How long does an ear infection last?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
The painful phase usually eases within 2 to 3 days, and many ear infections clear on their own - MedlinePlus notes pain control and time are often all that is needed. Antibiotics, when prescribed, typically ease symptoms within a day or two. The tail surprises people: fluid can sit behind the eardrum for weeks after, muffling hearing without being a new infection. Worsening after 48 to 72 hours, persistent fever, or drainage: call.
What to do
- Treat the pain first. Warm compress plus over-the-counter pain relief while the body works.
- Give it 48 to 72 hours. Improving by then: keep watching; worse or unchanged: call.
- Finish prescribed antibiotics. The full course, even after the ear stops hurting.
- Expect the fluid tail. Weeks of muffled hearing after is normal; hearing that never comes back is not.
Related questions
- Is an ear infection contagious?
- How long does a cold last?
- How long does a UTI last?
- Should I stay home from work with a cold?