Duration

The duration of the therapy depends on the treatment method, the individual immune system and the pathogen responsible for the acute inflammation of the middle ear. If the affected person does not belong to the group of people for whom immediate antibiotic administration is recommended, antibacterial therapy is generally not carried out for the first two days. In most cases, an acute inflammation of the middle ear can heal on its own without antibiotics.

However, if the symptoms do not improve after two to three days, or if the person affected has risk factors, antibiotic therapy can be started. The antibiotic should always be taken strictly according to the doctor’s instructions. Under no circumstances should the antibiotic be discontinued before the date agreed with the doctor. Even if the symptoms subside after a few days after starting the therapy, an antibiotic should always be taken to the end to avoid resistant strains of bacteria! Symptomatic therapy with antipyretic and pain-relieving medication on the other hand should only be carried out as long as the fever and pain persist and can be stopped without hesitation once the symptoms have subsided.

Home remedy for middle ear infection

There are a number of different home remedies that are commonly used for the treatment of acute middle ear infection and are believed to have healing effects. There is no scientific evidence that any of these household remedies help against the cause of the inflammation. This is complicated only by the fact that the inflammation is located in the middle ear, which is sealed to the outside by the eardrum.

The usual home remedies rely on placing the substances contained, which are supposed to have antibacterial effects, on the ear or filling them into the external auditory canal. However, since the eardrum, if intact, does not allow any of these substances to pass through, these household remedies cannot be effective in the case of an acute inflammation of the middle ear. If the eardrum is damaged due to the inflammation, it is not advisable to put substances into the external auditory canal, as this can lead to the spread of germs, which could significantly worsen the course of the disease.

A helpful household remedy that can treat the frequently occurring elevated temperature is calf compresses. By applying moist cloths to the calves of the affected person, the body temperature can be effectively lowered. In general, a doctor should always be consulted to discuss treatment options. In addition, the safety of the household remedies can be checked in consultation with the treating doctor.

Homeopathy

Homeopathic substances are often used for illnesses for which antibacterial drugs are normally used. There is currently no scientific evidence that homeopathic substances have been shown to be significantly effective. However, there is no medical reason why homeopathic remedies should not be taken in addition to the usual conventional medicine.

It is only important that the illness is not played down and that complications are accepted. For this reason, a doctor should always be consulted if the symptoms of an acute middle ear infection occur. In a detailed doctor-patient conversation, therapy options can be discussed and the possibilities of taking homeopathic remedies in addition to conventional medical methods.