Urgent Care for Ear Infections
Ear infections are common in children and can also occur in adults. It is crucial to detect an ear infection early and receive treatment to prevent complications.
Did you know you can go to urgent care for an ear infection? Thibodaux Regional Urgent Care providers can quickly assess, diagnose, and treat ear infections. If you think you have an ear infection, simply walk into one of our locations for prompt, excellent care.
What Are the Symptoms of an Ear Infection?
When should you seek treatment for a possible ear infection? Here are common signs and symptoms of an ear infection:
- Ear pain.
- Ear pressure.
- Itching of the ear.
- Drainage of fluid from the ear.
- Headache.
- Fever.
- Decreased hearing.
- Dizziness.
- Balance difficulty.
- Sleeplessness.
- Irritability.
Should I Go to Urgent Care for an Ear Infection?
Treating an ear infection early is essential. An untreated ear infection can affect your child’s hearing and impact their ear health. Don’t hesitate to see a provider at Thibodaux Regional Urgent Care if you think you or your child has an ear infection.
Without treatment, an ear infection can lead to hearing loss. Other complications can include meningitis (inflammation of the tissues around the brain), facial paralysis, and infection of the tissues and bones surrounding the ear. Young children and people with decreased immunity are especially susceptible to developing complications and should seek medical care promptly.
In urgent care, an experienced provider will discuss your symptoms, assess your ears, and determine whether you are suffering from an ear infection or another condition. Your provider may prescribe an antibiotic to treat your infection. If specialized care is needed for you or your child, your urgent care provider can make that determination and refer you to a specialist.
What Causes an Ear Infection?
Ear infections can have a variety of causes. In children, a cold or other upper respiratory infection can cause fluid to accumulate within the ear. If this fluid becomes infected, an ear infection is the result.
An upper respiratory infection like a cold may also cause adult ear infections. Sometimes, swimming in contaminated water can cause infection of the ear canal. Water or other matter retained in the ear canal can become the site of an infection. This type of ear infection, called otitis externa, can also be treated in an urgent care clinic.
Allergies can cause increased drainage or congestion involving the Eustachian tubes, small passages that connect to your middle ear. This can sometimes lead to fluid buildup, increasing the likelihood of an ear infection.
Inserting objects like cotton balls or Q-tips into the ear can also contribute to ear infections, as wax-containing bacteria may be pushed deep into the ear canal.
People with decreased immunity may also be at higher risk for an ear infection, as their immune system is often less effective in fighting viruses or bacteria.
Thibodaux Regional Urgent Care is a walk-in clinic, so no appointment is needed. Our providers are ready to care for your urgent medical needs seven days a week. To learn more about our services, call 985.803.8383 for our Thibodaux location, 985.709.0136 for our Houma location, or 985.493.4944 for our Gray location.
