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Middle Ear Infections Symptoms

Middle ear infections (otitis media) are common problems for children. In fact, most children have had at least one ear infection in their lives. Middle ear infections can also occur in adults, although it is rare. These infections can cause significant pain and discomfort and can make children and parents miserable.

  1. Earaches

    • Earaches are the most commonly recognizable sign of an ear infection. The earache comes from an increase of fluid in the ear, which presses on the sensitive eardrum. A child with an ear infection and subsequent earache will commonly pull on the infected ear. They may complain of a blockage or funny feeling in the ear. They also tend to cry or scream due to the pain.

    Drainage

    • During an acute middle ear infection or acute otitis media, the ear becomes filled with pus. Because of this, some children experience the drainage of fluid out of the ear. The child may even have a yellow stain on their pillow in the morning where the pus has drained throughout the night. As the infection worsens, the child may experience a total or partial hearing loss in the affected ear. This drainage may relieve some of the pain the child experiences, but, if the infection worsens, it will increase the discomfort.

    Vision Problems

    • In certain cases of middle ear infections, patients have developed vision problems. Some patients have complained of a popping in the ear followed by a "dimming" of vision. Vision problems are uncommon, but they do seem to appear with patients who have vertigo or dizziness along with the ear infection.

    Headache

    • Sometimes patients will suffer from severe headaches due to middle ear infections. Merck Online Medical Library reports that in some severe cases mastoiditis may develop. Mastoiditis is an infection of the bone behind the ear (the mastoid process). In very severe middle ear infections, the bone can become infected and cause serious complications. This type of infection can cause debilitating, boring pain in the center of the head. An infection penetrating into the skull in this manner is very serious and usually requires hospitalization and IV medications.

    Fever

    • Some individuals seem to run a high fever when they suffer from a middle ear infection. The fever may worsen as the infection worsens. However, some people will not run a fever at all or may have a low-grade fever. The fever is usually accompanied by other symptoms such as ear drainage or earache.

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