Past few years I have been getting regular ear infections, 2 or 3 a year. It started 5 years ago when my hearing got muffled and this went on for months and months. My doctor said it was earwax and gave me ear drops. I left to travel australia and nz for 4 years and have seen various doctors along the way for infections and get antibiotics, a Dr. in Nz told me it was fluid build up in the middle ear due to infection. It always starts the same, I get the blocked feeling and hearing loss and tinnitus before turning into a full blown infection needing antibiotics. I am thinking the times at home when I had a "blocked" ear and hearing loss was actually fluid build up in middle ear. Problem is I have been seeing different drs as I'm always moving for years so they don't know my history. I'm currently travelling south east asia and have had 3 ear infections in the same ear in 6 months. Currently my eardrum has ruptured and am going to the local hospital to have my infected ear cleaned daily plus antibiotics. I can not speak to the doctors here as they have little english skills, translating basic sentences with google translate. I am wondering why I keep getting infections, there must be some underlying cause.