Symptom guide · Pioneer Physicians
Ear Infection Treatment in Bolingbrook
Pioneer Physicians Urgent Care offers walk-in ear infection treatment in Bolingbrook, IL for adults and for children from infancy through the teen years. We’re open every day from 8 AM to 8 PM. Many ear infections clear on their own, so the visit decides whether you need an antibiotic or pain relief and a plan to watch.
- Open 7 days, 8 AM to 8 PM
- Walk-ins welcome
- X-ray and rapid tests on site
- Kids and adults
- Medicare and Medicaid plans accepted
Ear infection symptoms in children and adults
Ear pain is the main symptom. Young children often also have a fever, fussiness or trouble sleeping, and the infection may start shortly after a cold.
Tugging at an ear is a weak clue by itself. MedlinePlus notes it is not always a sign of infection, and the American Academy of Pediatrics says many babies and small children tug their ears to self-soothe or play.
Older children and adults may also feel run down, with congestion, cough, vomiting or diarrhea.
- Ear pain, often worse at night
- A full or plugged feeling in the ear
- Muffled hearing on one side
- Fever
- Crying that won’t settle, or trouble sleeping or eating, in babies
- Clumsiness or trouble with balance
- Yellow, green or bloody fluid draining from the ear
What causes ear infections
Most ear infections start in the middle ear, the air space behind the eardrum, after a cold or allergies block the eustachian tube that drains it to the back of the throat. Fluid then collects behind the eardrum, and bacteria or viruses grow in it.
Children get far more ear infections than adults, partly because their eustachian tubes are smaller and more level, so fluid drains poorly. The NIDCD, part of the National Institutes of Health, reports that five out of six children have at least one by their third birthday.
Ear infections often follow a cold, a sore throat or a sinus infection. Tobacco smoke, group child care, pacifiers and drinking from a bottle while lying down also raise the risk.
Swimmer’s ear is a different infection
Swimmer’s ear, or otitis externa, is an infection of the ear canal outside the eardrum. It is most common in teens and young adults and often follows swimming or scratching the canal with cotton swabs. The pain gets worse when you pull on the outer ear. MedlinePlus says most cases are treated with antibiotic ear drops.
Middle ear infection or swimmer’s ear?
| Topic | Middle ear infection (otitis media) | Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa) |
|---|---|---|
| Where it is | Behind the eardrum | In the ear canal, outside the eardrum |
| Who gets it most | Babies and young children | Teens and young adults |
| Usual trigger | A cold or allergies that block the eustachian tube | Water left in the ear, or scratching the canal with swabs |
| Telltale sign | Ear pain, often with fever, shortly after a cold | Pain that gets worse when you pull the outer ear |
| Typical treatment | Pain relief and watchful waiting, or antibiotics by mouth | Antibiotic ear drops |
| Prevention | Vaccines, hand washing, a smoke-free home | Dry ears well after swimming, keep swabs out |
Does ear infection treatment always mean antibiotics?
No. Antibiotics do nothing for ear infections caused by viruses, and the American Academy of Pediatrics says about 80% of childhood ear infections clear up without medicine.
For mild cases, the CDC describes two options: watching and waiting for 2 to 3 days, or a delayed prescription that you fill only if symptoms don’t improve. Pain relief comes first either way. With no improvement after 48 to 72 hours, the ear gets a second look.
Antibiotics are more likely when:
- The child is younger than 6 months
- The child is younger than 2 and both ears are infected
- Pain is moderate or severe, or has lasted 48 hours or more
- The temperature is 102.2 F (39 C) or higher
- Fluid is draining from the ear
- Symptoms last longer than 2 to 3 days or keep getting worse
If an antibiotic is prescribed
If an antibiotic is prescribed, finish every dose even after you feel better. The AAP says about 1 in 5 children get side effects such as diarrhea or a rash, so mention any past reaction.
Easing ear pain at home
Pain relief comes first for everyone, especially at bedtime, when ear pain tends to peak. These steps come from MedlinePlus and the CDC.
- Hold a warm cloth or a cold, wet washcloth against the outer ear.
- Use over-the-counter acetaminophen or ibuprofen, following the label for age and weight. Never give aspirin to a child.
- Rest sitting up rather than lying flat to ease middle ear pressure.
- Use over-the-counter ear pain drops only if the eardrum is not torn. Skip them if fluid is draining, which can be a sign of a tear.
- Keep cotton swabs and other objects out of the ear.
- Rest and drink plenty of fluids.
Walk in for ear pain today
Walk in for an ear check any day, or save your spot online before you leave home.
When ear pain needs a visit today
Get seen today if ear pain lasts more than 2 to 3 days or keeps getting worse. The CDC and MedlinePlus list these other reasons:
- A fever of 102.2 F (39 C) or higher
- Pus, fluid or blood coming from the ear
- New hearing loss
- No improvement 48 to 72 hours after starting an antibiotic, or a fever that goes away and then comes back
- Severe pain that suddenly stops, which can mean the eardrum has torn
- Any baby younger than 6 months with a fever or signs of an ear infection
What we do at an ear infection visit
The provider looks at the eardrum to tell a middle ear infection from swimmer’s ear or pain that starts somewhere else. First come questions about the pain, recent colds, fever and drainage, then a look with a lighted scope called an otoscope. A red, bulging eardrum points to a middle ear infection. A swollen canal with a normal eardrum points to swimmer’s ear.
