Learn about Ear infection symptoms from Consumer Reports Health.

Ear infection

What are the symptoms of an ear infection?

Here are some of the ways you might be able to tell if your child has an ear infection. Babies and younger children won't be able to tell you that their ear hurts, so the first sign might be that they rub or pull at their ear.

Children with an ear infection might:

Source:
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.
Ear infections: facts for parents about otitis media.
February 2002. Available at http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/otitismedia.asp (accessed on 2 December 2008).

Rub or tug at their ear
Say that their ear hurts
Cry more than usual
Be irritable.

They might also have:

A

high temperature
A high temperature is a general sign that there is an infection or inflammation in your body. Temperatures vary, but anything over about 100 degrees Fahrenheit is considered high.

high temperature
A cold or cough
Fluid or pus coming out of one or both ears
Trouble sleeping
Trouble keeping their balance
Trouble hearing (not responding to quiet sounds, for example).

It's possible for an ear infection to make a hole in a child's eardrum. You may hear this called a ruptured eardrum. If this happens, you may see fluid coming out of your child's ear. The hole will usually heal by itself, although your doctor may want to check on your child after a few weeks to make sure it's healing properly.

Sources for the information on this page:

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Ear infections: facts for parents about otitis media.February 2002. Available at http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/otitismedia.asp (accessed on 2 December 2008).

This information was last updated on May 12, 2009

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.

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