this isn’t strictly true. Though the infection can not spread from person to person the cause of the infection certainly can. It isn’t uncommon for partners who share a bed to both develop an ear infection or for the infection to spread through a group of children.

Can a child get an ear infection from another person?

It’s the most common form of ear infection, specifically in children. Ear infections are caused by viruses or bacteria that typically develop in the middle ear. This may be the result of illnesses such as the common cold or flu. Some of these infections are highly contagious. They can be transmitted from person to person or surface to surface.

What should I do if I have an ear infection?

If symptoms don’t improve, your doctor may recommend antibiotic treatment or ear drops (for external ear infections). In more severe or chronic cases, surgery may be recommended to drain excess fluid from the middle ear. Ear infections aren’t contagious.

When does an ear infection become a problem?

Indeed, from anywhere between six and eighteen months, an ear infection can actually be quite serious. If your child is commonly experiencing ear infections around this age, then it can lead to everything from developmental to language delays. It can even cause permanent hearing loss.

Can ear infection occur without a fever?

There are two types of ear infections — otitis media (a middle ear infection) and otitis externa (“swimmer’s ear,” or an infection of the external ear canal). There is normally no fever with otitis externa.

What causes pain in both ears?

Or, the painful stabbing sensation could originate in the inner ear if there is inflammation. Most of the time sharp pain in one or both ears is due to an infection in your respiratory system that also affects your ears. So, if you have had a cold or the flu, you will often have mild to severe ear pain.

What causes earaches in adults?

Earaches are more common among young children than adults, but an earache can occur at any age. Earaches can be caused by injury, infection, irritation in the ear, or referred pain. Here is a look at some of the most common cause of earache in adults. An earwax blockage is a common cause of earache.

Why does my ear hurt?

A person with ear pain feels discomfort in the outer, middle, or inner ear. Ear pain may be caused by an ear injury, inflammation, or infection. The most common cause of ear pain is an ear infection, such as otitis media or otitis externa.