Your child wakes up crying and holds one ear.
Maybe there is a fever.
Maybe sleep was terrible.
Maybe your toddler keeps tugging at the ear but cannot tell you what hurts.
Many parents think this means an ear infection.
Sometimes it does.
But ear tugging alone does not prove it.
Teething, earwax, pressure from a cold, swimmer's ear, and other problems can also cause ear discomfort.
A proper ear exam matters.
This guide explains childhood ear infections, common symptoms, diagnosis, pain relief, antibiotics, watchful waiting, ear fluid, hearing problems, ear tubes, prevention, and urgent warning signs.
For more child health guidance, visit our Child Health and Safety Guide.
Quick Answer
Most childhood ear infections involve the middle ear and are called acute otitis media. Common signs include ear pain, fever, fussiness, trouble sleeping, reduced hearing, and sometimes fluid draining from the ear. Ear tugging alone is not enough to diagnose an infection. A clinician confirms acute otitis media by seeing middle ear fluid and changes such as a bulging eardrum. Many mild infections improve without antibiotics, so selected children can be watched for 2 to 3 days. Antibiotics are more likely to be needed for severe illness, very young children, both ears in some children younger than 2, ear drainage, or symptoms that do not improve. Persistent middle ear fluid can affect hearing and may need follow-up.
Important Medical Note
I am not a dermatologist or a doctor, and this content does not replace professional medical advice. What I share comes from real-life experience, extensive research, and consultation with healthcare providers. Always consult qualified medical professionals for diagnosis and treatment of any health condition.
What are childhood ear infections?
The phrase childhood ear infections can describe several different problems.
The most common is a middle ear infection.
The medical name is acute otitis media.
The middle ear is the small air-filled space behind the eardrum.
During an infection, fluid collects there, and the eardrum can become inflamed and bulge outward.
This creates pressure and pain.
What is acute otitis media?
Acute otitis media means there is a new middle ear infection with fluid behind the eardrum and signs of inflammation.
It often happens after a cold.
Viruses can cause the infection.
Bacteria can cause it too.
Common bacteria include Streptococcus pneumoniae and nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae.
The child may have ear pain, fever, irritability, or trouble sleeping.
What is otitis media with effusion?
Otitis media with effusion means there is fluid behind the eardrum but no active middle ear infection.
This is often called ear fluid or glue ear.
It can happen after an ear infection.
It can also happen when the eustachian tube is not working well.
There may be no pain or fever.
The main problem can be muffled hearing.
Antibiotics do not treat uncomplicated ear fluid without infection.
What is swimmer's ear?
Swimmer's ear is different from a middle ear infection.
It is an infection of the outer ear canal.
The ear canal can become painful, swollen, itchy, or wet.
Moving or pulling the outer ear may hurt.
The treatment is different from acute otitis media.
Do not assume every earache after swimming is a middle ear infection.
Why do children get ear infections so often?
Children have smaller and more horizontal eustachian tubes than adults.
The eustachian tube connects the middle ear with the back of the nose and throat.
After a cold, swelling can block this tube.
Fluid then becomes trapped behind the eardrum.
Viruses or bacteria can grow in that fluid.
This is why ear infections often follow a respiratory illness.
Are dirty hands the direct cause of ear infections?
Not exactly.
The older version of this article said germs from dirty hands or toys directly cause ear infections.
That is too simple.
Handwashing helps because it lowers the spread of colds and other respiratory infections.
Those infections can then lead to swelling and fluid behind the eardrum.
The main process happens inside the middle ear.
Do allergies cause ear infections?
Allergies can cause nasal swelling and congestion in some children.
This can affect Eustachian tube function and contribute to middle ear fluid.
But every ear infection should not be blamed on allergies.
And allergy medicine does not automatically clear an ear infection or ear fluid.
If your child has clear allergy symptoms, discuss them with the pediatrician.
What are the symptoms of an ear infection in children?
Common ear infection symptoms in children include:
- Ear pain
- Fever
- Fussiness
- Difficulty sleeping
- Reduced appetite
- Temporary trouble hearing
- Fluid or pus draining from the ear
- Balance problems in some children
Symptoms vary with age.
A child does not need every sign to have an infection.
Is ear tugging a reliable sign?
No.
Babies and toddlers often touch or pull their ears when they are tired, teething, soothing themselves, or simply exploring.