Ear pain often shows up alongside a sore throat, cough or fever. When the provider thinks it would help, we can run a rapid strep, flu or COVID test during the same visit, and a positive result can change the plan.
You leave with a plan: pain relief and watchful waiting, or a prescription when one is needed. Because the diagnosis depends on seeing the eardrum, an in-person visit works better than a video visit for new ear pain.
Ear infections in babies, children and teens
Our pediatric urgent care sees children with ear pain from infancy through the teen years, any day we’re open.
Babies need a lower bar for a visit. The CDC says to talk to a provider right away about a baby under 3 months with a temperature of 100.4 F or higher. MedlinePlus says children older than 6 months may be watched at home at first if their fever is no higher than 102 F (38.9 C), the pain and other symptoms are not getting worse, and they have no other medical problems.
If your child has had 3 or more ear infections in 6 months, or 4 or more in a year, ask their regular doctor about an ear, nose and throat specialist, who may discuss ear tubes.
The pneumococcal vaccine protects against the bacteria that most often cause ear infections. We do not give childhood vaccinations, so keep routine shots with your child’s regular doctor or the Will County or DuPage County Health Department.
Ear pain in adults often starts somewhere else
Adults get middle ear infections less often than children. MedlinePlus says adult ear pain is less likely to be an infection and may start in the teeth, the jaw joint or the throat, which doctors call referred pain. Flying, earwax or an object in the canal can also make the ear hurt. A tooth or jaw problem may point you to a dentist rather than an antibiotic.
Older adults and people with diabetes or a weakened immune system shouldn’t wait on outer ear pain with drainage. MedlinePlus notes that swimmer’s ear can turn severe in these groups.
AAFP guidance says adults with more than two ear infections a year, or fluid behind the eardrum for more than 6 weeks, need more testing to rule out a blockage or other underlying problem. Ask your regular doctor about that follow-up.
The Pioneer walk-in visit
How a visit works
- Step 1Walk in or save your spot
No appointment needed. You can also save your spot online before you leave home.
- Step 2Check in
Bring a photo ID, your insurance card and a list of the medicines you take.
- Step 3See a provider
Get examined, with X-ray and rapid tests on site when you need them.
- Step 4Leave with a plan
You go home with a care plan and clear next steps.
Why families in Bolingbrook choose Pioneer
Walk-in care that fits real life
Open 7 days a week
8 AM to 8 PM, weekends included, so a Saturday sore throat does not have to wait until Monday.
X-ray and tests on site
X-ray every day we are open, plus rapid strep, flu and COVID tests, urinalysis and EKG.
Care for kids and adults
From infants through the teen years, and adults of every age, in one clinic.
Insurance and self-pay
Aetna, BCBS of Illinois, Cigna, Humana, Medicare, Illinois Medicaid plans and UnitedHealthcare. Call to confirm your plan.
Questions and answers
Questions we hear often
Still not sure? Call (630) 914-5373 and we will help you decide.
Can I walk in for an ear infection without an appointment?
Yes. No appointment is needed for ear pain. Walk-ins are welcome every day, or you can save your spot online first. We’re open 8 AM to 8 PM and are not open 24 hours. After 8 PM, book a next-day visit online, or go to an emergency room for any warning sign on this page.
Do you treat ear infections in babies and toddlers?
Yes. We see children from infancy through the teen years for ear pain, fever and drainage. One situation needs faster care than a walk-in: a baby younger than 3 months with a temperature of 100.4 F (38 C) or higher. Call your pediatrician right away, or go to the nearest emergency room if you cannot reach them.
How long does an ear infection last?
Most middle ear infections improve within about 3 days. Fluid can stay behind the eardrum for 3 to 6 weeks after the infection clears, so hearing may sound muffled for a while. Call or come back if pain or fever isn’t better after 48 to 72 hours.
Can an ear infection cause vomiting?
It can. MedlinePlus lists vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite among the symptoms of an acute ear infection. Keep offering fluids. Get care today for vomiting that won’t stop or signs of dehydration, and call 911 if vomiting comes with a stiff neck, a severe headache or confusion.
How much does an ear infection visit cost without insurance?
Self-pay is available. The total is the visit itself plus any rapid strep, flu or COVID test done that day. Call (630) 914-5373 for current self-pay pricing. We also accept Aetna, Cigna, Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, UnitedHealthcare, Humana and Illinois Medicaid plans; call to confirm your specific plan.
Is an ear infection contagious, and when can my child go back to school?
The ear infection itself is not contagious, but the cold and flu viruses that often lead to one are. The American Academy of Pediatrics says children can go back to school or child care as soon as they feel well enough. Hand washing helps prevent the next cold.
Can you fly or swim with an ear infection?
Usually, yes. Cleveland Clinic says air travel is safe, though takeoff and landing may hurt. Swallowing or chewing gum on descent helps, and a baby can suck on a bottle or pacifier. Skip gum for young children, since it is a choking hazard. Swimming is fine if the eardrum is not torn and nothing is draining. With swimmer’s ear, keep water out until it heals.
Sources for this page
- Ear Infection Basics. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Ear infection, acute. MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- Earache. MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- Swimmer’s ear. MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- Ear Infections in Children: Information for Parents. American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org.
- Ear Infections in Children. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIH).
- Otitis Media: Diagnosis and Treatment. American Academy of Family Physicians, American Family Physician.
- Ear Infection (Otitis Media). Cleveland Clinic.