Ear, Nose and Throat Doctor (ENT) Questions Ear-Nose and Throat Doctor (ENT)

“Is my eardrum ruptured?”

I started noticing pain in my ear for a few months, but didn't pay attention to it because I was so busy with school and my area had a lot of covid cases and we were asked not to come to the doctor unless it was for a very serious issue. I went to the doctor the 8/18/2021 and the doctor told me I have a lot of bacteria and fungus in my ear. I got my medication on the 8/19/2021. I still have severe sharp pain in my inner ear and swelling in my outer ear. The areas around my ear and upper jaw are also in pain. And no I do not have a toothache.

Medicine prescribed:
TobraDex (tobramycin and dexamethascone ophthalamic suspension)
Candid Clotrimazole Ear Drops,
BETACLAV (AMOXI+CLAV) 625MG 80S X 14
Cataflam Tab 25MG 20 x 9

My question is how will I know if my ear drum is ruptured if I can't see my eardrum due to wax, and also the fact that I use ear drops are gonna affect my ear drums, how exactly will I know?

Female | 18 years old
Complaint duration: 20/ 8/ 2021
Medications: TobraDex (tobramycin and dexamethascone ophthalamic suspension) Candid Clotrimazole Ear Drops, BETACLAV (AMOXI+CLAV) 625MG 80S X 14 Cataflam Tab 25MG 20 x 9
Conditions: None

7 Answers

Ear,NoseandThroatDoctor(ENT)Ear-NoseandThroatDoctor(ENT)
The only way to know is to have an ENT doc clean it all out under a microscope
Perhaps I should explain more. What you received is known as shotgun therapy. The prescriptions you are taking cover all of the possible causes of your symptoms: bacterial otitis external, fungal otitis externa, and bacterial otitis media. What that tells you is that the prescriber did not know what was wrong! This is because he has no binocular microscope, no
ability to instrument the ear, and minimal training in the diagnosis of ear disease. The problem with shotgun therapy is that the therapies themselves can cause new problems due to side effects, not to mention the expense of buying the unnecessary medicines. See an ENT when you have an ear problem if you want exact answers and appropriate treatment.
Expert Answers

Why do I have so much ear wax?

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It sounds like you need to have your ear cleaned out. If there is so much wax you cannot see the ear drum, then it is unlikely that the infection will go away. You need to see an ENT and have your ear checked and probably cleaned.
If a culture was not taken, the doctor is guessing on treatment. Ear culture and, if necessary, an ear CT scan would help figure out what's wrong. Make an appointment.
Appears that you have been seen by your local medical doctor, and not by an ENT. Need to see an ENT for microscopic ear exam, cleaning, and potential treatment.
Hi there, it sounds as if you have a pretty severe fungal infection if they prescribed that combination of oral and topical medications. Keep the ear dry completely- the only thing going in the ear should be those drops. Otherwise, perhaps plan to schedule a visit with an ENT specialist who will take a look for you and clean it out. The pain associated with fungal infections can be intense. If you see an ENT they will continue your treatments and also visualize the eardrum to determine if there is any rupture. Good luck!
It is important to use the TobraDex as prescribed to treat the infection. Follow up with your physician at the end of the treatment cycle as recommended for further evaluation. Your physician may remove wax &/or debris from the ear once the infection subsides and the swelling decreases. This will allow for verification of the status of the ear drum and if further treatment is needed. 

Angela R. Sieh Ceretto, M.A., CCC-A, FAAA

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