Ear virus

I remember when I got the pulsating, pressure fullness, warmth and felt like something in my left ear. I thought at the time it was something in my ear, a bug and washed my head and ear in the shower. I remember hearing about a story of a girl who had a bug in her brain. That is probably not a good thing to do with those symptoms - wash the ear. I think I must have been quite far gone by this time to be thinking that.

I wondered if anyone else can remember anything like this?