When bacteria or viruses enter your ear canal, you may pick up an ear infection. They can be external (otitis externa, a.k.a. Swimmer’s ear) or internal (otitis media). Ear infection in general can cause major ear pain.
Northwest Urgent Care, located in Amarillo, Texas, provides urgent care treatment for children and adults looking for ear infection treatment and relief. Northwest Urgent Care can help with ear infection treatment as our medical professionals can diagnose the symptoms of an ear infection and help you to feel better.
Swimmer’s Ear
More commonly known as Swimmer’s ear, otitis externa is an infection of the ear and/or outer ear canal. Very painful through touching or pressure, it can cause the ear to itch or become red and swollen.
Putting fingers, cotton swabs or other objects in ears can lead to a Swimmer’s ear infection because of the possibility of damaging the thin layer of the skin lining with the ear canal.
You usually need antibiotics to treat otitis externa to avoid hearing loss. Prompt treatment at an urgent care facility can help prevent more serious infections.
Acute Otitis Media (AOM)
Extremely painful but can improve with antibiotic treatment, acute otitis media (AOM) is a fairly common condition. Although acute otitis media can occur at any age, this infection is commonly seen with children between the ages 6 to 24 months. Antibiotics are often prescribed to children for AOM, but are not always necessary. Symptoms of AOM include:
- Pain
- Redness of the eardrum
- Pus in the ear
- Fever
Acute Otitis Media with Effusion (AOME)
The eustachian tube is the part of the ear that gets blocked. This connects the inside of the ear to the back of the throat, and fluid may build up in the middle ear for several reasons. Even though this infection can affect people of any age, AOME is most common in young children, age 2 and under.
When a child or adult 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 itself becomes infected, leading to AOM. Fluid may remain in the middle ear and may take a month or longer to go away after an episode of AOM has been treated with antibiotics.
Don’t Worry! Ear Infections are Common in Children
Children often are diagnosed with acute ear infections. Ear infections in children should not be a reason to panic. Watch for signs of ear infections or talk to your doctor if your child suffers from chronic ear infections. Take your child to our 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
Northwest Urgent Care can be a great place to diagnose your issue and learn about the best way to treat it. If the ear infection is minor, then you can find out how to start feeling better, sooner.
If the problem is more serious, 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 ear infection does not cause long-term ear issues. It’s important to receive proper medical attention for ear infections when they occur.
Contact Us Now
Northwest Urgent Care, located in Amarillo, Texas, is open every day from 9 am – 5 pm for patients who may need urgent care treatment. Our urgent care team of medical professionals is here to help with your ear infection and provide relief. Walk-in or make a reservation online.
