Why is my ear pain worsening despite taking medications?

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Pain in one ear that worsens on swallowing, despite antibiotics and painkillers, needs urgent doctor assessment to examine the ear, throat, and neck and rule out serious causes like acute middle-ear infection, tonsillitis, or peritonsillar abscess, or referred pain from teeth or the temporomandibular joint.

For acute otitis media, the first-line empiric antibiotic in adults is usually high-dose Amoxicillin, not Cefixime, unless there is a penicillin allergy or a specific reason to choose another agent. Continuing Aceclofenac, Paracetamol, Serratiopeptidase, and Cefixime without a clear diagnosis or response is not advisable. Persistent pain despite several doses suggests either that the diagnosis is wrong, the antibiotic is not appropriate, or a complication is developing.

Go to an emergency department or ear, nose, and throat casualty urgently if you have high fever, rigors, feeling very unwell, or severe worsening pain, difficulty opening the mouth, drooling, voice change, severe one-sided throat pain, or swelling near the tonsil or neck (suggestive of peritonsillar or deep neck abscess), sudden marked hearing loss, vertigo, severe headache, neck stiffness, or facial weakness, any discharge or blood from the ear, or recent trauma.

I would suggest the following:

• Do not increase or add more antibiotics or painkillers on your own. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like Aceclofenac also carry gastric and kidney risks if taken repeatedly.

• See an ear, nose, and throat specialist or at least a nearby doctor within the next twenty-four hours for otoscopy and tuning fork tests, and careful examination of the throat, tonsils, teeth, temporomandibular joint, and neck.

• Paracetamol at safe doses, a warm compress over the ear, and adequate fluids;

• Avoid inserting any drops, oil, or objects into the ear unless prescribed after examination.

I hope you are satisfied with my answer. For further queries, you can consult me at iCliniq.

Thank you.