Middle ear infection (otitis media)

Otitis media is an infection of the middle ear that causes inflammation (redness and swelling) and a build-up of fluid behind the eardrum.

Anyone can develop a middle ear infection but infants between six and 15 months old are most commonly affected.

It’s estimated that around one in every four children experience at least one middle ear infection by the time they’re 10 years old.

Symptoms

In most cases, the symptoms of a middle ear infection (otitis media) develop quickly and resolve in a few days. This is known as acute otitis media. The main symptoms include:

earache a high temperature (fever) being sick a lack of energy slight hearing loss – if the middle ear becomes filled with fluid

In some cases, a hole may develop in the eardrum (perforated eardrum) and pus may run out of the ear. The earache, which is caused by the build-up of fluid stretching the eardrum, then resolves.

Signs in young children

As babies are unable to communicate the source of their discomfort, it can be difficult to tell what’s wrong with them. Signs that a young child might have an ear infection include:

raised temperature pulling, tugging or rubbing their ear irritability, poor feeding or restlessness at night coughing or a runny nose unresponsiveness to quiet sounds or other signs of difficulty hearing, such as inattentiveness loss of balance