Ear infection prevention?!

Ear infection prevention?

I get the feeling I am comming down with an ear infection. There is a slight pain in my ear, but I cannot be sure. At this stage, is there a way for me to prevent full blown symptoms, and heal it quicker? I am going on a trip in about 4 days.

Thanks

It depends on the kind of ear infection you are talking about. If you are talking about a infection of the outer ear canal, like swimmer's ear- it's a matter of getting the canal dried out and keeping water out. They sell ear drops at the chemist or pharmacy that can help dry the ear, as well as ear plugs to wear while swimming or showering. If it's a middle ear infection, that's usually due to the eustachian tube getting blocked and trapping bacteria in. That can be helped with the aid of a decongestant, and a valsalva maneuver to help clear the tube. It's done by holding the nose, closing the mouth, and blowing gently until you feel the eardrum pop. Then you let go, and shift the jaw forward slightly to reset things. If you can't pop the eardrum, or it's painful, then the tube is either completely blocked or very nearly so. That's a job for decongestants, and will take a few days to clear. Otherwise, you are in for a course of antibiotics. If you are expecting to fly on this trip, I suggest going ahead and seeing the doctor if you can and having the problem under control quickly. Flying with an ear infection is not a good idea and can be excruciatingly painful. If you have a cold at the moment, take care to blow the nose gently so you don't blow things back upwards. Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do to rush a cold on it's way. I wish you a good trip and hope it clears in time.