Earache: which doctor should I see?
Earache is common in children, but adults have it too. It can be dull or stabbing and often follows a cold. Here you will learn what may be behind it, when it is urgent and which specialist to see.
Book a specialistWhen it is urgent
- Blood or clear fluid comes out of the ear after a blow to the head.
- There is swelling, redness and pain behind the ear, and the ear is pushed forward.
- Severe pain with a high fever, a stiff neck or a severe headache.
- Sudden hearing loss or severe dizziness.
- A baby under three months has a fever.
- A child with a fever is very drowsy and hard to wake, has a fit, or has a rash that does not fade when a glass is pressed on it.
With these signs, seek emergency help — call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Call 112What it may mean
- A middle-ear infection — pain, muffled hearing and fever, often after a runny nose.
- An infection of the ear canal — pain when the ear is touched, often after swimming.
- Earwax — muffled hearing and a blocked feeling.
- Pain coming from the teeth, the jaw or the throat — felt in the ear, but the cause is elsewhere.
Which specialist
- ENT (Otorhinolaryngologist) in Sofia — 14 doctors and servicesENT (Otorhinolaryngologist) — all doctors
- Pediatrician in Plovdiv — 12 doctors and servicesPediatrician — all doctors
ENT (Otorhinolaryngologist) in Sofia
How to prepare for the visit
Note when the pain started and whether there is a fever or discharge from the ear. For a child, note whether there was a runny nose and how they sleep and eat. Bring a list of the medicines you take or give the child.
Frequently asked questions
Should I put drops in the ear before the visit?
Not without a doctor's advice — some drops are unsuitable if the eardrum is torn.
Can I clean the ear with a cotton bud?
Better not. A cotton bud can push the earwax deeper and hurt the canal.
ENT doctor or paediatrician?
For a young child the first doctor is usually the paediatrician. With frequent infections or reduced hearing, an ENT doctor. Book a visit without delay if pus or fluid comes out of the ear, there is swelling or redness behind the ear, or you have a high fever, diabetes or a weakened immune system.
This information does not replace a visit to a doctor.