Is It an Ear Infection? Signs to Watch For and When to Visit Urgent Care

Something’s off with your ear. Maybe it’s a dull ache that showed up yesterday out of nowhere. Maybe you’ve been fighting a cold for a week and now there’s this pressure that just won’t let up. Maybe you keep having to ask people to repeat themselves — and you’re starting to realize it’s not them.
Ear infections are one of the most common reasons people come to urgent care in the fall, for adults and kids both. Some clear up on their own while others don’t. Here’s how to figure out what’s actually going on — and when it’s worth driving up.

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What’s Actually Happening with an Ear Infection?

Most of the time, when someone says “ear infection,” they mean a middle ear infection — officially called otitis media. It’s an infection in the space behind your eardrum. What usually causes it? A cold, sinus infection, or other respiratory illness that sends bacteria or viruses into the middle ear, where they cause fluid to build up and often cause infection. This can lead to inflammation and pressure behind the eardrum, often causing noticeable ear pain that you may have experienced with middle ear infections before.

There’s also swimmer’s ear (otitis externa), which is a completely different thing — it’s an infection in the ear canal, not behind the eardrum. It needs different treatment, and we’ll show you how to tell them apart below. (We also covered it in depth in our summer pediatric urgent care guide if you want the full breakdown.)

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Signs It Might Be an Ear Infection

In Adults

• Ear pain — anything from a dull, constant ache to sharp or stabbing

• Pressure or fullness in the ear, like it needs to pop

• Muffled hearing, like someone put a hand over your ear

• Fluid draining from the ear

• Pain that’s worse when you lie down

• Symptoms that came on during or right after a cold or upper respiratory illness

In Kids

• Tugging or pulling at the ear — a classic sign, especially in babies and toddlers who can’t just tell you it hurts

• More crying than usual, especially at night

• Seeming not to hear you or responding slower than normal

• Fever

• Fluid coming out of ear

• Suddenly not sleeping well after a colds

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Kids are harder to read with ear infections. When a toddler is inconsolable at 2am after a week of cold symptoms, ear infection is often on the short list. Trust your gut — you know your kid best.

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Middle Ear Infection vs. Swimmer’s Ear

These two feel similar enough that people mix them up all the time, but they need completely different treatment — so it’s worth a quick look at how to tell them apart.

Middle Ear Infection

Pain sits deep inside the ear. Pulling on your earlobe or pressing on the front of the ear doesn’t make it worse. Usually comes with a history of congestion or a recent cold. More common in fall and winter.

Swimmer’s Ear

Pain is in the ear canal itself and gets noticeably worse when you tug the earlobe or press on that little flap of cartilage at the opening of the ear. Usually tied to a recent water exposure. Uncomplicated swimmer’s ear is generally treated with antibiotic ear drops, not oral antibiotics.

Not sure which you’re dealing with? That’s exactly what the otoscope is for. We can tell with a quick exam.

 

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Or Is It Just Congestion?

Honest answer: sometimes ear pressure is related to congestion rather than infection. When you’re fighting a cold, swelling around the Eustachian tube (the passage that connects the middle ear to the back of your throat) can prevent fluid from draining properly. This can create pressure, fullness, and muffled hearing that may feel a lot like an ear infection.

So how can you tell the difference? Honestly, it’s not always easy. While congestion may improve as your cold clears, persistent ear pain, fever, drainage, or worsening symptoms are reasons to have your ear checked. The only way to determine whether an infection is present is through an examination of the ear.

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When to Visit Urgent Care

• Ear pain that’s moderate to severe, or that’s been hanging around for more than a day or two

• Muffled hearing that isn’t clearing up

• Any fluid or discharge coming from the ear

• Fever on top of ear symptoms

• Symptoms that started improving and then got worse again

• Kids who are tugging at ears, running a fever, or not feeling themselves

• Symptoms that came on during or after a cold

When to Head to the ER

• Sudden, significant hearing loss

• Dizziness or balance problems

• Facial weakness or numbness

• High fever with a stiff neck or bad headache

• Swelling or redness behind the ear

If you’re not sure which direction to go, just pull to a location near you. We’ll help you figure it out.

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What Happens When You Pull Up for Urgent Care

Check in for urgent care from your car. Your provider will look in your ear with an otoscope — quick, painless, takes about 30 seconds. If it’s a bacterial infection, we’ll write the prescription and send it to your pharmacy before you leave.

For adults, most ear infections are treated with a short round of oral antibiotics. For kids, the approach depends on age, severity, and whether this has happened before. Your provider will walk you through whatever they recommend before you pull away.

What It Costs

Ear infection evaluation is covered under the $95 self-pay medical visit fee. We send prescriptions directly to your pharmacy — no extra charge from us.

Most insurance plans cover urgent care. We’re in-network with Anthem BCBS, Aetna, Humana, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Tricare, Medicare, Medicaid, and more.

See our Insurance & Pricing page for the full list.

Think you might have an ear infection? Visit us today >

This article is for general information and isn’t a substitute for medical advice. If you think you or someone in your family has a medical emergency, call 911.