Ear pain with a high temperature, or fluid coming out of the ear, may be an ear infection. The UK National Health Service (NHS) says ear infections are very common, particularly in children, and often get better on their own within 3 days. They are grouped by where they are — outer, middle and inner ear — and where to go first depends on age: a pharmacist for children aged 1 to 17, a GP for babies under 12 months. Below is the NHS “Ear infections” page set out as written; the Korean care notes are ours.
1. Often better on their own within 3 days — paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain; no aspirin under 16.
2. Ages 1 to 17: a pharmacist first; a GP for babies under 12 months, earache not better after 3 days, or repeated infections.
3. Urgent help if generally unwell, very hot or shivery, swelling or fluid from the ear, a change in hearing, dizziness or a severe sore throat.
Symptoms — NHS
| Type | What the NHS says | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| Ear | Earache, a feeling of fullness or pressure, fluid coming out of the ear | Wipe discharge away with cotton wool (see below) |
| Temperature, hearing | A high temperature, difficulty hearing | — |
| Skin | Itching and irritation in and around the ear, scaly skin | — |
| Babies and young children | Rubbing or pulling the ear, not reacting to some sounds, being irritable, eating less, losing balance | How you spot it in a baby who can’t talk (ours) |
Three kinds of ear infection — NHS
| Type | What the NHS says | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| Outer ear | An infection of the ear canal, from irritation such as eczema, water or earplugs, or a fungal or bacterial infection | — |
| Middle ear | An infection behind the eardrum, usually from viruses such as colds and flu, mostly in children | What Koreans usually call jungieyeom (ours) |
| Inner ear | Affects the parts that control balance and hearing and can lead to labyrinthitis | See the linked page below |
Spinning dizziness from an inner ear infection is in labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis.
Where to go — NHS
| If | Where | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| A child aged 1 to 17 may have an ear infection | Pharmacist | The NHS says pharmacists can offer the same treatment as a GP — a UK scheme; Korean pharmacies can’t supply prescription medicine (ours) |
| A baby under 12 months may have an ear infection | GP | In Korea, a paediatric clinic (ours) |
| Earache not better after 3 days | GP | — |
| Ear infections keep coming back | GP | — |
| Generally unwell; a very high temperature, or hot, cold or shivery | Urgent GP appointment or 111 | — |
| Swelling around the ear; fluid coming out of the ear | Urgent GP appointment or 111 | — |
| A change in hearing or new hearing loss | Urgent GP appointment or 111 | — |
| Dizzy, or a severe sore throat | Urgent GP appointment or 111 | If the dizziness goes on, see the labyrinthitis page |
| A baby under 12 months with earache in both ears | Urgent GP appointment or 111 | — |
| Diabetes, a heart, lung, kidney or neurological condition, or a weakened immune system | Urgent GP appointment or 111 | Don’t wait with a long-term condition (ours) |
| Advice needed for a child under 5 | 111 | In Korea, an out-of-hours children’s clinic (ours) |
What you can do — NHS
| Type | What the NHS says | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| Painkillers | Paracetamol or ibuprofen. Children under 16 should not take aspirin | Children’s doses as on the pack (ours) |
| Discharge | Wipe it away with cotton wool | — |
| Nothing inside | Don’t put cotton buds or anything else in the ear | Earwax is a separate page |
| Water | Keep water and shampoo out; don’t swim while infected | — |
| What doesn’t help | Decongestants and antihistamines — no evidence they help ear infections | — |
Why not to use cotton buds, and earwax care, is in earwax.
Diagnosis and treatment — NHS
A GP or pharmacist looks in the ear with a lighted instrument (an otoscope) and may blow a small puff of air to check for a blockage. Treatment depends on the cause and where the infection is: antibiotic tablets or eardrops, antifungal or steroid eardrops, or painkilling eardrops, and a GP may drain a boil or spot in the ear. The NHS adds that eardrops only work if used correctly.
Prevention — NHS
The NHS says infections caused by colds and flu can’t always be prevented, but these help:
| Type | What the NHS says | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| Vaccines | Keep children’s vaccinations up to date | — |
| Smoke | Avoid smoky places | — |
| Dummies | Try not to give a dummy after 6 months | — |
| Water | Keep water out of the ears; earplugs or a swimming hat | — |
| Skin | Treat conditions such as eczema | — |
Checklist
- ☐ Often better within 3 days — painkillers, no aspirin under 16
- ☐ Ages 1 to 17: pharmacist; under 12 months: GP
- ☐ Earache past 3 days or repeated infections: GP
- ☐ Fever, swelling, discharge, hearing change or dizziness: urgent help
- ☐ No cotton buds or water in the ear; no dummy after 6 months
Questions that remain
Are antibiotics always needed?
The NHS says ear infections often get better on their own within 3 days and that treatment depends on the cause and place. Whether antibiotics are needed is for the examining doctor.
Is all earache an infection?
Earache has many causes besides infection. A table by cause is in earache.
Can tonsillitis cause earache?
The NHS tonsillitis page lists earache among its symptoms. See tonsillitis.
Sources
- NHS — Ear infections — source (page shows: reviewed 16 January 2025, next review due 16 January 2028; checked 26 October 2026). Symptoms, outer, middle and inner ear infections, self-care, pharmacist, GP and urgent criteria, diagnosis, treatment, prevention.
- Not read. Korean otitis guidance; antibiotic types and courses.
- What we added. The “worth noting” column and the Korean care gloss.
Where to check further
- An ENT or paediatric clinic — if it still hurts after 3 days or with the urgent signs above.
Written on 26 October 2026. The content is from the NHS; the glosses are ours.
