8 symptoms of ear infections in babies

Is your baby refusing a feed? It could be due to an ear infection. Know which symptoms can spill the beans for you.

Ear infections are said to be the second most common type of infection among babies and toddlers. An ear infection happens when excess fluid gets trapped in the ear leading to a bacterial or viral attack. In a normal scenario if fluid gets accumulated behind the eardrum it gets drained through the Eustachian tube and moves out through the mouth or the nose. But in babies due to an immature immune system and organs which are still developing, sometimes the drainage might not happen smoothly and give rise to an infection.

Ear infections can cause excessive pain, irritation and other nagging symptoms in the baby. The probable symptoms that could indicate an ear infection are as follows:

Irritability: Mood swings and irritability in babies can happen due to a number of reasons. But ear infection can be a probable cause. With a nagging pain or discomfort in the ears, it is obvious for your baby to be irritable and just go off track.

Loss of appetite: This is the most common sign of an ear infection alongside irritability. Often babies who suffer with an ear infection might refuse a feed either at the breast or the bottle, because swallowing can pose to be troublesome with an infection of the ear. Weaned babies might also fuss during eating. That simply doesn't mean that they are full. If you notice that your baby is refusing a feed and is irritable, it makes sense to meet your pediatrician for a checkup and ear evaluation.

Uncontrolled crying: Ear infection can at times give rise to acute pains. Well babies can no way say how the extent of pain is worrying them. So they do the next obvious thing -- cry uncontrollably. Though your baby can cry for a number of reasons but if you see that there is a sharp shrill pitch sent out while crying it can indicate a need for more attention. Also read nine reasons that makes your baby cry.

Flu like symptoms: The most common cause for an ear infection is common cold and cough. Seasonal cold can at times make the Eustachian tube swell and lead to fluid accumulation. Bacterial infection in this fluid can lead to infection of the ear and give rise to mild or moderate fever or other similar symptoms. Also read about fever in babies, when is the time to worry.

Pain and pus in the ears: The two most obvious symptoms of ear infection are pain and pus. If you notice a yellow or white coloured liquid dripping from your baby's infected ears, it's an indication enough for an infection. The pus would usually be foul smelling and distinctly different in colour and texture from the ear wax. This can cause a lot of pain and make your baby go cranky all the time.

Sleep disturbance: With an ear infection your baby might not be ready to lie down or stay put on the bed or crib for too long as any movements can make the pain turn worse and unbearable. This could lead to sleep deficit in babies and disturb their much needed sleep routines.

Tugging of the ears: Babies tug their ears or keep pulling them for a number of reasons and one of them is due to pain following an ear infection. This is a mechanism that a baby adapts to self soothe from pain or irritation in the ear due to a probable ear infection.

Diarrhea and vomiting: The bacteria that cause infection in the ears can at times also upset the GI tract of the babies leading to diarrhea and vomiting.

What you should do?

If you notice any of the above mentioned symptoms do not delay a visit to your pediatrician. Your doctor might prescribe painkillers to soothe the pain and ear drops to treat the medications. The symptoms usually recede after two days of treatment. If not then a further evaluation might be necessary.

You may also like to read:

• Decode your baby's motions
• Which of these 9 reasons are making your baby cry?
• Is your baby teething? Here's what you should expect
• 10 ways to keep your baby's eyes safe
• Try these tips to put your baby to sleep
• 5 reasons why crying is good for your baby

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