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What Could Be The Reason I Had An Outer Ear Canal Infection?
Posted on
Sun, 26 Jul 2020
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sun, 26 Jul 2020
Answered on
Tue, 12 Aug 2025
Last reviewed on
Question : About two weeks ago my left ear stopped up and felt full. I went to my local clinic and they said I had an outer ear canal infection and prescribed ciproflaxin ear drops 4 drops 2 times a day for 7 days. The stuffy feeling cleared in about 5 to 7 days but it still feeels full sometime. No pain no hearing loss. I can hear it pop sometime when I yawn or blown my nose. There is no pain or hearing loss
There anything else I can do to help it clear up?
There anything else I can do to help it clear up?
Brief Answer:
Ear congestion possible.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, welcome to Ask a doctor's service.
I read your query and here is my advice.
I think that ear fullness you are having may be related to congestion after treating the infection.
You have treated the infection but some inflammation may be not fully cleared there.
Taking count that you don't have pain ,fever or low hearing it can't be related to infection.
You can use antihistamines such benadryl or citerizine before bed.
Also you can use decongestants such pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine found even in Tylenol to reduce congestion.
Hope I have answered the question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Ear congestion possible.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, welcome to Ask a doctor's service.
I read your query and here is my advice.
I think that ear fullness you are having may be related to congestion after treating the infection.
You have treated the infection but some inflammation may be not fully cleared there.
Taking count that you don't have pain ,fever or low hearing it can't be related to infection.
You can use antihistamines such benadryl or citerizine before bed.
Also you can use decongestants such pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine found even in Tylenol to reduce congestion.
Hope I have answered the question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Brief Answer:
Ear congestion possible.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, welcome to Ask a doctor's service.
I read your query and here is my advice.
I think that ear fullness you are having may be related to congestion after treating the infection.
You have treated the infection but some inflammation may be not fully cleared there.
Taking count that you don't have pain ,fever or low hearing it can't be related to infection.
You can use antihistamines such benadryl or citerizine before bed.
Also you can use decongestants such pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine found even in Tylenol to reduce congestion.
Hope I have answered the question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Ear congestion possible.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, welcome to Ask a doctor's service.
I read your query and here is my advice.
I think that ear fullness you are having may be related to congestion after treating the infection.
You have treated the infection but some inflammation may be not fully cleared there.
Taking count that you don't have pain ,fever or low hearing it can't be related to infection.
You can use antihistamines such benadryl or citerizine before bed.
Also you can use decongestants such pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine found even in Tylenol to reduce congestion.
Hope I have answered the question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
How long should i expect this to last. i started taking the antihistamine and decongestant on Sunday.
Brief Answer:
It may need one or two months.
Detailed Answer:
The exact time of healing can't be predicted.
It will shrink slowly and may require one or two months.
Antihistamines may help you with it.
It may need one or two months.
Detailed Answer:
The exact time of healing can't be predicted.
It will shrink slowly and may require one or two months.
Antihistamines may help you with it.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Brief Answer:
It may need one or two months.
Detailed Answer:
The exact time of healing can't be predicted.
It will shrink slowly and may require one or two months.
Antihistamines may help you with it.
It may need one or two months.
Detailed Answer:
The exact time of healing can't be predicted.
It will shrink slowly and may require one or two months.
Antihistamines may help you with it.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
just one more thing will a decongest or antihistamine be better. Just wonder if i need both or if one will work better than the other.
Thanks
Thanks
just one more thing will a decongest or antihistamine be better. Just wonder if i need both or if one will work better than the other.
Thanks
Thanks
Brief Answer:
You can use them for 5-7 days
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear and thank you for asking again.
I want to apologize for my answer to the previous question. Instead of writing 1-2 weeks, I wrote 1-2 months and no editing.
So, I can say that you may feel better in 1-2 weeks.
It would be better if you use decongestants and antihistamines both for 5-7 days.
Antihistamines can be used for longer than 7-10 days.
If you feel better you can stop using them earlier.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
You can use them for 5-7 days
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear and thank you for asking again.
I want to apologize for my answer to the previous question. Instead of writing 1-2 weeks, I wrote 1-2 months and no editing.
So, I can say that you may feel better in 1-2 weeks.
It would be better if you use decongestants and antihistamines both for 5-7 days.
Antihistamines can be used for longer than 7-10 days.
If you feel better you can stop using them earlier.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Brief Answer:
You can use them for 5-7 days
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear and thank you for asking again.
I want to apologize for my answer to the previous question. Instead of writing 1-2 weeks, I wrote 1-2 months and no editing.
So, I can say that you may feel better in 1-2 weeks.
It would be better if you use decongestants and antihistamines both for 5-7 days.
Antihistamines can be used for longer than 7-10 days.
If you feel better you can stop using them earlier.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
You can use them for 5-7 days
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear and thank you for asking again.
I want to apologize for my answer to the previous question. Instead of writing 1-2 weeks, I wrote 1-2 months and no editing.
So, I can say that you may feel better in 1-2 weeks.
It would be better if you use decongestants and antihistamines both for 5-7 days.
Antihistamines can be used for longer than 7-10 days.
If you feel better you can stop using them earlier.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Answered by
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