Ear tugging in toddlers matters more when it happens with other symptoms such as fever, poor sleep, unusual crying, reduced hearing, or drainage.
An ear exam is still needed for diagnosis.
Can an ear infection happen without fever?
Yes.
Some children have significant ear pain with no fever.
Others have fever but little visible discomfort.
Do not rule out an ear infection because the temperature is normal.
How does an ear infection look in a baby?
A baby cannot say, "My ear hurts."
You may notice:
- More crying than usual
- Trouble sleeping
- Pulling at an ear
- Poor feeding
- Fever
- Less response to quiet sounds
- Fluid draining from the ear
A baby younger than 3 months with a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher needs prompt medical assessment.
How does an ear infection look in a toddler?
A toddler may:
- Say the ear hurts
- Rub the ear
- Wake repeatedly at night
- Become more irritable
- Eat less
- Turn the television louder
- Seem less responsive to speech
Temporary hearing change is common when fluid sits behind the eardrum.
How does an ear infection look in an older child?
An older child may describe:
- Sharp or aching ear pain
- Pressure or fullness
- Muffled hearing
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Popping sensations
Older children can also have ear pain from teeth, jaw problems, throat infections, or ear canal problems.
Do not assume every earache is acute otitis media.
Why does ear pain seem worse at night?
Ear pressure may feel more noticeable when a child lies down, and the house becomes quiet.
A cold can also feel more congested at night.
Pain at night does not tell you whether the cause is bacterial or viral.
What does fluid draining from the ear mean?
Ear drainage in children can happen for several reasons.
During acute otitis media, pressure can create a small tear in the eardrum.
Pus or cloudy fluid may then drain out.
Children with ear tubes can also have drainage during an infection.
Swimmer's ear can cause drainage too.
Call the healthcare professional when new pus, fluid, or blood appears from the ear.
Does a burst eardrum always mean permanent damage?
No.
A small perforation caused by a middle ear infection often heals on its own.
The child still needs medical evaluation.
Do not put drops, oil, hydrogen peroxide, or other liquids into an ear with possible perforation unless a healthcare professional says they are safe.
Should I clean drainage from the ear?
You can gently wipe fluid from the outside of the ear.
Do not push cotton, tissue, or a swab deep into the ear canal.
Do not plug the canal with cotton.
Let the clinician tell you whether the ear needs to stay dry and whether drops are needed.
How are childhood ear infections diagnosed?
Ear infection diagnosis requires an ear examination.
The clinician looks at the eardrum with an otoscope.
A red eardrum alone is not enough.
Crying, fever, or irritation can make an eardrum look red.
Current CDC guidance says acute otitis media should be diagnosed when there is middle ear fluid plus findings such as a bulging eardrum or new drainage that is not from swimmer's ear.
What is pneumatic otoscopy?
Pneumatic otoscopy uses a small puff of air to see how well the eardrum moves.
Fluid behind the eardrum reduces movement.
This can help distinguish middle ear fluid from a normal ear.
What is tympanometry?
Tympanometry is a test that measures how the eardrum moves when air pressure changes.
It can help when middle ear fluid is suspected but the diagnosis is uncertain.
It is not needed for every simple ear infection.
Does every child need a hearing test?
No.
A hearing test is more important when middle ear fluid lasts for a long time or when there is concern about hearing, speech, language, school performance, or development.
Current ear, nose, and throat guidance recommends an age-appropriate hearing test when middle ear fluid lasts for 3 months or longer.
Children at higher risk of speech, language, or learning problems may need earlier testing.
Can ear fluid remain after the infection is gone?
Yes.
This is very common.
The pain and fever may disappear while fluid remains behind the eardrum.
NIDCD notes that this fluid often clears within several weeks.
Persistent fluid does not automatically mean the antibiotic failed.
It also does not automatically mean another antibiotic is needed.
Can middle ear fluid affect hearing?
Yes.
Temporary hearing loss from ear fluid can make sound seem muffled.
A child may:
- Ask "what?" often
- Turn up the television
- Speak louder
- Seem distracted
- Miss quiet speech
Most hearing changes improve when the fluid clears.
Persistent hearing problems need follow-up.
Can ear infections cause speech delay?
Short episodes of ear fluid usually do not cause lasting speech problems.
Long-lasting fluid with documented hearing loss can affect access to speech sounds.
