Common Signs Your Child Has an Ear Infection (And What to Do Next)

No parent likes to see their child uncomfortable or sick. Unfortunately, one of the most common childhood illnesses is an ear infection. On average, young children experience about eight colds a year, and about half of all children develop one by their second birthday. Fortunately, this painful condition becomes less common by the time your child turns 8. 

At Sima Stein, MD, in San Jose, California, board-certified pediatrician Dr. Stein can help you determine if your child has an ear infection or some other illness. Following a diagnosis, she can prescribe the proper treatment to help get your child back on their feet. 

Here, Dr. Stein shares what you need to know about ear infections:

The signs of an ear infection

One sign of an ear infection is that your child may become fussy or irritable. This sign, though, can result from dozens of reasons, including hunger, tiredness, or overall personality. If, in addition to fussiness, your child has the following signs, there’s a good chance they have an ear infection:

• Ear pain
• Fever
• Low energy
• Feels bad or sick
• Fluid dripping from the ear
• Difficulty sleeping
• Loss of balance

In young children who aren’t verbal, you may notice them tugging, rubbing, or itching their ears. This is their way of communicating that there’s a problem in that area. Also, it’s common for an ear infection to accompany a cold or virus.

Often, the tube that runs from the inner or middle ear to the throat becomes swollen or blocked with congestive tissue and mucus as a result of a cold or virus. Then, an infection develops in the inner ear. 

How to treat your child’s ear infection

Most regular ear infections clear up within three days. To help manage ear infection symptoms, give your child age-appropriate over-the-counter pain relievers, apply a warm compress to their ear (s), and make sure they rest and drink plenty of liquids.

If your child’s ear infection lasts longer than three days, make an appointment with Dr. Stein. She may prescribe an antibiotic or recommend other treatments and preventive measures. However, feel free to make an appointment at any time to get advice, a diagnosis, and treatment recommendations. 

How to prevent ear infections

While you can’t ensure that your child never gets an ear infection, you can take steps to help reduce their frequency. Children who go to daycare are at higher risk than children cared for at home. Additionally, pacifiers and other germ collectors can increase your child’s risk of developing ear infections. 

Here’s how to minimize their risks:

• Keep your child up to date on their vaccines
• Breastfeed your baby exclusively for six months and then continue breastfeeding along with introducing foods until they’re at least 1 year old
• Wash your hands and your child’s hands frequently
• Don’t smoke or expose your child to secondhand smoke
• Wean your child off their pacifier after 12 months

Use these tips all year round but especially during cold and flu season when your child is more likely to get an ear infection. 

If your child has ear pain, fever, or just isn’t feeling well, call or book a visit online with Dr. Stein today.