Ear infections are generally associated with children,
An ear infection, also known as acute otitis media, is an infection of the air-filled space behind the eardrum, known as the middle ear. Children are more likely than adults to get ear infections.
Ear infections often clear up on their own. So treatment might begin with managing pain and watching the issue. Sometimes, healthcare professionals prescribe antibiotics to clear the infection.
Some people have repeated ear infections. This can cause hearing problems and other serious complications.
Ear infection
In an ear infection, narrow tubes that run from the middle ear to high in the back of the throat, also known as eustachian tubes, can become swollen and blocked. This can lead to mucus buildup in the middle ear. This mucus can become infected and cause ear infection symptoms.
Symptoms
Symptoms of ear infection often come on fast.
Children
Ear infection symptoms common in children include:
- Ear pain.
- Tugging at an ear.
- Trouble sleeping.
- Crying more than usual.
- Fussiness.
- Trouble hearing or replying to sounds.
- Loss of balance.
- Fever.
- Fluid coming from the ear, which can be from a torn ear drum.
- Headache.
- Loss of appetite.
Adults
Common symptoms of ear infections in adults include:
- Ear pain or pressure.
- Fluid coming from the ear, which can be from a torn ear drum.
- Trouble hearing.
When to see a doctor
Many conditions have symptoms of an ear infection. It’s important to get a good diagnosis and prompt treatment. Call your child’s healthcare professional for symptoms that are severe or for:
- Symptoms that last for more than 2 to 3 days.
- Symptoms in a child younger than 6 months old.
- Symptoms that are getting worse.
- An infant or toddler who is sleepless or cranky after a cold or other infection that affected breathing, also known as an upper respiratory infection.
- Fluid, pus or blood from the ear.
- Hearing loss.
