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Does Fever With Ear Drum Rupture And Leakage Require Medical Attention?
Question: I am a 33 year old male and I had a cold for about a week. I developed a painful ear ache on Tuesday. That night, I think my eardrum ruptured with significant drainage. My ear is recovering and the drainage is minimal now. However, I have a fever of 102.8 now. I am wondering if I should just wait or if I need to do anything else.
Brief Answer:
Time to go in to a doctor
Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
What you described warrants being examined in person. You have a high fever after the ear drum ruptured and so it should be checked. There may be persistent bacterial infection that may be trapped behind the healing ear drum. An antibiotic would be indicated then given the high fever and time course.
Or, it may be a new infection such as the flu if you are experiencing other symptoms, and that can be checked with a flu swab.
So - given the high fever after the cold and eardrum rupture, it is time to go in to be seen.
Hope I have answered your query.
Take care
Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, General & Family Physician
Time to go in to a doctor
Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
What you described warrants being examined in person. You have a high fever after the ear drum ruptured and so it should be checked. There may be persistent bacterial infection that may be trapped behind the healing ear drum. An antibiotic would be indicated then given the high fever and time course.
Or, it may be a new infection such as the flu if you are experiencing other symptoms, and that can be checked with a flu swab.
So - given the high fever after the cold and eardrum rupture, it is time to go in to be seen.
Hope I have answered your query.
Take care
Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, General & Family Physician
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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