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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffYou're likely to see your family doctor or a general practitioner for treatment of an ear infection. Because appointments can be brief, it's a good idea to be prepared for your appointment.
What you can do
- Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to problems with your ears.
- Bring a list of all medications, as well as any vitamins or supplements, that you're taking.
- Write down any known allergies, such as skin allergies or drug allergies.
- Write down questions to ask your doctor.
If you're experiencing any signs or symptoms of swimmer's ear, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
- What is likely causing problems with my ear?
- What is the best treatment?
- When should I expect improvement?
- Do I need to make a follow-up appointment?
- If I have swimmer's ear, how can I prevent getting it again?
- Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What Web sites do you recommend visiting?
In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment at any time that you don't understand something.
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you some of the following questions:
- When did you first begin experiencing symptoms?
- Have the symptoms changed?
- Have you ever had swimmer's ear before?
- How often is your ear exposed to water?
- Where have you gone swimming?
- How do you clean your ears?
- Have you put any devices or objects in your ear?
What you can do in the meantime
Before your appointment, keep your ear as dry as possible and don't go swimming.
To treat pain, you may take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) or naproxen (Aleve, others), or an analgesic pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others).
- Osguthorpe JD, et al. Otitis externa: Review and clinical update. American Family Physician. 2006;74(9):1510-1516.
- Ruckenstein M. Infections of the external ear. In: Cummings C, et al., eds. Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier/Mosely; 2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/102996601-2/0/1263/1195.html?tocnode=49546210&fromURL=1195.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-01985-4..X5001-1--part11_5058. Accessed Aug. 25, 2008.
- Grunstein E, et al. Diseases of the external ear. In: Lalwani A, ed. Current Diagnosis & Treatment in Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery. 2nd ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw Hill; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aid=2829939. Accessed Aug. 25, 2008.
- Goguen L. External otitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 25, 2008.
