If you or your child has ear pain, pressure, or other symptoms, you may be concerned that it is an ear infection. Should I go to urgent care right away, schedule a primary care appointment, monitor symptoms at home, or something else?
When and where to seek care for an ear infection often depends on the severity of the symptoms and how long they have persisted, as well as the age of the child. Below we’ll explain how to choose the right level of care at the right time.
Urgent Care for an Ear Infection Versus Primary Care: When to Seek Care
Both primary care and urgent care providers can diagnose and treat ear infections. But before you decide where to go for ear infection treatment, you should determine if ought Well, not all ear infections may need treatment with antibiotics.
Get care if blood or fluid comes out of your ears.
Ear drainage is often a sign of an ear infection or injury, so it’s important to see a doctor even if your symptoms have started to improve. The drainage may be clear, yellow, or sometimes slightly bloody and may be accompanied by other symptoms such as pain when pulling on the earlobe or itching inside the ear.
Seek care for ear infections if your child is under 2 years old
Younger children are at higher risk for complications from ear infections and may not be able to describe their symptoms clearly. So if your baby or toddler is rubbing or pulling at their ear, having trouble eating or feeding, or other symptoms of ear infections in babies, it’s time to see a doctor.
Get care for an ear infection if you or your older child’s symptoms do not improve after 2 or 3 days.
Most ear infections do not need to be treated with antibiotics, as they are usually viral infections, not bacterial. In fact, symptoms usually begin to improve within 2 to 3 days with home treatments for ear infections. But if your symptoms don’t improve or get worse, it’s time to seek help. Symptoms to watch for include:
- Persistent high fever – Fevers can often be managed at home, but contact a doctor if you or your older child has one that lasts more than a few days, gets worse, or comes back.
- Hearing changes – Sounds may seem muffled, distant, or more difficult to understand. Children may turn up the volume on devices, ask you to repeat what they say, or seem less receptive.
- ear pain – The pain may feel sharp, dull, or stabbing. It is often worse when lying down.
- Sensation of fullness or pressure in the ear. – You may feel as if your ears are “plugged” or “clogged,” similar to what you might feel while on a plane.
- Itching – Itching inside the ear is more common in outer ear infections. There may also be redness, mild swelling, or discomfort when touching the outer ear.
- Mild dizziness or balance problems. – The inner ear helps control balance, so ear infections can sometimes cause slight dizziness or a feeling of imbalance.
Ear Infection Urgent Care or Primary Care: How to Choose
You know you need care for an ear infection, but how do you choose where to go?
Choose urgent care when care cannot wait or primary care clinics are closed
Urgent care clinics generally do not require appointments and are usually open daily evenings and weekends. This makes them a great option when ear pain and other uncomfortable symptoms can’t wait until the next available primary care appointment or when primary care clinics are closed for the day.
At HealthPartners, you can check wait times at urgent care centers near you and use our Save My Spot feature to get in line to be seen before you even arrive.
Choose primary care when you can wait for the next available appointment
At HealthPartners, we often have same-day and next-day primary care appointments available.
Go to the emergency room if you have severe symptoms of an ear infection.
While most ear infections are not serious, there are times when ear infections need immediate attention. This may be especially true when symptoms are severe or if you think your baby has an ear infection. Below are reasons to go to the emergency room if you have ear infection symptoms.
- Your baby has a fever – Fevers in young babies should never be ignored. If your baby is less than 2 months old, go to the emergency room right away if he or she has a fever. If your child is between 2 and 3 months old, call your baby’s doctor. For older babies, learn more about what to do if your baby has a fever.
- Redness, pain, or swelling behind the ear. – In more serious infections, fluid can build up and spread to the bone behind the ear, making the area tender or swollen. In some cases, the ear may protrude or be pushed forward.
- Neck swelling or stiffness – Swelling, pain, or difficulty moving your neck may mean that the infection is spreading or causing inflammation in nearby tissues. This may make it uncomfortable to turn your head or look up and down.
- Severe headache, dizziness or vomiting. – These symptoms may mean that the infection is affecting the inner ear or nearby areas.
- facial weakness – In rare cases, an ear infection can affect the nerves in the face. This can cause problems with smiling, closing one eye, or moving part of the face.
- Symptoms that increase rapidly – If you or your child have rapidly worsening symptoms, it is best to seek emergency care right away.
When you or your child need treatment for an ear infection, we can help
If you are worried about the symptoms of an ear infection, don’t hesitate to seek help. An appointment with a primary care doctor can be an easy way to find care that fits your schedule, especially since same-day or next-day options are usually available. But go to urgent care if you or your child have uncomfortable symptoms and need immediate care to feel better.
