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  |  General Health  |  Diseases and conditions  |  Inner ear infection still hasn’t cleared up
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Inner ear infection still hasn’t cleared up

by Dr Howard Lee

question
Two months ago I had quite a bad inner ear infection. It took two lots of antibiotics, the second being a double dose, before it cleared up. I was still left with fluid in my ear that I was told it would take about six weeks to clear up. It has now been about eight weeks and I still have a small amount of fluid in my ear. Could you tell me what the doctor would consider doing if I went back to him? I am not in any pain and hardly notice that I cannot hear properly. Maybe I have just become used to not hearing properly. Please let me know what you think.

answer
It would be quite normal following the experiences you quote to have some fluid in the middle ear – that small area just the other side of the ear drum. This usually collects because the drainage tube (Eustacian tube) from the middle ear to the back of the nose has also become blocked by the same infection.

Treatments are often tried in an effort to clear this tube, which work eventually in most cases. If fluid is left, there is the possibility of further infection or scarring in the middle ear, which would not be a good idea. Persistent fluid can sometimes leak away from the eardrum into the outer ear channel, when a hole appears spontaneously (even after a hard nose blow or sneeze). Sometimes, it may be necessary for a referral to be made to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) consultant. He or she may then puncture the eardrum so that proper healing can occur. Don’t worry – it’s an easy and painless procedure.

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