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 lead to ear infections are. Colds spread when germs are released from the nose or mouth during coughing or sneezing. Anything that can reduce the spread of these germs can also minimize the risk of ear infections.

When fluid behind the eardrum becomes infected with a virus or bacteria, it causes a middle ear infection, which can lead to pain and fever. Other causes of pain related to the ear include injury, inflammation, and infection in the ear canal (the channel between the eardrum and the outside part of the ear), often referred to as swimmer’s ear.

Bacteria or a virus in the middle ear can result in an ear infection, often occurring alongside another illness such as a cold, flu, or allergy that causes congestion and swelling of the nasal passages and eustachian tubes. Swollen or blocked eustachian tubes lead to fluid buildup in the middle ear, causing an infection.

Chronic ear infections may cause additional symptoms: hearing loss in the affected ear, and a feeling of fullness in your ear. Your child may have ear pain or fever with an acute infection. Often, doctors may recommend the placement of PE (pressure equalization) tubes to help drain fluid and improve hearing if fluid in the ear persists for an extended period.

The symptoms of a middle ear infection in adults commonly include ear pain, a feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear, fluid draining from the ear (if the eardrum has ruptured), fever, and hearing loss. These symptoms may resemble other conditions or health problems, so it’s always best to consult with a healthcare provider.

Discomfort in and around the ear can be caused by various issues, and while an ear infection is a common reason for ear pain, this guide from Harvard Health will cover more common causes of an earache. Considering the possibility of an ear infection first is typical due to its prevalence.

The classic ear infection is different from the silent ear infection because of the sudden onset of significant pain and signs of infection, including redness and inflammation. This type of infection is frequently, although not exclusively, associated with fever, persistent crying, a runny nose, and sometimes even eye or ear drainage.

There are several types of middle ear infections, such as Acute otitis media (AOM), which comes on suddenly with the middle ear becoming swollen and red, trapping fluid and mucus inside, causing fever, ear pain, and hearing loss. Otitis media with effusion (OME) is another type, where the infection subsides, but fluid (effusion) and mucus continue to accumulate.

For more detailed information, please visit the Rush University Medical Center, the University Health Center, the University of Utah Health, University of Rochester Medical Center’s Health Encyclopedia, Harvard Health, their guide on treating ear infections in children, and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.