Well, once again I'm stuck at home with an ear infection and a subsequently ruptured ear drum. These things suck big time, especially when you have ear drums that struggle to heal on their own. Hears (pun very much intended) how to make sure they don't get out of hand.
First thing you need to do is see your doctor. It's best to make sure that there is nothing more serious. Better to be safe then sorry
Next, make sure the doctor prescribes the right antibiotic. My drug of choice (not to sound like an addict or anything) is Augmentin. This can also be substituted by Amoxicillin for more mild cases.
Always finish out the antibiotic. The last thing you want is to have the pain linger even after the infection has started to improve.
And don't you dare try to clean out the infected ear with a cotton swab. This hurts more than you may expect and can poke or irritate the ear drum itself. I recommend using tissues or a slightly damp wash cloth to clean out excess wax and drainage.
With any other common illness, it helps to stay hydrated, so chug that Gatorade.
My last important tip is to stay home. While an ear infection isn't contagious, you're likely to have other cold-like symptoms so it's best to stay home and get well before returning to school or work.
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