This matters most in children who already have speech, language, hearing, developmental, or learning concerns.
Ask for a hearing and developmental review when you are worried.
Do all childhood ear infections need antibiotics?
No.
Many mild acute otitis media infections improve without antibiotics.
CDC says selected children can use watchful waiting for 2 to 3 days.
This lowers unnecessary antibiotic use while still allowing treatment if the child does not improve.
What does watchful waiting mean?
Watchful waiting for ear infections means the clinician confirms that it is safe to wait before starting an antibiotic.
During that time, parents focus on pain relief and monitor symptoms.
If the child improves, antibiotics may not be needed.
If symptoms persist or get worse, the clinician may start antibiotics.
Which children may qualify for watchful waiting?
CDC guidance says mild cases may be considered for observation when:
- A child age 6 through 23 months has only one ear affected
- A child age 2 years or older has one or both ears affected
- Symptoms have lasted less than 2 days
- Ear pain is mild
- Temperature is below 39 degrees Celsius or 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit
The clinician must also consider the child's health history and ability to get follow-up care.
Watchful waiting is not a do-it-yourself plan for every earache.
When are antibiotics more likely to be needed?
Antibiotics for childhood ear infections are more likely when:
- The infection is severe
- Pain is moderate or severe
- Fever is 39 degrees Celsius or 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
- Symptoms are worsening
- Symptoms have lasted more than 2 to 3 days
- There is new ear drainage from the middle ear
- A young child has infection in both ears
- The child has a medical condition that raises complication risk
The pediatrician should make the decision after examining the ear.
What is the first antibiotic used for acute otitis media?
CDC guidance says amoxicillin is usually first choice when an antibiotic is needed and the child has not taken amoxicillin during the previous 30 days.
A different choice may be needed if:
- Amoxicillin was recently used
- The child also has pus-like conjunctivitis
- Previous ear infections did not respond to amoxicillin
- The child has a medicine allergy
This article does not give antibiotic doses.
The dose and duration depend on age, severity, medicine choice, and clinical history.
Do antibiotics cure ear pain immediately?
No.
Antibiotics treat susceptible bacteria.
They do not work like pain medicine.
Ear pain often needs separate comfort treatment during the first day or two.
What side effects can antibiotics cause?
Possible side effects include:
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Stomach discomfort
- Rash
- Allergic reaction
CDC notes that antibiotic side effects occur in some children treated for acute otitis media.
Call the clinician for a new medicine reaction.
Get emergency help for trouble breathing, severe facial swelling, or signs of anaphylaxis.
Should probiotics be given with every antibiotic?
No.
The older version of this topic may make probiotics sound routine.
They are not required for every child taking an antibiotic.
Benefits depend on the product and strain.
Ask the pediatrician before using a supplement, especially in a child with a weak immune system.
How can I relieve ear pain safely?
Ear pain relief for children is important whether or not antibiotics are used.
Use age-appropriate pain medicine
Acetaminophen or ibuprofen may help with pain and fever when appropriate for your child's age and health.
Use the correct dose from the label or the healthcare professional.
Do not give aspirin to a child unless a qualified clinician specifically tells you to.
Try a warm compress
A warm washcloth placed gently over the outer ear may feel soothing.
It does not treat the infection.
Make sure it is comfortably warm, not hot.
Offer fluids and rest
A child with a cold and ear infection may feel tired and congested.
Offer normal fluids.
Let the child rest.
Can numbing ear drops help?
Some prescription or clinician-approved ear drops can briefly reduce pain.
They are not suitable for every child.
Some should not be used when there is a perforated eardrum or ear drainage.
Ask the healthcare professional before putting any medicine into the ear.
Should I use olive oil or garlic oil?
Do not put oil into a child's ear unless a healthcare professional specifically recommends it.
Oil does not treat a middle ear infection behind the eardrum.
It may be unsafe when the eardrum is perforated.
Should I use hydrogen peroxide?
Not for a suspected middle ear infection unless a clinician tells you to.
Hydrogen peroxide can irritate the ear canal.
It can also be unsafe when the eardrum is not intact.
Should I use cotton swabs?
No.
Do not push cotton swabs into a child's ear canal.
They can push wax deeper, injure the canal, or damage the eardrum.
Do decongestants help ear infections?
