I was told I have an ear infection last Friday. I began the antibiotic Sat. morning and the ear still hurts.
2007-03-15 12:32:39 · 11 answers · asked by ace 3 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
Did they take a culture so they know for sure that it's bacterial and not viral?
Doctors are better about it these days - but some still give out antibiotics like candy.
If it's viral - it will just heal up on it's own - and if you are taking care of yourself - it should be a bit better by now.
If it's bacterial - I would think with the antibiotics it would be quite a bit better by now - if they are the RIGHT antibiotics.
Sometimes - due to the size of you ear canal - it's very hard for the Doc to get a culture. But without a culture they don't KNOW that it's bacterial and they don't really know what antibiotic to give you - so they are really just guessing.
I had a bacterial ear infection once - and they flushed my ear out. Ugh - you don't wanna know what came out of my ear. But I remember that the antibiotics started to help within a day or two
Hope you feel better soon.
2007-03-15 12:40:49 · answer #1 · answered by liddabet 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your infection should be cured in three days, but should start working after the first dosage. Are you following the instructions on the label. My daughter had ear infections for 3 years straight. I would renewing her prescription every time we ran out and she was on an adult prescription. I finally got fed up, went to my local library and checked out a book on natural remedies. I tsp of vinegar and 1 tsp of witch hazel/alcohol (need to verify this) drop into the ear one drop at a time. The vinegar drys up anything in the ear, and the alcohol kills the bacteria that is causing the infection. It work the first time I tried it and she has never had another ear infection since.
2007-03-15 12:41:40 · answer #2 · answered by Girls M 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most of the antibiotics on the market today need 4 to 10 days to do the job right.
2007-03-15 12:36:13 · answer #3 · answered by Dust in the wind 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can tell you that when it does work the pain will go away real quick. You probably needed a shot... they give shots for that very reason... it takes the antibiotic so long to work the patient end up calling the doctor. With a shot, it will quit hurting the next day.
2007-03-15 12:38:22 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not a doctor, but was recently told by my son's pediatrician that his antibiotics for his mild ear infection should start helping after three days.
2007-03-15 12:38:05 · answer #5 · answered by pw's mommy 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
10 days and take every last pill... If you still have it after that round of antibiotics, you may have a resistant strain and have to change to another antibiotic
2007-03-15 12:38:10 · answer #6 · answered by double_klicks 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you should start feeling better in a few days. there is a chance that they are not working. call you doctor back. You can also put white viniagar at room temp in year ear to dry up any fluid and hopefully make it less painful.
2007-03-15 12:41:21 · answer #7 · answered by Shelly t 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
About one week, the important thing is even when you feel better finish the medication, it can come back on you, also on rare occations you may need another week of antibiotics.
2007-03-15 12:37:08 · answer #8 · answered by sidekick 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It should start working within about 3 days but check with your dr to be on the safe side.
2007-03-15 12:36:02 · answer #9 · answered by sokokl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
3-5 days i took me 7 but i had them bad at least 3-4 times a year for 5-6 years they finally gave me medication that stoped them all together they were afriad though if i had got another one i would go death they thought about tubs but they said in my case it wouldnt work right.
2007-03-15 12:41:57 · answer #10 · answered by Britanie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