Ear infections are a common health concern, particularly in children, and can lead to various symptoms such as pain, fever, and hearing difficulties. Understanding the signs, causes, and treatment options for ear infections is crucial for effective management.
A parent should suspect an ear infection when a child becomes ill with a fever, is irritable, and complains of pain in the ear. Ear infections are not contagious, but the colds that result in ear infections are. Colds spread when germs are released from the nose or mouth during coughing or sneezing. Therefore, reducing the spread of these germs is vital.
Fluid behind the eardrum can become infected with a virus or bacteria, causing a middle ear infection that leads to pain and fever. Other causes of ear pain include injury and inflammation or infection in the ear canal, often referred to as swimmer’s ear.
Ear infections can cause impaired hearing, fever, headache, and loss of balance. In children, multiple ear infections may necessitate consulting an ENT provider, as recurrent infections could lead to speech, social, and developmental delays.
The three most common bacteria causing middle ear infections are Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Moraxella catarrhalis. For children over two, antibiotics are recommended if there is a fever or severe pain, or if both ears are infected. In the absence of fever or if the infection is on only one side, the recommendation may differ.
While earache is commonly associated with ear infections, discomfort in and around the ear can be caused by many different problems. This guide covers the more common reasons for earache, considering ear infection as a common cause.
Bacteria or a virus in the middle ear can lead to an ear infection, often occurring alongside another illness like a cold, flu, or allergy that causes congestion and swelling of the nasal passages and eustachian tubes. When the eustachian tubes are swollen or blocked, fluids can build up in the middle ear and cause an infection.
The classic ear infection differs from the silent ear infection in its sudden onset of significant pain and signs of infection, including redness and inflammation. This type of infection is commonly associated with fever, persistent crying, a runny nose, and possibly even eye or ear drainage.
Unlike swimmer’s ear that affects the external ear canal, a chronic middle ear infection can cause hearing loss, holes in the eardrum, and require surgery if severe. Your child may have ear pain or fever with an acute infection. Often, your doctor may recommend the placement of PE (pressure equalization) tubes to help drain fluid and alleviate symptoms.
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