No routine benefit has been shown for treating middle ear infection or persistent middle ear fluid.
Decongestants can also cause side effects and are not appropriate for many young children.
Do not use them as an ear infection cure.
Do antihistamines clear middle ear fluid?
No.
Ear, nose, and throat guidance recommends against antihistamines and decongestants for treating otitis media with effusion.
A child with a separate allergic condition may still need allergy treatment.
That is a different reason for the medicine.
What are recurrent ear infections?
Recurrent ear infections are usually defined as at least 3 episodes of acute otitis media within 6 months or at least 4 within 12 months, with at least 1 episode during the previous 6 months.
This does not mean every child who reaches that number automatically needs surgery.
The ear exam between infections matters.
What are ear tubes?
Ear tubes in children are tiny ventilation tubes placed through the eardrum.
They allow air to reach the middle ear and fluid to drain.
The medical name is tympanostomy tubes.
They usually fall out on their own over time.
When are ear tubes considered?
Current ear, nose, and throat guidance is more specific than simply counting infections.
Tubes may be recommended when:
- Both ears have middle ear fluid for at least 3 months with hearing difficulty
- Long lasting middle ear fluid is causing symptoms such as balance problems, ear discomfort, school problems, or reduced quality of life
- A child has recurrent acute otitis media and middle ear fluid is present when the child is assessed for tubes
- A child is at higher risk of speech, language, or learning problems and persistent fluid is unlikely to clear quickly
When should ear tubes not be placed for recurrent infections?
The 2022 AAO HNS guideline recommends against placing ear tubes for recurrent acute otitis media when there is no middle ear fluid in either ear at the time of tube assessment.
This is an important update.
The number of past infections alone is not the whole decision.
What happens if a child with ear tubes gets drainage?
Drainage through an ear tube can be a sign of an infection.
For uncomplicated acute tube drainage, current ear, nose, and throat guidance favours topical antibiotic ear drops rather than oral antibiotics.
The child still needs the correct diagnosis and prescription.
Do children with ear tubes need ear plugs for every bath or swim?
Usually not.
Routine water precautions are not required for most children with tubes.
Your ear, nose, and throat specialist may give different advice for deep diving, dirty water, pain with water exposure, or repeated drainage.
Can recurrent ear infections cause permanent hearing loss?
Permanent hearing loss is not the usual outcome.
Most hearing changes from middle ear fluid are temporary.
Still, persistent fluid, repeated infections, eardrum damage, or uncommon complications can affect hearing.
Ask for a hearing test when hearing problems continue.
What is mastoiditis?
Mastoiditis is a rare but serious infection of the bone behind the ear.
It can occur as a complication of a severe middle ear infection.
It needs urgent medical treatment.
What mastoiditis signs should parents know?
Seek urgent medical care for:
- Pain or tenderness behind the ear
- Redness behind the ear
- Swelling behind the ear
- The ear beginning to stick outward
- High fever with worsening illness
- Headache
- Ear drainage with worsening symptoms
- Hearing loss
Do not wait several days when swelling develops behind the ear.
When is an ear infection an emergency?
Get urgent or emergency medical help if your child:
- Has swelling, redness, or severe pain behind the ear
- Has an ear that begins sticking outward because of swelling
- Has a stiff neck
- Is very unsteady when walking
- Is confused or very difficult to wake
- Has a severe headache with neck stiffness or light sensitivity
- Has severe weakness
- Has facial weakness
- Looks seriously ill or is getting worse quickly
When should I call the pediatrician?
CDC recommends medical review for:
- Fever of 39 degrees Celsius or 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
- Pus, fluid, or discharge from the ear
- Worsening symptoms
- Symptoms lasting more than 2 to 3 days
- Hearing loss
Call sooner for a child who looks very sick or has severe pain.
A baby younger than 3 months with a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher needs prompt medical assessment.
What if my child is not better after antibiotics?
Many children begin improving within 2 to 3 days.
Contact the healthcare professional if:
- Fever is still present after about 48 hours of antibiotics
- Ear pain remains severe
- Ear pain lasts beyond about 3 days of treatment
- Drainage is not improving
- The child is getting worse
The ear may need another examination.
Can a child go to school with an ear infection?
A middle ear infection itself is not usually contagious.
The cold or virus that came before it may be contagious.
