Ear Infection Treatment in Sharjah
Medically reviewed by Dar Al Kamal Team
What is ear infection treatment?
Ear infection treatment means finding which part of the ear is infected and then choosing care that suits that part. The ear has three zones, and infections behave very differently in each.
- Outer ear infection (otitis externa), often called swimmer's ear. The skin of the ear canal becomes swollen, itchy and sore, sometimes with a discharge. Pulling gently on the ear lobe usually makes the pain worse, which is a useful clue.
- Middle ear infection (acute otitis media). Germs travel up the narrow tube that links the back of the nose to the ear, usually during or just after a cold. Pus builds up behind the eardrum, causing throbbing pain, fever and muffled hearing.
- Glue ear (otitis media with effusion). Thick, sticky fluid stays behind the eardrum after an infection settles. It is usually painless, so the main sign is reduced hearing.
At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, ear infections are assessed and treated in the ENT clinic, with a hearing test arranged on site when hearing seems affected.
Who needs it
Young children get middle ear infections more often than adults, because the tube draining their middle ear is shorter and flatter, so a cold spreads to the ear easily. Many settle on their own with pain relief, and a specialist review is worthwhile when infections keep returning, when discharge continues, or when hearing seems reduced for weeks afterwards. Children's ear care in general is described on the children's ENT page.
Swimmer's ear is common in the UAE, where many families swim in pools and the sea for much of the year. Water trapped in the canal softens the skin, and heat and humidity help germs grow. People who wear earphones or hearing aids for long hours, or who scratch their ears, are also more prone to it.
Adults with a first ear infection, one-sided ear symptoms or an infection that keeps coming back also benefit from an ENT examination, so the cause is identified clearly.
What happens
Your ENT surgeon asks about pain, discharge, hearing, swimming and recent colds, then examines the ear with an otoscope or an operating microscope, which gives a magnified view of the canal and eardrum. The nose and throat are checked as well, since they often explain why the middle ear is affected.
For outer ear infections, the most helpful step is often cleaning the canal. The surgeon gently removes debris and discharge with a fine suction tube under the microscope, a technique known as microsuction. A clean canal lets drops reach the infected skin. When the canal is very swollen, a small soft wick may be placed to carry the drops inward.
Treatment is matched to the type of infection:
- Pain relief and fever control for most middle ear infections
- Antibiotic or anti-inflammatory ear drops for outer ear infections
- Antibiotic medicines by mouth when a middle ear infection is severe, lasts beyond a few days, or affects a very young child
- Watchful waiting with a hearing check for glue ear, which often clears by itself with time
For children with repeated infections or glue ear that persists and affects hearing, speech or school, grommets may be advised. Grommets are tiny tubes placed in the eardrum as a day-case procedure under general anaesthetic, letting air into the middle ear. They are often combined with adenoid removal when enlarged adenoids play a part.
Preparing for it
Bring a list of any drops or medicines already used and note how many infections have happened in the past year. For a child, bring any school or nursery reports about hearing or attention.
Keep the ear dry before the visit and leave any discharge for the surgeon to see, rather than cleaning deep inside. If a grommet procedure is planned, you receive separate fasting instructions from the day-surgery team.
Afterwards
Most outer and middle ear infections improve steadily once treatment starts. Keep the ear dry while it heals: a cotton wool ball coated in petroleum jelly in the outer ear during showers works well, and swimming usually waits until the surgeon confirms the ear has recovered. Use drops exactly as shown, lying with the treated ear upward for a few minutes afterwards.
A follow-up visit checks that the eardrum looks healthy, and a hearing test may be repeated for glue ear. For regular swimmers, the surgeon can advise on drying the ears after swimming and on well-fitting ear plugs.
Contact the hospital if pain increases after starting treatment, if discharge persists, or if hearing stays muffled after the infection has settled. Go to the emergency department straight away if there is swelling, redness or tenderness behind the ear, especially if the ear is pushed forward, or if there is weakness of the face, a severe headache, a stiff neck, confusion or a high fever with an ear infection.
Cost and insurance
Most UAE health insurance plans cover ENT consultation, ear examination, microsuction and medicines for ear infections. Grommet insertion and adenoid surgery usually need insurance pre-approval before a date is booked. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you check your cover on 06 599 7777.
Related services
Frequently asked questions
Should I clean my ears with cotton buds?
Cotton buds should be kept out of the ear canal, because they push wax deeper, scratch the thin skin and often start outer ear infections. The canal cleans itself, so wiping only the outer ear with a cloth is enough, and an ENT clinic can remove wax or debris safely when needed.
Do all ear infections need antibiotics?
Many middle ear infections clear on their own with pain relief alone, so antibiotics are used when the infection is severe, persistent or in a very young child. Outer ear infections are usually treated with drops rather than tablets, because drops deliver medicine straight to the infected skin.
What are the risks of ear infections and their treatment?
Most ear infections settle fully, but repeated or untreated infections can occasionally lead to a hole in the eardrum, lasting hearing loss or, rarely, spread of infection to the bone behind the ear. Treatment risks are small: some drops can sting or irritate the skin, antibiotics can upset the stomach, and grommets can sometimes lead to a discharging ear or come out early.
Can I swim with an ear infection?
Swimming is best avoided while an ear is infected or discharging, because water in the canal keeps the skin soft and slows healing. Your ENT surgeon tells you when it is safe to return to the pool or the sea, and may suggest ear plugs for regular swimmers.
Is it safe to fly with an ear infection?
Flying with a middle ear infection can be very painful, because the blocked tube behind the nose struggles to balance pressure as the plane climbs and descends. If a flight is unavoidable, ask your ENT surgeon for advice beforehand.
What are grommets and how long do they stay in?
Grommets are tiny tubes placed in the eardrum to let air into the middle ear and help fluid drain in children with glue ear or repeated infections. They usually fall out by themselves as the eardrum grows, and the small hole normally closes behind them.
Can air conditioning cause ear infections?
Air conditioning itself rarely causes ear infections, although dry indoor air and dust can irritate the nose and contribute to congestion that affects the ears. Keeping the nose clear and treating allergies often reduces how often the middle ear is affected.
Is ear infection treatment covered by insurance?
Most UAE insurance plans cover ENT consultation, ear cleaning and medicines for ear infections, while grommets and adenoid surgery usually need pre-approval. Confirm your cover with Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah on 06 599 7777.
Departments
Book an appointment
Tell us your preferred day and time. Our team calls you back to confirm.