Any resulting hearing impairment could affect a child’s speech, intellectual development or social skills. In addition, frequent infections in the ear have the potential to spread to nearby tissues. In some cases, there’s a condition called mastoiditis, or infection of the mastoid, which is damage to the bone behind the ear. Pus-filled cysts can form with frequent infections, and there is potential for infections to spread to other areas of the head, including the brain.

In rare cases, inner ear pressure is so great that the eardrum tears and requires surgical repair.

Diagnosis and Treatment

An office exam is usually sufficient for a doctor to diagnose an ear infection. The doctor will use an otoscope to look at the ears, nose and throat and listen for breathing issues with a stethoscope.

There are also more complicated tests that may be performed if the initial tests don’t provide a firm diagnosis. These include tympanometry, which measures the movement of the eardrum; acoustic reflectometry, which measures sound emitted from a device and bounced back from the eardrum; and tympanocentesis, which is a tiny tube that will pierce the ear drum to drain fluid and test it.

Most parents will be advised to treat the issue with warm compresses on the infected ear and over-the-counter medications like Tylenol or Advil to help with pain issues. Doctors may also recommend ear drops (Aurodex) that can help with ear pain in those who don’t have a perforated eardrum.