This procedure is not often done. It is sometimes done:

• When a child has severe earache, fever, and signs that an ear infection is not getting better with treatment.
• When there are signs that a child has serious complications from an ear infection.
• When an ear infection is suspected in a newborn or in a child with an impaired immune system, or when a person is suspected of having an unusual organism causing the ear infection.
• As a treatment for a child with severe ear pain. Removal of fluid from behind the eardrum relieves pressure in the ear, easing pain. This may work better than medicines for ear pain.

In most cases, doing a culture and sensitivity test on fluid collected by tympanocentesis can identify the bacteria causing the infection. This helps the doctor prescribe an antibiotic that is more likely to work. Sometimes no bacteria are found in the fluid.