From the description you give, you do not have an outer ear infection, (
otitis externa) rather an infection of the drum itself (and possibly the middle ear).-
otitis media.
From what I can remember from "human factors" rates of pressure change is greater nearer the ground. Combined with a friable drum, a collection of gunge in the middle ear, a swollen eustacian tube, and Boyles law, you are a disaster waiting to happen should you fly.
You are on the drug of choice, and it's likely that you will recover in 5-7 days. Remember analgesia (check with your pharmacist, but paracetamol 1gm 4 x a day and ibuprofen 4oomg 3 x a day seems to work well), as pain is the main worry, rather than infection.
