SERVICES

Ear Infections

Ear infections happen when bacteria or viruses enter the ear canal; they can be external (otitis externa, a.k.a. swimmer’s ear), or internal (otitis media). Both can cause pain and fever in children and adults.

Manatee Urgent Care, located in Bradenton, Florida, provides urgent care treatment for children and adults looking for ear infection treatment. An urgent care center is a good choice for ear infection treatment, as medical professionals can diagnose the symptoms of an ear infection and help you to feel better.

Swimmer’s Ear

Otitis externa, more commonly known as Swimmer’s ear, is an infection of the ear and/or outer ear canal. It can cause the ear to itch or become red and swollen so that touching of or pressure on the ear is very painful. There may also be pus that drains from the ear. Antibiotics are usually needed to treat otitis externa to avoid hearing loss.

Acute Otitis Media (AOM)

The type of ear infection that is usually painful and may improve with antibiotic treatment is called acute otitis media (AOM). Symptoms of AOM include pain, redness of the eardrum, pus in the ear, and fever. Children may pull on the affected ear, and infants or toddlers may be irritable. Antibiotics are often prescribed to children for AOM, but are not always necessary.

Acute Otitis Media with Effusion (AOME)

The part of the ear that gets blocked by fluid is called the eustachian tube, which connects the inside of the ear to the back of the throat. Fluid may build up in the middle ear for several reasons. When you or your child has a cold, the middle ear can get filled with fluid just as the nose does – it just doesn’t run out as easily from the middle ear. Sometimes the fluid becomes infected, leading to AOM. After an episode of AOM has been treated with antibiotics or has resolved on its own, fluid may remain in the middle ear and may take a month or longer to go away.

Are Ear Infections Common in Children?

Ear infections are common in children. Ear infections in children should not be a reason to panic. Take your child to an urgent care center to get the viral infection diagnosed and treated, and your child will start feeling better sooner rather than later.

Urgent Care for Ear Infections

An urgent care can be a great place to accurately diagnose your ear infection and learn about the best way to treat it. If the ear infection is minor, then you may have concrete instructions on how to start feeling better, sooner.

If the problem is worse, a trip to an urgent care center can help with the pain and get your injury in front of the right specialist so that your easy-to-treat ear infection does not become a much worse issue. Ear infections can cause long-term ear issues. It’s important to receive proper treatment for ear infections when they occur.

Contact Us Now

Manatee Urgent Care, located in Manatee, Florida, is open seven days a week with convenient daytime and evening hours for patients needing urgent care treatment. Manatee Urgent Care’s team of medical professionals is here to help with your ear infection and provide relief. 

Walk-in or make a reservation online →