Ear Infections Summary Ear infections are the most common reason parents bring their child to a doctor. Three out of four children will have at least one ear infection by their third birthday. Adults can also get ear infections, but they are less common. The infection usually affects the middle ear and is called otitis media. The tubes inside the ears become clogged with fluid and mucus. This can affect hearing, because sound cannot get through all that fluid. If your child isn’t old enough to say “My ear hurts,” here are a few things to look for Tugging at ears Crying more than usual Fluid draining from the ear Trouble sleeping Balance difficulties Hearing problems Your health care provider will diagnose an ear infection by looking inside the ear with an instrument called an otoscope. Often, ear infections go away on their own. Your health care provider may recommend pain relievers. Severe infections and infections in young babies may require antibiotics. Children who get infections often may need surgery to place small tubes inside their ears. The tubes relieve pressure in the ears so that the child can hear again. NIH: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Find an Expert American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Find an ENT American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Specifics Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Labyrinthitis and Vestibular Neuritis Vestibular Disorders Association Swimmer’s Ear (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Videos and Tutorials Bilateral Myringotomy Tube Placement OR-Live Related Issues Cholesteatoma American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Middle Ear Infection (Chronic Otitis Media) and Hearing Loss American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Ototoxicity (Ear Poisoning) (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Pediatric Obesity and Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Ruptured Eardrum (Perforated Eardrum) Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Array Cholesteatoma Ear discharge Ear examination Ear infection – acute Ear infection – chronic Ear tube insertion Ear tube insertion – slideshow Earache Eardrum repair – slideshow Otitis media with effusion Swimmer’s ear Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Otitis Externa National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Otitis Media National Institutes of Health Prevention and Risk Factors Cochlear-Meningitis Vaccination American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Ear Infection and Vaccines American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Start Here Ear Infection (Middle Ear) Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Ear Infections American Academy of Family Physicians Ear Infections in Children National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Middle Ear Infections (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Health Check Tools Ear Discharge DSHI Systems Encyclopedia Ear drainage culture Ear tube surgery – what to ask your doctor Eardrum repair Infectious myringitis Labyrinthitis Labyrinthitis — aftercare Malignant otitis externa Mastoidectomy Mastoiditis Otitis Perichondritis Petrositis Ruptured eardrum Treatments and Therapies Ear Infection Treatment: Do Alternative Therapies Work? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Ear Tubes American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work – Ear Infections Centers for Disease Control and Prevention How to Use Ear Drops Properly American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Is Ear Candling a Safe Way to Remove Earwax? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Middle Ear Infections American Academy of Pediatrics Diagnosis and Tests Ear Problems American Academy of Family Physicians Reference Desk How the Ear Works American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery NIDCD Glossary National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Children Middle Ear Infections and Ear Tube Surgery (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Swimmer’s Ear Nemours Foundation What Is an Ear Infection? Nemours Foundation Your Ears Nemours Foundation Journal Articles Ear Infections Teenagers Swimmer’s Ear (External Otitis) Nemours Foundation Latest News Breast Milk Best from the Breast? HealthDay Infant Ear Infections Becoming Less Common HealthDay
