Ear infection guide

Ear infection treatment online in Virginia and West Virginia

This guide is for a likely middle-ear infection (acute otitis media) in adults and children age 4 and older, not for outer-ear (swimmer's ear) pain, signs of a spreading infection, or a weakened immune system.

Start online

Start a $59 online review for Ear infection (middle ear).

Most middle-ear infections improve on their own within a few days, so the physician's plan usually leads with pain control and watchful waiting, plus a safety-net (delayed) antibiotic prescription you only fill if you are not better in 48 to 72 hours or you get worse. This visit is open to adults and to children age 4 and older; for a child, a parent or legal guardian completes the visit and answers the safety questions. It is not for outer-ear (swimmer's ear) pain, warning signs of a spreading infection, or a weakened immune system, which need a different visit or in-person care.

If treatment is appropriate, your physician can send a non-controlled prescription to your pharmacy and provide portal instructions for the next step.

Start this visit See response times

Quick facts

You must be physically located in Virginia or West Virginia at the time of request.
Starts at $59
No insurance needed
No app download
Physician review around the clock
Non-controlled prescriptions can be sent to your pharmacy when appropriate
A work or school note can be included when medically appropriate
Response times apply 24/7, every day

Common symptoms

Ear pain or pressure, often starting during or after a cold
A plugged, full, or muffled feeling in the ear
Mild fever
A young child tugging, rubbing, or fussing about one ear

May fit online care

Adults & children 4+ (with a parent or legal guardian)
Ear pain or pressure without severe or rapidly worsening pain
No high fever, and no fluid or pus draining from the ear with a fever
No weakened immune system or diabetes, no ear tubes, and no ear surgery in the last 3 months

Look for another care setting

Severe or rapidly worsening ear pain, or pain far worse than a typical earache
A high fever, or fever with fluid or pus draining from the ear
Redness, swelling, or tenderness of the bone behind the ear, or an ear pushed forward (possible mastoiditis: emergency)
New facial weakness on the sore side, severe dizziness, sudden hearing loss, or a stiff neck with confusion or a new rash

What to have ready

When the ear pain or pressure started, and which ear
Whether there is any fever, drainage, or change in hearing
Any history of ear tubes, recent ear surgery, or frequent ear infections
Whether you or your child is allergic to penicillin or amoxicillin, and current medications

What happens next

Standard

$59

Within 6 hours

Priority

$99

Within 3 hours

Rush

$149

Within 1 hour

Start the request on the website, answer a few questions to check that this visit fits you, and choose how fast you want an answer (the response window). If your concern still fits this service, a physician reviews it and sends you a secure update after you sign in. When appropriate, non-controlled prescriptions can be sent to your pharmacy, and a basic work or school note can be included at physician discretion.

Your physician

Every visit is personally reviewed by Ankur Fadia, MD. He is board-certified, has extra training in heart care (a cardiology fellowship), and is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha, a medical honor society. He is licensed in Virginia and West Virginia, and your care is never handed off to someone else.

Verify Virginia medical license Verify West Virginia medical license Verify board certification

Will I automatically get an antibiotic?

Not automatically. Most middle-ear infections clear on their own, so the usual plan is pain control plus watchful waiting, with a safety-net (delayed) antibiotic prescription to fill only if things are not better in 48 to 72 hours or symptoms get worse. This matches standard ear-infection guidance and helps avoid antibiotics that were never needed.

Is this visit really open to children?

Yes, adults and children age 4 and older. For a child, a parent or legal guardian completes the intake and answers every safety question on the child's behalf. Ear pain in a child younger than 4, or any warning sign listed above, needs an in-person exam instead.

What if I'm allergic to penicillin?

Tell us in the visit form. A penicillin or amoxicillin allergy does not rule out this visit. It only changes which backup antibiotic the doctor chooses, if one is needed.

My ear hurts more when I pull on it or after swimming. Is that the same thing?

Probably not. Pain that gets worse when you tug the ear or push the small flap in front of it, especially after swimming or showering, usually points to outer-ear (swimmer's ear) irritation rather than a middle-ear infection. Our dedicated swimmer's ear visit covers that instead.

Read the swimmer's ear guide

When does an ear infection need in-person or emergency care instead?

Severe or rapidly worsening pain, a high fever with drainage, swelling or tenderness behind the ear, new facial weakness, severe dizziness, sudden hearing loss, or a stiff neck with confusion needs an in-person exam or the emergency department, not this online visit.

Other conditions we treat

Not quite what you have? Here are other conditions we treat.

Blepharitis Canker sores Dental infection Dry eye and eye allergies Earwax Pink eye