The surgeon selects a ventilation tube for your child that will remain in place for as long as required for the middle ear infection to improve and for the eustachian tube to return to normal. This may require several weeks or months. During this time, you must keep water out of the ears because it could start an infection. Otherwise, the tube causes no trouble, and you will probably notice a remarkable improvement in hearing and a decrease in the frequency of ear infections.



If you do have an infection in your outer ear, the treatment is with either ear-drops (containing antibiotics) and/or a course of oral antibiotics. If the pain is very uncomfortable you may be advised to take painkillers such as paracetamol or anti-inflammatory drugs. If the ear canal needs more attention, then treatment could include a thorough cleaning of the ear by your doctor or an ear specialist.

Treating an ear infection is relatively simple. Many ear infections clear on their own and require no treatment, although an over the counter pain reliever may be recommended to ease the child's discomfort. A persistent ear infection may require antibiotics. Antibiotics are not prescribed as often as they used to be to avoid over exposure to antibiotics at an early age. Antibiotics may also be prescribed if the child has had numerous ear infections within a close period of time or if the ear infection presents with effusion. Pain relieving ear drops may be prescribed to help relieve discomfort.

Make your own antiseptic ear rub that soothes the area killing harmful bacteria. It's a great home remedy for clogged ears. This herbal treatment of ear infection prevents bacterial transfer, saving you from developing an infection in the healthy ear.

Applying heat to the ear, which may help relieve the earache. Use a warm washcloth or a heating pad. Do not allow your child to go to bed with a heating pad, because he or she could get burned. Use a heating pad only if your child is old enough to tell you if it's getting too hot.

Using eardrops. Doctors often prescribe pain-relieving eardrops for earache. Don't use eardrops without a health professional's advice, especially if your child has ear tubes.

Ear infections occasionally cause the ear drum to perforate which is in some ways analogous to a pimple popping: The infection may go away and the pain is gone. The ear drum heals and sometimes the fluid reaccumulates but often the infection is gone. The drainage and occasional blood from the ear looks frightening and your doctor may want to have a look. Don't put drops in a draining ear without first talking to your doctor.

If your doctor has said things like 'it looks a little red' or 'I see a little fluid' then they may not have been making a 'certain' diagnosis of an ear infection. This is especially true if the diagnosis was made when your child had no other symptoms at all. With a true ear infection, in addition to having fluid in their ear, your child should instead have the more classic symptoms of 'a history of rapid onset of signs and symptoms such as otalgia (or pulling of the ear in an infant), irritability in an infant or toddler, otorrhea, and/or fever.