[theweatherman]

I used to get ear infections all teh time as a kid, but i never had substantial hearing loss from them. Notthat I can remember at least. I just always had pain, ranging from a dull ache to sharp stabbing pain. The pain lasts a few days after you begin medication.

I'm not a doctor, but anti biotics will not help to reduce pain/ fluid in the ear directly. You should probably take a decongestant as well. Ear infections are the result of fluid bulid up behind th eear drum, this same fluid is what causes the pain, not the infection. The infection gives only the fever/ sickness.