Diagnosis of Ear infection

Home

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

| A |

| B |

| C |

| D |

| E |

| F |

| G |

| H |

| I |

| J |

| K |

| L |

| M |

| N |

| O |

| P |

| Q |

| R |

| S |

| T |

| U |

| V |

| W |

| X |

| Y |

Your GP will usually examine the outside of your ear, and ask about your symptoms. He or she will also use an instrument with a light on the end, called an auriscope (otoscope) to look inside your ear. Your GP will look for symptoms such as pus, and a bulging or burst eardrum.

Sometimes a small sample of cells from your ear is taken on a swab. Itâ€™s examined in a laboratory to find out which germ has caused the infection.

Sometimes fluid builds up inside the middle ear, but is not caused by an infection. This is called glue ear (see separate encyclopaedia entry on glue ear for more information).