A child can usually return when:
- Fever is gone
- Pain is controlled
- The child feels well enough for normal activities
There is no universal rule that a child must stay home for a fixed number of antibiotic doses just because of an ear infection.
How can childhood ear infections be prevented?
You cannot prevent every infection.
Some children get more ear infections because of age, anatomy, genetics, or child care exposure.
Parents should not be blamed.
Still, some steps can lower risk.
Keep vaccines current
Current CDC guidance recommends routine childhood vaccines.
Influenza and pneumococcal vaccines can help prevent infections that may lead to middle ear disease.
Use the current vaccine schedule for your child's age and health.
Avoid tobacco smoke
Secondhand and thirdhand smoke raise the risk of ear infections.
Keep the home and car smoke-free.
Do not vape around children either.
Wash hands
Handwashing lowers the spread of respiratory infections.
Fewer colds can mean fewer opportunities for middle ear fluid and infection.
Breastfeeding can lower risk
If breastfeeding is part of your family's plan, it is associated with a lower risk of ear infection during infancy.
CDC prevention guidance encourages exclusive breastfeeding to about 6 months and continued breastfeeding when possible.
Families who use formula should not feel blamed.
Ear infections can happen with any feeding method.
Do not put a baby to bed with a bottle
Avoid leaving a baby lying flat with a bottle during sleep.
Feed safely and remove the bottle when feeding is finished.
Do pacifiers cause ear infections?
Some research has linked frequent pacifier use after early infancy with a higher risk of acute otitis media.
But pacifiers can also have benefits, including a role in safe sleep guidance during infancy.
Do not make a sudden change based on fear of ear infection alone.
Ask your pediatrician about age-appropriate pacifier use.
Can allergy treatment prevent ear infections?
Treating a real allergy can improve nasal symptoms.
It does not guarantee that ear infections will stop.
Do not give allergy medicine solely to clear middle ear fluid unless the clinician has another reason for it.
Can prophylactic antibiotics prevent recurrent ear infections?
Routine long term preventive antibiotics are not recommended for recurrent acute otitis media.
The risks of side effects and antibiotic resistance outweigh the modest benefit for most children.
When infections keep returning, the pediatrician may discuss hearing, persistent fluid, and whether an ear, nose, and throat evaluation is appropriate.
What is the difference between an ear infection and an earache?
An earache in children is a symptom.
It has many causes.
Possible causes include:
- Acute otitis media
- Swimmer's ear
- Middle ear pressure during a cold
- Earwax
- A foreign object in the ear
- Teeth or jaw pain
- Throat infection
Read our Childhood Earache Guide for the wider causes of ear pain.
Can strep throat cause ear pain?
Yes.
Pain from the throat can sometimes be felt in the ear.
A child with a painful throat and normal ear exam may have referred pain.
Read our Childhood Strep Throat Guide.
Common childhood ear infection myths
Myth: Ear tugging proves an ear infection
False.
Children pull their ears for many reasons.
Myth: Every red eardrum is infected
False.
Diagnosis requires middle ear fluid and the correct eardrum findings.
Myth: Every ear infection needs antibiotics
False.
Selected mild cases can improve with watchful waiting.
Myth: Ear fluid after an infection means the antibiotic failed
False.
Fluid can remain for weeks after the acute infection improves.
Myth: Antihistamines and decongestants clear ear fluid
False.
They are not recommended to treat uncomplicated otitis media with effusion.
Myth: Three infections automatically mean ear tubes
False.
The presence of middle ear fluid, hearing, symptoms, development, and the full clinical picture matter.
Myth: Children with ear tubes need ear plugs for every bath
False.
Routine water precautions are not needed for most children with tubes.
Myth: An ear infection means a child must stay home from school
False.
The ear infection itself is not usually contagious.
Return depends on fever, comfort, and ability to take part in school.
What should I ask the pediatrician?
- Is this acute otitis media, ear fluid, or swimmer's ear?
- Is there fluid behind the eardrum?
- Does my child qualify for watchful waiting?
- What should I use for pain?
- If an antibiotic is needed, why is this one being chosen?
- When should symptoms improve?
- When should we return for another ear exam?
- Does persistent fluid need a hearing test?
- Are these infections frequent enough for an ear, nose, and throat referral?
- Would ear tubes actually help my child?
My parenting perspective
After more than 33 years of parenting and grandparenting, I have learned that ear pain is one of those problems that can make a small child miserable very quickly.
