Can adults get ear infections?
While ear infections typically happen to children, adults can get them, too.
The prevalence of ear infections in children is due to their eustachian tubes being smaller and horizontal, which makes it difficult for fluid to drain out of the ear. This usually changes with age, making adult ear infections rare. But they can happen.
“If and when adults experience ear infections, it’s usually a middle ear infection. This area is located right behind your eardrum,” says Jody Erickson, an internal medicine nurse practitioner at Aurora Health Care. “The pain is typically persistent, not intermittent and may intensify over time.”
Adults typically get ear infections through bacterial and viral infections but can also get them from chronic allergies, colds, sore throats or respiratory infections. They can also occur if you have a compromised immune system, chronic skin conditions, like eczema and psoriasis, or diabetes.
Common symptoms of adult ear infections:
- Pain in one or both ears
- Fluid drainage from the ear
- A feeling of fullness or pressure
- Muffled hearing
- Sore throat
- Fever
“Having a cold, the flu or allergies can sometimes irritate the eustachian tube causing a blockage or swelling,” says Erickson. “When this happens, the pain will often come and go. It may feel like the same sensation of going up in an airplane, or you may hear popping and clicking in the ear.”
A middle ear infection isn’t the only ear infection that can plague adults. They can also get outer ear infections, called “swimmer’s ear,” which often occurs when water remains in the ear after swimming or bathing. In this type of infection, there may be actual swelling of the ear canal, drainage or crusting in the ear, and the ear itself may be very tender.
There are a variety of treatment options for middle ear infections:
- Oral antibiotics or medical ear drops
- Pain relievers
- Decongestants, antihistamines or steroid nasal sprays
“In some cases, fluid can remain after the treatment process for up to 12 weeks before it will resolve on its own,” says Erickson. “If that happens, your doctor may recommend an evaluation by an ear, nose and throat specialist who may suggest inserting a small tube at the base of your eardrum to prevent fluid buildup and chronic ear infections.”
This routine procedure, called a myringotomy, takes under five minutes in the office and the tubes usually fall out after six months to a year.
Make sure to see your primary care provider for evaluation as soon as possible if you have sudden loss of hearing in one ear, have intense pain in the ear, dizziness, bloody drainage from the ear or you’re not seeing improvement in your symptoms.
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health enews contributor, is on the digital content team at Advocate Health Care and Aurora Health Care. They received their bachelor's degree in Creative Writing and French from Ohio Wesleyan University. Outside of work, they are a writer and comedian and can be found in the mountains during their free time.
