When to go to urgent care for an ear infection

If you or your child is dealing with ear pain, pressure or other symptoms, you may be concerned it’s an ear infection. Should you head to urgent care right away, make a primary care appointment, manage symptoms at home or something else? When and where to seek care for an ear infection often depends on how severe the symptoms are and how long they’ve stuck around, as well as a child’s age. Below, we’ll walk you through how to choose the right level of care at the right time. Urgent care for an ear infection vs. primary care: When to seek care Both primary and urgent care providers can diagnose and treat ear infections. But before you decide where to go for ear infection treatment, you need to determine if you should go since not all ear infections may need antibiotic treatment. Get care if there’s any blood or fluid draining from your ears Ear drainage is often a sign of an ear infection or injury, so it’s important to see a doctor – even if your symptoms have started improving. Drainage may be clear, yellow or sometimes slightly bloody, and may be accompanied by other symptoms like pain when you pull on your earlobe, or itchiness inside your ear. Seek ear infection care if your ch...