How do ear infections happen? It's pretty simple. Sometimes, germs, like a virus or bacteria, can infect the inside of your ear. This can happen to anyone, although middle ear infections are more common in young kids than in adults.
Symptoms of Ear Infection in Adults
The most common sign of an ear infection is an earache. It can be either a sharp, sudden pain or a dull discomfort that just doesn't go away. You can have it in one or both of your ears. You could also have symptoms like:
- A feeling like your ear is blocked
- Ear pressure
- Muffled hearing
- Lack of appetite
- Trouble sleeping
- Ear drainage
Your ear is made up of three sections:
- Outer ear
- Middle ear
- Inner ear
The symptoms you have can hint at the area of your ear that's infected. But everyone is different. You'll need a doctor's exam to get an official diagnosis.
Outer ear infection symptoms
Your outer ear includes the pinna, the part of your ear which you can see, and the ear canal, a tunnel-like structure that leads to your middle ear. An outer ear infection is often called "swimmer's ear." That's because germs can grow in the tiny amount of moisture that may be left in your ears after you've been in a body of water like a pool or lake. But you don't have to be swimming to get an infection in this part of your ear. It can be caused by a scratch, pimple, or bug bite, too.
Signs of an outer ear infection can include:
- Ear pain
- Redness
- Itching
- Swelling (which could also spread to your neck)
- Changes in your hearing
- Discharge (it could be yellow, brown, or white)
- Lack of energy
- Generally feeling unwell
- Fever, usually between 100° F and 104° F
Middle ear infection symptoms
Your middle ear is an air-filled chamber that's separated from your outer ear by your eardrum. The job of the middle ear is to turn sound waves into vibrations before they get to your inner ear. Doctors classify issues in this area a few different ways. For instance:
Acute otitis media. You can get an infection in your middle ear when fluid, like mucus, from a cold, allergies, or the flu gets trapped in your Eustachian tubes, which connect your middle ear to the back of your throat. You might notice soreness or pain that comes on suddenly.
Otitis media with effusion (OME). Sometimes, the fluid in your middle ear can build up to a severe degree. If so, your doctor will be able to look into your ear with a special device and see that your middle ear is bulging, or is full, of fluid. You might hear this called "glue ear." While OME can cause short-term hearing loss, this isn't an infection.
Chronic OME. If the fluid doesn't go away or goes away but keeps coming back, you may have this type of ear infection. Treating a chronic ear infection is important. If not, your hearing could be damaged for the long term.
Chronic suppurative otitis media. This diagnosis means that you have a hole, or tear, in your eardrum. It usually happens because of a long-lasting ear infection. If so, you may see pus, a milky fluid, coming from your ear.
Overall otitis media symptoms can include:
- Ear pain
- Ear discharge (you may feel or see a warm liquid trickling out from your ear)
- Sore throat
- Fever that's often between 100° F and 104° F
- Headache
- Trouble keeping your balance
Inner ear infection symptoms
In this chamber of your ear, vibrations are turned into nerve signals that are then sent to your brain. This information is important not only for your hearing but also for helping you stay balanced.
Although inner ear infections, known as otitis interna, can happen to anyone, they're most common in adults aged between 30 and 60 years. A virus like shingles or the flu is often to blame.
Inner ear infection signs include:
- Ear pain
- Feeling dizzy
- Vertigo (feeling like everything around you is spinning)
- Upset stomach
- Throwing up
- Finding hard to keep your balance
- Changes in your hearing (for instance, hearing in one or both ears may be muffled)
- Ear ringing (tinnitus)
- Headache
What puts you at a risk of an ear infection?
Some health issues can make you more likely to get an ear infection as an adult.
For instance, eczema raises your risk of an outer ear infection. So does psoriasis. Living with diabetes puts you at a higher risk of a middle and inner ear infection.
Ear Infection Symptoms in Kids
Ear infections are one of the most common issues that pediatricians see. Between 80% and 90% of all kids will have at least one before they're old enough to go to school.
In kids, signs of an ear infection include:
- Tugging at the ear
- Poor sleep
- Fever
- Being easily upset
- Feeling restless
- Ear drainage
- Not wanting to eat
- Crying at night when lying down
- Having trouble with their balance
Ear infection symptoms in babies
Babies and very young children (aged between 6 months and 2 years) are at the highest risk of an ear infection. But because they can't talk yet, they won't be able to tell you that one or both of their ears hurt.
Be on the lookout for signs like:
- Crying more than usual
- Feeling fussy
- Being hard to soothe
- Ear tugging
- Not wanting to nurse or eat
- Not reacting to some sounds
- Mouth breathing
- Snoring
- Fever between 100.5° F and 104° F
Some factors make an ear infection in kids and babies more likely, including:
- A family history of ear infections
- Recently having a cold
- Going to daycare or another type of group childcare (which makes catching colds more likely)
- Being around secondhand smoke or other pollutants
- Having an ongoing health issue, such as asthma or cystic fibrosis
- Seasonal allergies
- Cleft palate
- Using a pacifier
- Laying down while feeding
Being of Hispanic, Native American, or Alaska Native heritage is also linked to a raised risk of ear infections.
