Severe ear infections - in adults!

[Stardown]

I suffer from chronic ear infections, always bacterial, usually on one side of the ear.

Amoxicillin does nothing for me, I always am put on Ciprofloxacin and always the higher 500mg dose. It clears up within a few days, but invariably will get very bad infections at least 3-4 times a year.

Is there anything I can do to prevent them or make them easier on me? I don't use in-ear headphones, cotton buds, stick fingers in ears or anything else, wear hats when weather is cool, try to be healthy although diet could be improved . I had them syringed in the States last summer, didn't seem to have any effect.

Am having a particularly nasty one right now, doctor said it is very, very bad and if Cipro doesn't clear it up in a few days to come back as he might need to do something else.

Sorry - not one side of the ear, usually in the right ear , a few times have had in the left though. Only had a double ear infection once.

Also forgot to say - never had ANY as a child, none as an adolescent, started up 3 years ago age 20 and now are a constant presence

they make a ciprofloxacin and dexamethasone ear drop for bacterial infections. Or has your gp tried sofradex drops which are also very good for stubborn ear infections.

you should not have your ears syringed if you have a current ear infection. GP s and nureses are reluctant to syringe ears as it can cause more problems and strips the ear drum of its natural defences.

Hi aly thanks for your reply. I had some ear drops before which actually inflamed the ear and made it 100x more painful so I always request no drops.

The syringing was between infections - hadn't had one for about 4 months by this point. I had hoped it would get rid of some bacteria but interesting to hear your point of view.

Ooh poor you, I have had a few ear infections as an adult and they are damn painfull. I think the default/first lot of drops they give you are horrible. Every time they have hurt and made it worse. I now tell them to give me oral anti-b's and the second lot of drops they try, which do actually work.

Can you ask for a referal if it's several times a year? That's a lot of infections to put up with.

Stardown, I just joined-- have the same trouble with my ears and history (and unsuccessful treatments) as you... did you ever find a solution?

Hi I have this problem and I have an antibiotic cream applied in the infected ear by an ENT nurse each time which helps. The ENT people say drops slide off, so not so useful; I don't need to see a consultant, just the nurse that does such things. I can't remember the make but perhaps an option for your GP?

I suffered like you in my late teens/ early 20s. I ended up having my (also right) ear packed with a special cloth soaked in presumably anti biotic/bacterial/septic lotion for weeks. Memory a but hazy now (booze, pregnancy, breastfeeding and no sleep since dc) so may not have been that long, but it stopped the horrifically painful infections. I have had one or two since but they have responded to antibiotics better. Do you have any other skin conditions that could be linked? I get a flaky scalp when I am stressed which may have been the cause apparently.