Ear Infection Question

[oceantracks]

A few days ago my right ear started feeling a little full. A day or so later I was feeling draggy and like I was coming down with something. I went to local clinic doctor who looked at it and said "Yes your eardrum is inflamed a bit." I had no fever. She prescribed Keflex, and I'm on my 4 dose of it. Now it's the weekend and the ear is probably a bit worse, I feel achy etc, and am running 99.8. I'm just wondering if she knows what she's doing, as usually 4 doses in to antibiotic my body responds pretty well...you can usually feel a slight improvement. Not this time.

Is Keflex a bad choice for this?

Thanks
Tom

[geminigirl1963]

I agree that this could be a viral ear thing rather than an infection.  Just because your ear drum is "inflamed" does not necessarily mean infection.  Inflammation can also sometimes occur from allergies (although wiht a fever this isn't as likely).

For the fever you might want to try either ibuprofen as stated above or tylenol - of course, making sure that neither will interefere wiht any other meds you are on (you can ask your pharmacist this question).  Perhaps even an over the counter antihistamine or decongestant might provide you some relief - again, check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure neither of these would interefere wiht any other meds or medical condition.

Keflex usually is a good antibiotic for ear infections, however, it could also be that if you do in fact have an infection, it either isn't strong enough or the type of baterial infection you have could be resistant to this type of antibiotic.

Definitely check back in with the doctor tomorrow to see what she recommends or if she wants to change your antibiotic.

Hope you feel better soon.

[Londres70]

Perhaps there is a viral cause and not a bacterial cause, thus Keflex will NOT work.  I would notify her ASAP.  

She prescribed no anti-inflammatory?  Are you taking any Ibuprofen?