The middle ear is a small part of the ear just inside the eardrum. Middle ear infections are more common in young children and usually show up as ear pain and fever.

Symptoms of middle ear conditions

• Fever
• Earache (ranging from mild to severe)
• Babies with middle ear infections may cry and tug at their ears.
• A congested feeling in the ears. It may be accompanied by trouble hearing.
• Discharge from the ear

When to go to the emergency department for an ear infection

If the earache is caused by a virus, the infection usually improves on its own. However, because it is not immediately obvious what the type of infection may be, seek urgent care if you notice one or more of the following:

• Ongoing pain in the ear with or without fever.
• When pain does not get better after a few days or gets worse as time goes on.
• Inflammation behind or around the ear.
• Loss of hearing or difficulty hearing in one or both ears.
• Pus or discharge from an ear, especially if it’s thick, yellow, bloody, or foul-smelling.
• Ringing in the ear that is getting worse or hasn’t gotten better in the past few days.
• If there is an object stuck in the ear, common in young children.

Babies and Toddlers

Babies and toddlers are more susceptible to ear infections and we often need to look for near by emergency room for ear infection. Therefore, a lower threshold for taking them to see a doctor should be maintained. This is particularly true if ear pain is associated with a temperature. Babies under 6 months should be seen by a doctor immediately.

Treatment of Ear Infections

Depending on the cause and the patient’s age, treatment may involve eardrops, antibiotics or over-the-counter pain relief. Many earaches tend to go away without treatment but use the symptoms above as a guide to determine whether you should go to the emergency room.