Signs of ear infection

Possible causes

1. Outer Ear Infection (Otitis Externa)

Often called "swimmer's ear."

Symptoms can include:

• Ear pain
• Itching
• A feeling of wetness
• Fluid or pus draining from the ear
• A foul smell
• Reduced hearing if the ear canal becomes swollen

This type of infection is usually caused by bacteria, but fungi can also be responsible.

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2. Middle Ear Infection (Otitis Media)

A middle ear infection can sometimes cause:

• Ear pain
• Pressure
• Fever
• Temporary hearing loss
• Fluid behind the eardrum

If the eardrum ruptures (bursts), fluid or pus may drain from the ear, sometimes with an unpleasant smell. After the pressure is relieved, the pain may actually lessen.

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3. Earwax Mixed with Infection

Earwax itself usually has only a mild odor.

However, if wax becomes mixed with:

• bacteria,
• dead skin cells,
• or infected drainage,

it can develop a stronger, unpleasant smell.

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4. Fungal Ear Infection

Fungal infections are less common than bacterial ones but can cause:

• Itching
• Thick discharge
• A musty or unpleasant smell
• A feeling of fullness in the ear

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Why You Were Given Antibiotics

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many GP surgeries had to assess patients by telephone or video because face-to-face appointments were limited.

If your GP felt your symptoms suggested a bacterial ear infection, they may have prescribed antibiotics without examining the ear directly, particularly if you described:

• ear discharge,
• pain,
• a bad smell,
• or signs of infection.

Sometimes this approach was necessary because of the circumstances at the time.

Your Description

You mentioned:

• your ears smelled,
• it felt like liquid was in your ears,
• you couldn't get a face-to-face GP appointment,
• you were prescribed antibiotics.

Those symptoms would be consistent with an ear infection, although other conditions can produce similar symptoms. If the antibiotics cleared the problem, that makes a bacterial infection one possible explanation, but it doesn't prove it.

When to Seek Medical Care

If similar symptoms happen again, it's a good idea to seek medical advice, especially if you have:

• Ear discharge that is yellow, green, bloody, or foul-smelling.
• Severe ear pain.
• Hearing loss.
• Dizziness or problems with balance.
• Fever.
• Symptoms that last more than a couple of days or keep coming back.

A healthcare professional can look inside the ear with an otoscope to see whether the problem is in the outer ear, middle ear, or another part of the ear.

From what you've described, it sounds as though your GP managed the situation as best they could during the restrictions of the COVID-19 period. Many people experienced similar telephone assessments when in-person examinations were limited. If the symptoms have completely resolved since then, there's usually no need for concern, but if they recur, an examination of the ear would be the best way to identify the cause.

yer my ears ere itching like crazy.

That extra detail makes an outer ear infection (otitis externa, or "swimmer's ear") a possibility, although it's impossible to know for certain without having examined your ear at the time.

The combination of symptoms you described:

• ✅ Intense itching
• ✅ A feeling of liquid or wetness in the ear
• ✅ An unpleasant smell
• ✅ Being prescribed antibiotics
• ✅ It happening during the COVID period when GPs often assessed patients remotely

is a pattern that can occur with an infection of the ear canal.

However, itching can also be caused by other conditions, such as:

• Eczema or dry skin in the ear canal
• Fungal ear infections, which are often very itchy and can produce discharge
• An allergic reaction (for example, to earbuds, hearing aids, or hair products)
• Wax irritation

If the antibiotics improved your symptoms, that suggests the GP may have suspected a bacterial infection. On the other hand, if it had been a fungal infection, antibiotics alone might not have helped and could sometimes even make it worse.

If it ever happens again

It's best to have your ear examined by a healthcare professional rather than trying to clean it yourself. In the meantime:

• Don't insert cotton swabs (Q-tips) or other objects into the ear.
• Try to keep the ear dry until you've been assessed.
• Seek prompt medical advice if you notice severe pain, fever, hearing loss, or discharge with a strong odor.

Since we've been talking about hearing and the ear, your experience is actually a good real-life example of how problems in the outer ear can affect hearing. If the ear canal becomes swollen or filled with wax or discharge, sound has more difficulty reaching the eardrum, which can cause a temporary reduction in hearing. Once the infection or blockage clears, hearing often returns to normal if there has been no damage to the deeper parts of the ear.

 A bad smell, fluid or discharge, and a wet feeling can be caused by several conditions.

 

Possible causes

1. Outer Ear Infection (Otitis Externa)

 

Often called "swimmer's ear."

 

Symptoms can include:

 

Ear pain

Itching

A feeling of wetness

Fluid or pus draining from the ear

A foul smell

Reduced hearing if the ear canal becomes swollen

 

This type of infection is usually caused by bacteria, but fungi can also be responsible.

 

2. Middle Ear Infection (Otitis Media)

 

A middle ear infection can sometimes cause:

 

Ear pain

Pressure

Fever

Temporary hearing loss

Fluid behind the eardrum

 

If the eardrum ruptures (bursts), fluid or pus may drain from the ear, sometimes with an unpleasant smell. After the pressure is relieved, the pain may actually lessen.

 

3. Earwax Mixed with Infection

 

Earwax itself usually has only a mild odor.

 

However, if wax becomes mixed with:

 

bacteria,

dead skin cells,

or infected drainage,

 

it can develop a stronger, unpleasant smell.

 

4. Fungal Ear Infection

 

Fungal infections are less common than bacterial ones but can cause:

 

Itching

Thick discharge

A musty or unpleasant smell

A feeling of fullness in the ear

Why You Were Given Antibiotics

 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many GP surgeries had to assess patients by telephone or video because face-to-face appointments were limited.

 

If your GP felt your symptoms suggested a bacterial ear infection, they may have prescribed antibiotics without examining the ear directly, particularly if you described:

 

ear discharge,

pain,

a bad smell,

or signs of infection.

 

Sometimes this approach was n