AIBU to wonder why I keep getting ear infections?

[user0786]

Hi All,

So I keep getting ear infections. I'd say in the last month I've had one a month probably slightly more. I've taken antibiotics each time. Why do they keep coming back? Anyone else experienced similar?

Do you often use earbuds?

Yes around three years ago I kept getting infections too. The last one I had was October 2020 and my GP prescribed me antibiotics over the phone, I then started being sick. My GP wouldn’t see me as I had a temperature and told me and I had to go to the urgent care centre. They referred me to the ENT casualty clinic.

I was seen a week later and they did micro suction to get all the infection and debris out of my ear than gave me antibiotic ear drops. Touch wood since then I haven’t had another infection. I do have permanent hearing loss now though and my ear drum never fully healed. But I think the fact they cleared it out meant the drops could get where they needed to be and stopped the infections.

If I was you I’d ask to be referred as I need a hearing aid now.

Do you regularly use ear buds? Either the music type or ear defenders type for work?
I used to get ear infections regularly using those in ear defenders for work, swapped to the over ear type and haven't had any issues since

I had an ear infection that lasted a couple of months. It took multiple courses of antibiotics in the end to clear it up. I think I’m resistant to antibiotics, as I was on them for years in my 20s for acne. Good luck, I know how painful it is.

I kept getting this in the first lockdown and was given three lots of ear drops.

When it happened again the gp insisted on seeing me and it wasn't an ear infection but my tubes between ears and sinuses were swollen so stopping the fluid from releasing which was causing severe pain in the eardrum jaw and head.

I had steroid nasal sprays prescribed and it worked!

Every time I felt it build up again i would start using the spray and it would settle down again

I rarely get it now

A few years ago, i had an ear infection every six weeks for over a year - constant sprays and antibiotics. It was awful. Things that helped were stopping using any form of headphones for a while then going back to over ear headphones only, cutting down on dairy, stopping swimming and reducing the amount of times i washed my hair in a week. The next step was going to be a referral elsewhere from the GP. I've had ear infections ever since i was a child but taking those steps really did help break the back of that bad run.

I have had ear infections regularly since a child. In the last few years I discovered swimmers ear spray. It seems to keep the infections away if I use a couple of times a week!

I had a period of regular ear infections. One Consultant advised me to dry my ears thoroughly after a shower/hair wash/swim by using a hair drier. That has worked for me and I’ve had no more problems!