How Long Until an Ear Infection Resolves on Its Own?

I'd get to a doctor asap.

"The pain associated with ear infections is a result of accumulation of fluids in the middle ear or inflammation in the ear. As such, it is advisable to have the doctor examine the ear, even after the infection has healed. The infection you are having right now could be related to the one you had previously or something different. Other severe cases of ear infection could also lead to head and jaw pain. Such cases of ear infections do not go away on their own and could lead to permanent ear damage."

You or child? Adults - bacterial, needs treatment, either topical or systemic antibiotics. Can rapidly become more painful than either childbirth or dental pain. Go to the doctor.

Toddler - viral/not bacterial. Generally resolves in same time frame with or without (generally unnecessary) antibiotics. However pain meds are really important. My son used to get them after most colds - we stopped seeing the pediatrician for them very quickly. He has outgrown them as most kids do.

They can rupture your ear drum. Not something you want to let resolve on its own

See a doctor. I have hearing loss that I'm pretty sure was caused by untreated ear infections when I was a competitive swimmer. I didn't want to miss any of the short season, so I wouldn't say anything to my parents until the season was over. I would have to sleep in the recliner because it hurt too bad to lay down. I would be able to feel the infection forming pockets down into my jaw and neck. I was really stupid to ignore them. I never had one resolve on its own. It always took antibiotics.

No - an infection at that point, particularly in those sensitive inner tissues, is a breeding ground for bacteria. A cold can resolve because it's a virus, but if it turns into a sinus infection, antibiotics are in order. I wouldn't fool around with fluid and bacteria cooking away deep inside the ear. I know you have a new baby and absolutely don't need one more thing to do....but do it.

it can be so tempting to just home-treat an ear infection and wait it out. if you've got kids like mine whose ears were infected ALL the frickin' time, the endless trips to the pediatrician can really get under your skin.
unfortunately there's really no way around it.
some of them are surely viral and grinning and bearing is about all you can do. but you can't tell what 's causing it (and your ped probably can't either) so if it IS bacterial you need antibiotics.
my oldest had such crappy ears that his ped wanted him on prophylactic antibiotics. i was horrified at the prospect of raised immunity (the doc insisted it wouldn't happen, which struck me as paternalistic and insulting) and it didn't actually help much.
tubes were the only things that had a measurable effect, and they weren't 100% by any means (and didn't stay put and had to be re-installed.)
sorry to be Gloomy Gerta. most kids do get earaches and most kids aren't as chronically miserable from 'em as mine.
but get yours to the doc. whether it's a 1 time thing or you're on the miserable merry-go-round, there's just no shortcut.
look at me assuming it's one of your kids and not you!
regardless i hope whomever is suffering feels better soon.
khairet
S.

Sorry to read your SWH. I had TMJD and it was pretty challenging for a few years until I found the right oral surgeon who took me seriously and was motivated to actually correct the physiological problems with my TM joint and not just write it off as something I would have to live with. I had great success with a procedure called arthrocentesis, which was able to add fluid to the joint and re-align tissues that had moved out of position. This was considered fairly aggressive and followed more conservative measures such as home exercises, a night guard and physical therapy using electric muscle stimulation.

Please know that if it is TMJD, there are lots of things that can be done to treat it effectively and permanently.

FWIW, mine set in right after the birth of one of my kids...it's pretty common for it to happen that way. I think it's due to your hormones affecting your overall joint health.

Hope you feel better soon!

I'd go to the doc....untreated, ear infections can cause hearing loss...

Also..I have tmj and have had a random ear infection or 2 as an adult and for me the it's a different kind of pain in either case... hard to describe, just different.

You may want to also try a netipot or the sinus rinse(easier to deal with than the netipot but the same stuff and idea) -- a couple of years ago I had the ear infection from hell - 2 rounds of antibiotics and preddnisone---my pcp insisted that the infextion had cleared up but my rght ear was still clogged up and I had stuff swooshing around in the right side of my head/face -- but definitely not a sinus infection type thing(only know those too well) --went to ent who gave me the sinus rinse and voila!!!! all the gunk came out and felt better -- OK so it wasnt pretty but it worked

Feel better and good luck

It's entirely possible your child could have an ear infection AND a TMJ issue at the same time.

I would still get to your child's regular pediatrician today and ask for him to be checked for ear infection again, ASAP. I've had some OK doctors at urgent care centers and other doctors who misdiagnosed me, in one case, and my child, in another. I'd really get your pediatrician --who examines kids' ears all the time--involved today. A doctor at an urgent care center sees everyone for everything and may or may not see a lot of younger kids regularly. If your child has ear pain, tell the doctor's office you need a sick child appointment today, and not tomorrow. (If this was a specialist urgent care with pediatricians that might make you more confident but if this was the doctor on duty, I'd get to your own ped.)

If there is an ear infection, it's not at all like a cold that resolves on its own and if you let it wait it can cause larger issues like possible hearing loss. Ear infections need antibiotics starting as soon as possible. Ear infections can appear to go away but still be lingering without any noticeable symptoms..

BTW, colds often are the start of an ear infection; a kid has a cold, fluid fills the tubes in the ears due to the cold, and sits there and gets infected. Our pediatrician told us that ear infections are usually "secondary infections" associated with colds or sometimes bad allergies etc. but they are not the same thing as a cold itself and require different treatment.

I'm interested in your question and the answers because I currently have an ear infection and am having the whole pain of ear vs. pain of getting in to the doctor debate. Sigh. I suppose it's time to see if she has room in her schedule today...

I hope you feel better soon, and that the dentist can get you sorted out without needing the oral surgeon. Feel better soon, F. B.!

I have TMJ. It's hurts a lot and sometimes it's worse than others.

I cannot sleep without my nightguard. The dentist made it for me ( about $500) and it's worth every penny.

I was so bad that I cracked all of my back teeth and have crowns. If I don't wear the guard, I will wake myself up grinding and sometimes tearing my inner jaw apart.

When mine is very bad, like it has been recently, the dr has me take a round of antiflammatory RX.

Good luck to you!!

trip to the dr. my cousin tried to wait out an ear infection and ended up hospitalized when the infection reached her brain.

Oh sorry to hear that (read your SWH).

We see ENT for our ear troubles. Sounds like the think it's jaw related. I have been to a TMJ specialist myself. Hope you get in soon :)

Doctor, doctor, doctor. Ouch!

An ear ache may not be an actual ear infection, but if you are already sick and now your ear hurts too, you may need to go to the doctor. You show being in NY, does the cold normally bother your ears? The (Pacific) beach breeze will make my ears hurt. I'm not sure why, but they always hurt when I am there and then feel better as I move away from the shoreline.

You have to be careful with the ears. If it is an infection and your body is not able to fight the infection, you could be asking for a lot of pain. You can burst your eardrum and lose hearing.

My advise, go to the doctor since you have already gone as far as to ask MP.

Look into trigger points and referral pain locations!! Especially since you are nursing, carrying a baby, carrying a 100 pound diaper bag. Muscles and things are getting all messed up. I remember having ear pain, dizziness, one sided headaches....and it was just my muscles giving me issues. A heating pad and some good stretches (especially in a hot shower) helped a ton. I too thought I had an ear infection, and TMJ, and sinus issues. Probably had useless antibiotics too!

94% of children have an ear infection in the first 3 years of life. Unfortunately GP's are not very good at examining the ear. Insist on the doctor taking a tympanogram which provides a qualitative answer as to how the ear drum is performing. Unlike adults children's eustachian tubes are often flat which does not allow fluid to drain from the middle ear. This inability to drain fluid can result in a continuous cycle of ear infections.