What is an ear infection?
A person with an ear infection has inflammation of the ear, caused by an infection by a bacterium, virus or fungus. Ear infection is a general term that could mean otitis media (middle ear infection), otitis externa (ear canal infection), or cellulitis of the ear.

What are the symptoms of an ear infection?
Symptoms depend on the type of ear infection. All ear infections cause ear pain, but otitis externa also causes an ear discharge and swelling of the ear canal. Cellulitis of the external ear causes the skin on the ear to become red, swollen and tender.

How does the doctor treat an ear infection?
Treatment depends on the type of ear infection. Otitis media and cellulitis of the external ear are treated with oral antibiotics, while otitis externa is often treated with antibiotic eardrops.