When to Call Your Doctor About Ear Infection Symptoms
A lot of the time, an ear infection can get better on its own. But sometimes, it may not clear up without treatment. Depending on your symptoms and diagnosis, your ear infection treatment could include:
Antibiotics. Doctors try not to prescribe these medications too quickly. When they're used too often, germs can get resistant to them. Because of that, your doctor may give you a prescription for antibiotics, then ask you to wait two to three days to fill it, in case your or your child's immune system can fight off the infection on its own.
Antiviral medication. This is sometimes needed to help stop an infection in your inner ear.
Nasal steroid spray. This is needed to relieve ear inflammation.
Decongestant. This can help dry up extra fluid in your ears.
Antihistamines. These types of medications help with congestion. They stop your immune system from releasing a chemical called histamine that plays a role in inflammation.
Pain medication. While this can't help clear up your infection, it can help make you or child more comfortable. Your doctor may suggest an over-the-counter kind. Or they could prescribe a stronger type, including special numbing drops that go right into the ear. Always check with your doctor before giving your child an over-the-counter product and follow the label instructions exactly.
Surgery. Sometimes, a procedure called a myringotomy, or "ear tube surgery," is needed for severe or recurring middle ear infections. Tiny little plastic or metal cylinders, called tympanostomy tubes, are placed at the entrance of the eardrum. This helps any fluid drain more easily and prevents pressure from building up in the middle ear. While common in kids, ear tube surgeries are rarely needed for adults.
When to seek medical care
Call your doctor or seek help right awayif your child:
- Has severe ear pain
- Has fluid coming out of their ear
- Has no energy
- Isn't sleeping or eating well
- Won't stop crying, no matter what you do to try to soothe them
- Has a stiff neck (can't touch their chin to their chest)
- Is running a fever, especially in babies younger than 3 months
- Has muscle weakness on one side of their face (look for a crooked smile)
- Is having trouble walking/doesn't seem steady
- Has swelling behind their ear (it may look red or pink)
- Is vomiting
- Feels very sick and you're worried
Trust your instincts. You know your child best.
If you're an adult, call your doctor and get immediate medical care if:
- You have intense pain in or around your ear.
- You have a fever over 102.2° F.
- You have fluid coming from your ear.
- You can't move part of your face.
Ear infection complications
Don't put off seeing a doctor. Untreated ear infections can cause serious, and sometimes long-term, issues, such as:
Hearing loss. Sometimes, this is temporary, and your hearing will return to normal once your infection clears. But severe infections or infections that go away and come back can cause permanent hearing damage.
Delayed speech. Very young kids rely on hearing to learn how to speak. Not being able to hear well could slow down their ability to form words and understand others.
Eardrum tear. Between 5% and 10% of kids with ear infections develop a tear in their eardrum, which may need surgery to repair.
More severe infections. Although it's not common, an untreated ear infection could spread to your brain and spinal cord. This type of infection is called meningitis.
Takeaways
Bacteria and viruses can cause an infection in one or both of your ears. This can happen to anyone although it's more common in babies and kids. Sometimes, an ear infection will clear up on its own. If not, you'll need to see a doctor and start treatment so it doesn't cause complications, including permanent hearing loss. Remember that young kids and babies won't be able to tell you that their ear hurts. Know the symptoms of an ear infection to look out for, and call your doctor right away if you have concerns.
Ear Infection Symptoms FAQs
What is the quickest way to get rid of an ear infection?
You may feel better faster if you:
- Follow your doctor's advice.
- Rest. When you take it easy, your body can put more resources into healing.
- Hydrate. Sip extra water and healthy fluids like unsweetened tea and broths. Being well hydrated helps your immune system function as well as it can.
How do you prevent an ear infection?
To reduce the chances that your baby or child gets sick, you can:
Nurse your baby until they're at least 6 months old. Do this if it's an option. The antibodies in breastmilk are good for your baby's immune system.
Keep your baby upright when you bottle-feed them. Their head should be higher than their stomach so fluid doesn't back up into their Eustachian tubes.
Stay up-to-date on vaccines. One of the most common bacteria that causes ear infections can be prevented with the pneumococcal vaccine. The CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend it for babies and young children younger than 5 years.
Quit smoking. And try to avoid being around others who smoke.
Wash your hands often. Encourage your child and others who live in your home to do the same.
Gently dry your child's ears with a towel after swimming. You can also use a hair dryer for a few seconds. Make sure it's on the lowest heat/speed setting and keep it several inches away from their ear.
Talk to your doctor. They can give you additional advice, especially if your child is prone to ear infections.
Can you fly with an ear infection?
Unless your doctor advises otherwise, air travel is usually okay — although taking off and landing may cause extra ear pain. That's due to air pressure changes. Chewing gum or taking a big swallow of water may help. If your baby or child has an ear infection, check with their doctor for advice on how to make them comfortable. Sucking on a pacifier may help.
