What would cause continuous ear infections in an adult?

I've had 3 ear infections in 4 months, what would cause an adult to get so many so quickly? It isn't swimmer's ear, just regular ear infection. I've been off antibiotics for 2 weeks and this morning I can feel the same pain in my ear coming back for a 4th time.

As far as I know, I take care of my ears and this has only started in the past few months.

I was looking up some info on Chronic Ear Infections for you and ran across these sites on Chronic Otitis Media - causes and cures that I thought you might like to look at. There is too much information to post here or else I would - its hard to condense it into something that would be really useful for you.

http://www.umm.edu/otolaryngology/ear_in...

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/...

http://health.allrefer.com/health/otitis...

You're welcome Empress and thanks as well. I hope you find answers and relief when you see the specialist - glad the web sites were useful :-) Report It

bad genetics ? Some peeps are just predisposed to infections

Diet. Have you changed your eating habits? Pastuerized, homogenized milk causes ear infections in kids.

Do you use Q-Tips? Doctors will tell you that sticking ANYTHING in your ears is a bad idea. Try using hydrogen peroxide to clean them instead (if you do of course!). Also, do you live with smokers? Or around smokers? Any allergies? Sinus infections? If you live with smokers or are a smoker, I would cut that back considerably and you should see improvements. If you suffer from regular sinus infections or allergies, I would discuss an antihistamine with my doctor. A couple things to think about, but no where near all the reasons why you're getting these infections. I would speak to your general practitioner about it and if he/she cannot help you, ask for a referral to an Ear, Nose & Throat Specialist. Good luck!

swimmer's ear.

It could be due to years of wax build-up........
Although you clean your ears, some wax
is being pushed further down that we are
unable to reach....ask the doctor for an ear wash...
good luck

I have 2 strange stories...my Greatgrandmother had chronic ear infections for like 15 years...was treated by her regular dr. She finally went to an ear specialist, come to find out she had a brain tumor....Also, my mother paranoid about my Greatgrandmothers brain tumor, was a fanatic about cleaning and digging in her ears all the time...she broke down the skin and lining in her ears, and got the bone in her ears infected...she had to have surgery to have skin graphs put in both ears....I would see a specialist as soon as possible to rule out anything bad, and hopefully clear something up that is not tragically bad....Good Luck

Hi Empress

Here are some remedies to cure your issue.

Herbal Aids
1.Garlic: Earache, inflammation of the middle ear, ear disease: Pack a small clove of garlic in gauze and place into the external ear passage; or drop 4-5 drops of oil into the ear channel, cover with flannel, and keep warm.

2.Rue: Warm and place several drops of compound oil into the ear.

3.Mullein: Use warm mullein oil, 2-3 drops in the ear 2-3 times daily. Organic Apple cider vinegar is also a healing agent.

4.Hops: Apply a flannel bag of hops, and moist heat over the affected area.

5.Treat Both Ears: The simple, old-fashioned aids are sometimes very fast in giving relief. Always treat both ears, even if only one aches.

6.Onion: Lightly bake a large onion, cut it in half and while warm (not hot enough to irritate the area), bind one half of the onion over each ear. Bandage in place and hold bandage on with a nightcap, white skullcap, etc., and leave on all night.

7.Camomile: Use a fomentation over both ears of three parts of camomile and one part of lobelia. Take two ounces orally (a wineglass full) each two waking hours. Leave the fomentation on the ears all night. (Cover fomentation with plastic or oiled silk, etc.).

8.Mullein: Use three to six drops of mullein oil in both ears several times each day. Insert it upon retiring for the night, and, as before, plug the ears with cotton. Place a fomentation over the ears all night of three parts mullein and one part lobelia.

9.Dr. Christopher's B & B Tincture: When this procedure is used as explained here, it can be an aid in assisting an improvement of poor equilibrium, failure of hearing, aiding the motor nerve, etc. With an eye dropper insert into each ear at night four to six drops of oil of garlic and four to six drops of the following herb tincture: blue cohosh, black cohosh, blue vervain, skullcap, and lobelia, plugging ears overnight with cotton, six days a week, four to six months, or as needed. On the seventh day, flush ears with a small ear syringe using warm apple cider vinegar and distilled water half and half.

10.Flaxseed Meal and Blue Vervain: Made into a poultice with flaxseed meal, using a strong infusion of Blue Vervain instead of plain hot water, it relieves ... earache and ear abscess as well.


Testimonials
1.Garlic: When my little girl had an earache I put a piece of fresh garlic in her ear and it was better by morning. The previous alternative was to go to the doctor and pay a lot of money for penicillin.

Best of health to you

Cheers

It sounds like it's time to get a referral to a specialist in inner ear issues. You shouldn't have to be on antibiotics this long. Oh yeah - if you haven't been recently, go see the dentist - you may have a tooth issue that is affecting your ear - sounds weird but it does happen.

Listening to my fuc***g boss!

My nickname is earinfection! Sorry, I am not an expert! I saw your question and just had to say hello-
At one time, I had incredible vertigo- I went to a Dr and he said I must be depressed. Well that was not so! I ended up going to a dentist and I had an impacted tooth that was very infected. I did not feel any pain in my mouth at all because I had some nerves that don't work.
At this point, you might want to seek a second opinion from another Dr. Hope you are feeling much better soon!

I suffer from chronic ear infections. Mine get so bad that my face swells and have had to have a wick put in at least 3 times.The cause of mine is that I am a crazy q-tipper to the point that my husband has to hide them. I am like a complete q-tip addict and I will secretly buy them and sneak them in the house. I have not had an ear infection for almost two years now (knock on wood). I have started using antibacterial q-tips, at the first sign of a "twinge" I put Cipro drops in my ear and (most importantly) I amke sure that no water gets in my ears when I shower. I find that dipping a cotton ball in vaseline creates a barrier that keeps moisture and things like soap and shampoo out.