Ear infections affect 80% of children before age 5 years. This information sheet
is meant to help you recognize signs of an ear infection, ways to reduce pain in
order to avoid the emergency room and how to recognize danger signs that require
urgent medical attention. This information is for children without myringotomy
tubes.
Infants & Toddlers
Common Symptoms or Presenting Signs
- History of a recent cold
- +/- fever
- Decreased sucking from bottle or breast*
- Crying when lying down*
- Cranky, less playful
*These positions can make ear pain feel worse.
Of note - infants will often find their ears for play. It is not a
reliable indicator of infection.
More Serious Symptoms
- Fever >= 100.5 °F less than 6 weeks of age
- Irritability without being consolable
- Decrease in the usual intake of fluids
- Excessively sleepy
Children
Common Symptoms or Presenting Signs
- History of a recent cold
- Poor hearing
- +/- fever
- Localizing pain to one ear (this can be sudden in onset and a very severe
localizing pain)
- Drainage from an ear
- Pain with movement of the ear **
** This may indicate it is a swimmers' ear which is inflammation
of the skin on the canal of the ear drum.
More Serious Symptoms
- Ear pinna is pushed forward and tender
- Severe headache
What To Do First To Relieve Pain
For middle ear infections in all age groups:
- AB otic is a prescription topical analgesic that when applied inside the ear canal reduces pain. Place 3-4 drops in your infant's or
child's ear while they are lying down with the painful ear pointed upward. It is a thick liquid and may require a bit of movement of
the ear pinna to get it in the ear canal. AB otic can be used as often as needed to reduce pain. It
should not be put in an ear that
is draining or in an ear with ear tubes.
- Give a dose of Motrin if older than 6 months - Tylenol if younger than 6 months.
For suspected swimmers' ear infections in older children:
- Try ½vinegar, ½ hydrogen peroxide in the affected ear(s) and place a cotton ball in the ear.
- Motrin or Tylenol
For draining ears:
- Clean the area with a warm cotton ball. This symptom means the middle ear has created a perforation that is allowing the middle ear material to drain. This also means the pain is
usually greatly reduced.
- DO NOT PUT ANY AB OTIC IN THE EARS that show evidence of drainage.
- Use Motrin or Tylenol
Then: Make an appointment to be seen. If our office is open and ear pain is severe, we will add your child in to the schedule as an urgent visit. Otherwise we will give you the first available or your preference of appointment. Most middle of the night or late weekend ear pain can be reduced enough for your child to rest comfortably until morning.
If our office is closed, you can leave a message at any time by calling 847-729-6445 and press 0. Leave your preferred time for your appointment. The receptionist gets to the office at 7:30 a.m. and will call you for an early a.m. appointment if needed.
For more serious symptoms:
If you have tried using this sheet to help sort out a problem and you think your infant or child has more serious problems, call our office as an urgent call or to speak to our triage nurse. When the office is closed call our doctor on call at 800-841-9718. You will receive a prompt return call. If you don't, please re-page as occasionally the paging tower will not transmit properly. |
