Ear Infection Symptoms to Take Seriously

An ear infection is a sudden infection that develops in the middle ear — the air-filled space between the eardrum and inner ear. The delicate bones within the space transmit sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear so you can hear.

Also present are the eustachian tubes — canals connecting the middle ear to the back of your throat. They regulate air pressure in your ear, as well as prevent fluid from accumulating in your middle ear space.

If a eustachian tube does not function properly, any fluid present has difficulty draining from the middle ear space and can cause muffled hearing. Ear infections (due to viruses and bacteria) also cause middle ear fluid to accumulate. However, this fluid is infected and often causes discomfort in addition to muffled hearing.

Middle ear infections are the most common childhood ailment other than the common cold. 

At Mercy Medical Urgent Care, Dr. Bilal Khoder and our staff see many cases of ear infections among the juvenile population. We like to educate parents about the condition so they’ll know when to seek medical attention for their child. 

Here are several signs and symptoms you should take seriously.

Ear infection signs and symptoms to take seriously

These signs and symptoms that should clue you to an ear infection:

• Ear pain
• Fever (over 100 degrees Fahrenheit)
• Fussiness or irritability
• Difficulty sleeping
• Loss of appetite
• Trouble hearing in the ear that’s blocked
• A feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear

Small children and infants can’t always communicate their symptoms, so it’s important to recognize the signs. A child may:

• Rub or tug on their ears
• Cry more than usual or act fussy
• Have a fever ranging from 100.5-104 degrees Fahrenheit (38-40 degrees Celsius)
• Start mouth breathing or have increased snoring
• Refuse to eat during feedings

Mouth breathing can indicate enlarged adenoids — small pads of tissue above the throat, behind the nose, and near the eustachian tubes. Adenoids can become infected/inflamed with the same viruses or bacteria that cause ear infections.

Refusal to feed may be due to changes in pressure in the middle ear as your child swallows, which causes more pain and less desire to eat.

Treating an ear infection

Often, ear infections heal without treatment, so our team may choose to monitor your child’s condition to see if it improves before prescribing anything. 

You can use over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to help with the pain in the meantime.

Never give aspirin to a child with a fever. It may cause a life-threatening condition called Reye’s syndrome.

If bacteria are causing the infection and your child’s case is mild, our team may wait to see what happens. 

However, if the infection doesn’t improve in 2-3 days, our team will prescribe a course of antibiotics. However, if the infection is severe to begin with, we may start antibiotics immediately.

The American Academy of Pediatrics provides guidelines on when a doctor should prescribe antibiotics for an ear infection and when they should just observe. Guiding factors include your child’s age, the severity of their infection, and their temperature.

Ear tubes (tympanostomy tubes)

If your child experiences frequent ear infections that don’t improve with antibiotics, or if they experience hearing loss related to the fluid build-up, they may need ear tubes. 

An ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist places the tubes during a procedure called a tympanostomy. It takes about 10 minutes, and your child can go home that same day.

During the tympanostomy, the doctor inserts a small metal or plastic tube into a tiny incision they make in your child’s eardrum. Once the tubes are in place, the doctor lets air into the middle ear and allows the fluid to drain.

The tube usually remains in place for 12-18 months. It’s possible it will fall out on its own, but if not, your child may need minor surgery to remove it. Once the tubes are removed, the hole in your child’s eardrum heals and closes.

If your child is experiencing the signs and symptoms of an ear infection, Mercy Medical Urgent Care can help diagnose and treat them. We’re open seven days a week. Walk in or give us a call at 386-758-2944 to schedule.