What are the symptoms of an ear infection? Your child may have
many symptoms during an ear infection. Talk with your
pediatrician about the best way to treat your child's symptoms.
- Pain. The most common symptom of an ear infection is pain.
Older children can tell you that their ears hurt. Younger
children may only seem irritable and cry. You may notice this
more during feedings because sucking and swallowing may cause
painful pressure changes in the middle ear. - Loss of appetite.
Your child may have less of an appetite because of the ear pain.
- Trouble sleeping. Your child may have trouble sleeping because
of the ear pain. - Fever. Your child may have a temperature
ranging from 100°F (normal) to 104°F. - Ear drainage. You might
notice yellow or white fluid, possibly blood-tinged, draining
from your child's ear. The fluid may have a foul odor and will
look different from normal earwax (which is orange-yellow or
reddish-brown). Pain and pressure often decrease after this
drainage begins, but this doesn't al