Suggest Treatment For Chronic Ear Infection

Posted on Sun, 22 Jun 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 22 Jun 2014 Answered on

Tue, 8 Jul 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : i have had an ear infection for the past 8 months now and no amount of antibiotics has seemed to help...... it continually leaks yellow/green liquid that has a foul odor... i dont know what to do or why this is happening... (i was rushed to the er about 5 months ago because the pain was so much that i couldnt move, and i was given steroid shots and heavy meds...which didnt work)
i also have slight hearing loss in that ear

Answered by Dr. Rajkishori Godhi (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
culture

Detailed Answer:
Hello madam,

Your ear infection has become chronic - longstanding. Your ear drum has a hole.

Usually ear infections heal within 6 weeks , if they fail to heal within 6 weeks then they usually require surgery.

You need to get a culture and sensitivity test done with the pus that is oozing out of the ear. This test will tell us the exact organiam that is present in your ear and also the antibiotic it is sensitive to , so it makes choosing the antibiotic easier.
Please see an ENT specialist for the same.

Once the infection clears depending upon the size of the hole surgery can be considered.

Till then you should keep your ears dry, no water should enter your ears and do not try to clean your ears with buds .

Regards,
Dr Rajkishori Godhi.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj