Do I have an ear infection?

Question

My ears have been bothering me for a year lately and now I'm suspecting it can be an ear infection but I'm not 100% sure about it. In the beginning I was introduced to Q-Tips and I really enjoyed using it. But ever since I've been using Q-Tips I've been tugging and scratching my ear alot because it gets extremely itchy inside of my ear. Now inside of my ear is all wet and scabby, when I scratch my ear all of this dead skin comes off but no blood. This may sound kind of wierd but when ever I move my jaw to the left or right it always makes this little *crack* sound right below my ear.

Answer 1

Better have the doctor take a look at it. Only a doctor can give you the correct diagnosis and work out a treatment plan. In the meantime, keep your hands away from your ear and stop using those Q-tips.

Answer 2

You have an ear infection probably because you poked cotton buds in it. The ear canal is very narrow and short in distance and by putting Q tips in you are only pushing the wax hard against your tympanic membrane, ear drum, and causing it to become swollen and sore; you have also scratched the sides of the canal and that has become infected. 80% of ear problems are from this practice. It is normal to have wax, it is a protective covering for your ear canal and also absorbs some of the sound you hear so you don't do too much damage with normal noise levels, 80Db.
You need antibiotics so see your doctor who can by the way remove excessive wax safely.

Answer 3

Deffinately, no matter what advice you get here... go see your doctor. But to give you some idea, I began to get ear infections when i started using my earbud headphones regularly. This resulted in an itchy sensation, and slight pain. Got some ear drops, and if it ever reoccurs, i have that there and a few days of that and it tends to be fine. Very simple to treat, i wouldnt stress about it.

Some say there is a problem with overusing q-tips. I suspect that excess friction of the q-tips in the ear could graze skin which in turn could lead to a form of ear infection. I stopped using my headphones and it hasnt occured since, so obviously if you can bring yourself to stop using the q-tips it should not reoccur. Either way, you will have to go see your doc and get some ear drops.

Answer 4

It sounds like you might. Let me tell you what happened to me, I had an ear infection off and on for 2 years. Never any pain at all, some drainage at times and sometimes my ear would plug up, like when you go over high mountains. But, my hearing in my left ear was getting less and less. Finally an ENT tested me and I had lost almost all my hearing plus the infection had eaten the bone behind my ear and my innner ear. He had to operate and reconstruct my canal, he was a great doctor...I got my hearing back..it was great. But something that seems like nothing, could very well be dangerous. So please have your ears checked asap. It could also be ear wax that needs to be removed, they have a liquid you can but in there and it bubbles out all of the wax. Anyway, go to doctor and I hope all is well!

Answer 5

it could be a fungal infection.

ear infections don't usually cause flaking. your ear might have drainage if the ear drum perforates (ruptures). this will cause blood and pus to drain from the ear-it usually heals once antibiotics are given.

i would make an appt to have your ear looked at. you might need antibiotics or special cream to treat your ear.

do NOT stick anything else in your ear. q-tips, rubbing alcohol,peroxide, or anything else is off limits.

Answer 6

You need to go to the doctor. Using q-tips has probably pushed all the ear wax back into your ear. You probably have a lot of wax buildup, which would be why you hear the "crack."

Answer 7

you have it