Skip navigation

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

URL of this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/presentations/100045.htm

Ear tube insertion - series—Indication

Indications

Overview

Ear tube insertion is recommended for:

  • Fluid in the middle ear (present for more than 12 weeks)
  • Recurrent ear infections despite efforts of prevention (more than three infections in six months)
  • Ear infections that don't improve after two to three rounds of using the appropriate antibiotics

Symptoms include:

  • Persistent ear pain
  • Ear drainage
  • Hearing loss (over a three-month period)

Review Date 1/24/2023

Updated by: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

Related MedlinePlus Health Topics