Can Adults Get Ear Infections? Yes, and It’s More Common Than You Think

If you had frequent ear infections as a child, you still probably remember that full, aching, painful feeling in your ear when you were sick. Ear infections, especially middle ear infections (otitis media) are extremely common in kids. In fact, 5 out of 6 kids will get at least one ear infection by the time they’re 3 years old. 

But ear infections go away as people get older, right? 

Well, not exactly. Ear infections are less common in adults, but adults can get ear infections. In fact 20% of all ear infections are diagnosed in adults. So that earache you’ve felt since your last cold? Yes, it could be an ear infection. 

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Here’s what you should know about ear infections in adults and when to get treatment.

What is an adult ear infection?

When people use the term ear infection, they often mean a middle ear infection (otitis media). But there are three types of ear infections. Adults develop all three types of ear infections. 

Outer ear infections 

An outer ear infection (otitis externa) develops when the ear canal gets infected. The ear canal is the area in front of your eardrum and extends to the outside of your ear. Outer ear infections are the most common type of ear infection in adults. 

Outer ear infections are also called swimmer’s ear. Most people develop outer ear infections after swimming in fresh water or swimming pools that aren’t properly cleaned. Bacteria from the water gets into the skin of the ear canal and causes an infection. Adults can also develop otitis externa while trying to remove earwax or clean their ear canal. They can accidentally introduce bacteria into their ear, which leads to infection. 

Middle ear infections  

The middle ear is the area behind the eardrum. A small tube (eustachian tube) drains fluid from the middle ear to the back of your throat. If the eustachian tube gets inflamed, fluid in the ear gets backed up. That provides a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses to grow. That leads to a middle ear infection (otitis media). 

Things that can cause eustachian tube inflammation in adults include:

• Colds and upper respiratory tract infections

• Allergies

• Smoke exposure   

Kids are more likely to develop otitis media than adults. That’s because their ear tube is shorter and flatter, so it doesn’t drain as well. As children grow, their eustachian tube becomes more angled, making it easier for fluid to drain out of the tube, like water running down a hill. 

Inner ear infections

The inner ear is inside the skull behind the middle ear. This part of the ear includes special organs that control your hearing and balance. Inner ear infections are much less common but can be caused by viruses.

What are the symptoms of adult ear infections?

Each type of adult ear infection causes different symptoms. Symptoms of adult ear infections include:

• Outer ear infections: ear pain, itching, canal swelling, drainage

• Middle ear infections: ear pain, fullness and pressure, fever, muffled hearing

• Inner ear infections: dizziness, nausea, vomiting, ear ringing, hearing changes

How do you treat adult ear infections?

Treatment for adult ear infections depends on what type of infection you have. 

Outer ear infection treatments

Treatment for otitis externa includes:

• Antibiotic ear drops: Antibiotic ear drops help treat the infection at the source. They help decrease inflammation and pain, too. Ofloxacin (Floxin) ear drops are commonly prescribed to treat outer ear infections.  

• Combination antibiotic and steroid ear drops: If you have a lot of ear swelling, you may need combination ear drops instead. These drops treat both infection and ear canal swelling. Examples include ciprofloxacin/dexamethasone (Ciprodex) or neomycin/polymixin B/hydrocortisone (Corticosporin).

• Ear wicks: If you have a lot of swelling, your healthcare professional may also place an ear wick in your ear canal. A wick is a piece of cellulose. Healthcare professionals soak the wick with antibiotic and steroid drops. This soaked wick relieves severe swelling and gets medication into the ear canal.   

• Pain relievers: You can take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) for pain relief from your ear infection.

Middle ear infections

Treatment for otitis media includes:

• Antibiotics: Middle ear infections are treated with antibiotics taken by mouth. Amoxicillin is the most common one prescribed.   

• Antibiotic ear drops: You may also need antibiotic ear drops if your eardrum ruptures with a middle ear infection. The antibiotic drops help heal the eardrum. They also help clear the middle ear infection faster by acting directly in the middle ear space.

• Pain relievers: You can take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) for pain relief from your ear infection.

Inner ear infections

Symptoms of labyrinthitis usually go away on their own. Most people rely on rest and home remedies to help them feel better. You may need medications to help relieve dizziness and vertigo. An otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat specialist) can help you find the right treatments for your symptoms. 

Can ear infections lead to complications?

Yes. Without treatment, all three types of ear infections can lead to complications, such as:

• Cellulitis: Cellulitis is a skin infection. You may get cellulitis if an outer ear infection extends from the ear canal to the skin outside the ear. If you develop cellulitis, your skin will look red and feel warm and tender.

• Mastoiditis: Middle or outer ear infections can sometimes spread to the mastoid bone, which sits behind the ear in your skull. With mastoiditis, the area behind the ear becomes red and tender. And the ear may stick out. Mastoiditis can lead to different infections inside the brain.

• Eardrum tear or perforation: A bad middle ear infection can cause a lot of pus and pressure. That can push against the eardrum and make it tear. This is called an eardrum perforation. 

• Hearing loss: Temporary hearing loss can happen after a middle ear infection. That usually resolves when the infection clears. But, middle ear structures can get damaged if you keep getting ear infections. That can lead to permanent hearing loss.

Treatment can help prevent these complications. People with diabetes or weakened immune systems are more likely to get complications from ear infections. So if you think you might have an ear infection, and you’re at higher risk for complications, make sure to see your healthcare professional as soon as possible.  

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Brian Clista, MD

Dr. Clista is a board-certified pediatrician who works in private practice in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He previously served as a National Health Service Corporation Scholar in the inner city of Pittsburgh for 11 years.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

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