I also learned not to diagnose it from one sign.
Ear pulling can mean an infection.
It can also mean nothing serious.
A proper ear exam is what tells us whether there is fluid and a bulging eardrum.
I pay attention to pain first.
I watch the fever.
I watch whether the child can sleep and drink.
I notice hearing changes.
I also watch for the signs that should never wait, especially swelling or redness behind the ear.
Another lesson is that antibiotics are useful when they are needed, but more medicine is not always better.
Some mild infections clear without them.
Some children need them right away.
That decision should come from the child's age, symptoms, and ear exam.
My family experience shapes the practical side of this guide.
The medical guidance comes from current pediatric, hearing, antibiotic stewardship, and ear, nose, and throat sources.
Conclusion
Childhood ear infections are common, painful, and usually treatable.
Watch for ear pain, fever, sleep trouble, hearing changes, and drainage.
Remember that tugging an ear alone does not confirm an infection.
Use pain relief safely.
Use antibiotics only when the healthcare professional recommends them.
Ask about watchful waiting when the infection is mild and your child qualifies.
Follow persistent ear fluid and hearing changes.
And get urgent care for swelling behind the ear, severe illness, stiff neck, balance problems, or neurologic changes.
If your child has new ear pain or ear drainage, arrange an ear exam so you know exactly what you are treating.
Keep Reading on Parnthub
- Child Health and Safety Guide
- Childhood Earache
- Childhood Strep Throat
- Childhood Illnesses 101
- Childhood Flu
- Child First Aid Tips
References and Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Ear Infection Basics
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Outpatient Clinical Care for Pediatric Populations
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren: Ear Infections in Children
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders: Ear Infections in Children
- American Academy of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery Foundation: Tympanostomy Tubes in Children Guideline
About the Author
Adel Galal is the founder and primary author of Parnthub. He is a father of four and a grandfather of four, with more than 33 years of hands on parenting and grandparenting experience.
His child health articles combine real family experience with careful research from pediatric, government, hearing, and ear, nose, and throat sources. He focuses on practical warning signs, safe home care, responsible antibiotic use, and helping parents know when follow up or specialist care is needed.
I am not a dermatologist or a doctor, and this content does not replace professional medical advice. What I share comes from real life experience, extensive research, and consultation with healthcare providers. Always consult qualified medical professionals for diagnosis and treatment of any health condition.
Frequently Asked Questions About Childhood Ear Infections
What are the main symptoms of childhood ear infections?
Common symptoms include ear pain, fever, fussiness, trouble sleeping, temporary hearing changes, and sometimes fluid draining from the ear. Ear tugging alone does not confirm an infection.
Does every ear infection in a child need antibiotics?
No. Many mild middle ear infections improve without antibiotics. Selected children can use watchful waiting for 2 to 3 days when the pediatrician decides it is safe.
Which children can use watchful waiting?
CDC says it may be appropriate for mild one sided infection in children age 6 through 23 months and mild one or two sided infection in children age 2 years or older when symptoms have lasted less than 2 days, pain is mild, and temperature is below 39 degrees Celsius.
How does a doctor confirm an ear infection?
The doctor examines the eardrum and checks for middle ear fluid. A bulging eardrum or new drainage from the middle ear is more useful than redness alone. Pneumatic otoscopy or tympanometry can help identify fluid.
How long can fluid stay behind the eardrum?
Middle ear fluid can remain for several weeks after an acute infection has improved. Persistent fluid does not automatically mean another antibiotic is needed. A hearing test is recommended when fluid persists for about 3 months or sooner when a child is at higher developmental risk.
When should a child get ear tubes?
Ear tubes may help children with long lasting middle ear fluid and hearing difficulty or selected children with recurrent acute otitis media when middle ear fluid is present during the tube evaluation. Past infection count alone does not mean tubes are needed.
What are warning signs of mastoiditis?
Urgent signs include pain, redness, tenderness, or swelling behind the ear, the ear beginning to stick outward, high fever, worsening drainage, headache, or hearing loss.
When is a childhood ear infection an emergency?
Get urgent help for swelling behind the ear, severe illness, stiff neck, major balance problems, facial weakness, confusion, extreme sleepiness, severe headache with neck stiffness, or a child who is rapidly getting worse.
