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With otitis, you definitely need to see a doctor and avoid self-treating, even if it seems like just a simple ear inflammation. The thing is, otitis can be viral or bacterial, and antibiotics will only help in the second case. Plus, the choice of medication depends on what specific microbe caused the inflammation - this is determined by tests, not guesswork. A doctor will be able to properly diagnose the type of otitis and prescribe the right antibiotic.
Most often with middle ear otitis, amoxicillin or amoxicillin with clavulanic acid are prescribed - these drugs penetrate the ear canal well and are active against the main pathogens. If you're allergic to penicillins, the doctor will choose macrolides or cephalosporins. With external otitis, ear drops with antibiotics are usually enough, without taking pills systemically. In addition to antibiotics, painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs are important - they ease symptoms in the first days of illness.
Important thing: even if you start feeling better, you need to complete the full course of antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor. Otherwise there's a risk of relapse and bacteria developing resistance to the drug. What symptoms are bothering you - pain, purulent discharge, hearing loss? That would help me understand better what's going on with you.
алина74 asker
Thanks, I'll try it. What worries me most is the pain and discharge, I'm going to the doctor tomorrow.
From personal experience, I'd say the most important thing isn't actually the antibiotic itself, but getting the right diagnosis. Otitis is otitis - one type isn't the same as another, and what works for one kind can be completely useless for another. If it's already been determined that you actually need an antibiotic, a doctor usually chooses between amoxicillin and azithromycin depending on the clinical picture - but that's something a specialist should decide after examining you, not the internet.
The point is that antibiotics aren't the first thing you need for otitis, but more like the third or fourth option. First, a doctor needs to figure out if there's even a bacterial infection at all, because ear pain is often treated with completely different methods - compresses, anti-inflammatory drops, cleaning the ear canal. If an antibiotic has already been prescribed, take exactly what was prescribed and don't switch medications based on internet advice on day three, even if it feels like it's not working. Improvement from an infection doesn't come right away, but bacteria develop resistance to drugs really fast.
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