- Otitis media means inflammation / infection of the middle ear. The middle ear is a small space located behind the eardrum.
- Many young children (4 months to 18 months) may pull on their ears with teething. These children usually do not have a cold and sleep fine.
- Getting water splashed in the ear, earwax, wind or being cold do not cause a middle ear infection.
- Ear infections are not contagious, but the viruses that cause a cold which leads to an ear infection are contagious.
- The doctor may not find an ear infection initially with a cold. But if the cold continues, an ear infection may develop. Be alert to worsening of symptoms
Most common in children from 6 months until 2 or 3 years old, but can occur at any age, even newborns.
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Signs of an acute ear infection:
- Fussy babies who don't eat well or pull off the bottle or breast
- Not sleeping well
- Usually with a cold, but occasionally without signs of a cold
- May or may not have a fever
- Pulling on the ear ( pullling on the ear in a happy, non-sick child may be a sign of teething )
- Not hearing well, talking loudly, ignoring normal voice tones, television volume increased
- Older child will complain of pain
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