Ear infection in children
Your health experts: Mr Anil Banerjee, Ear, Nose and Throat Consultant and Dr Elizabeth Rogers, Associate Clinical Director, Bupa Health Clinics
Content editor review by Rachael Mayfield-Blake, March 2022
Next review due March 2025
A middle ear infection (otitis media) is when your child’s ear becomes infected, swollen and painful because fluid is trapped behind their eardrum. Middle ear infections are common in children. More than four out of five children will get a middle ear infection at least once before they’re two. Adults can also get middle ear infections. You don’t usually need to treat a middle ear infection with antibiotics.
About middle ear infections
The middle ear is the space behind the eardrum. It’s normally filled with air but after an infection like a cold or sore throat, it can get filled with fluid. This happens because the Eustachian tube (the tube which connects the middle ear to the back of the throat) gets swollen or blocked and the fluid can’t drain away. The fluid in the middle ear then becomes infected with bacteria or viruses, which travel up the Eustachian tube from the nose or throat. Pus builds up and causes pain.
Middle ear infections are very common in toddlers and babies, and they may get more than one. Their Eustachian tubes are still quite short and horizontal, so fluid and mucus can build up in the middle ear more easily than in adults.
Causes of middle ear infection
Most middle ear infections are caused by bacteria or viruses (or both) – for example, those that lead to a cold. Other things that can increase the chance of your child getting a middle ear infection include:
- using a dummy (for more information, see our FAQ: Why do dummies increase the risk of ear infections?)
- formula feeding rather than breastfeeding, particularly if your child lies down when they feed
- passive smoking
- lots of contact with other children; for example, if your child goes to nursery or playgroup or has older brothers or sisters
- your child was born with a cleft lip or palate or with Down syndrome
Boys tend to be affected more than girls, and middle ear infections are more common in winter than in summer. Your child’s risk of getting a middle ear infection gets less as they get older.
Symptoms of middle ear infection
A middle ear infection can develop soon after your child gets a cough or a runny nose. Other symptoms and signs of ear infection in children can include:
- earache (young children may rub or tug at their ear)
- a fever
- irritability and crying
- restlessness
- seeming generally unwell
- not feeding or eating well
- being sick
Older children may tell you that they can’t hear properly, and their ear feels blocked.
In some children, the eardrum bursts (perforates) because of the pressure. If this happens, you may see fluid or pus coming out of their ear. Although a burst eardrum sounds nasty, your child will probably feel better after it happens because their pain will ease.
The symptoms of a middle ear infection usually clear up on their own within three days. If you’re concerned about your child’s symptoms or they get worse, contact your GP.
Diagnosis of middle ear infection
Your GP will ask about your child’s symptoms and any other illnesses they’ve had. They may look at your child’s eardrum using an instrument called an otoscope. This is a small, handheld device that has a magnifying glass and a light.
Your GP will usually be able to diagnose a middle ear infection without any further tests. But if your child is under three months old, they may advise you take them to hospital for further checks.
Your GP may also recommend further tests or may refer your child to a specialist if they don’t get recover as expected. They may, for example, want to check if your child has developed glue ear. This is when the middle ear remains blocked with fluid, which stops your child hearing properly.
Under 18 GP Appointments
We now offer GP appointments for children aged between 1 and 18 via our remote video service (UK wide) and face to face appointments at selected centres. Please note that these appointments cannot be booked online so please call 0330 822 3072 for more information or to book. Lines are open Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am to 5pm. We may record and monitor our calls. Available from £49.
To book or to make an enquiry, call us on 0343 253 8381∧
Self-help for middle ear infection
It’s upsetting to see your child in pain with a middle ear infection. But try not to worry because they’ll usually get better in a few days without any treatment. In the meantime, there are some things you can do to help.
Often, the best treatment is to just relieve your child’s symptoms with painkillers until the inflammation has cleared up. You can buy paracetamol or ibuprofen for children at a pharmacy. These will also help to bring down their temperature and is probably all they’ll need. Use these painkillers rather than aspirin because aspirin isn’t suitable for children under 16.
There’s no evidence that decongestants or antihistamines will help.
It may help to reduce pain if you soak a flannel in warm water, wring it out and hold it gently over your child’s ear.
Always read the patient information leaflet that comes with your child’s medicine. If you have any questions, ask your pharmacist. If your child’s condition doesn’t clear up after three days or it gets worse, see your child's GP.
Treatment of middle ear infection
Antibiotics
Usually, middle ear infections clear up on their own within three days and your child won’t need antibiotics. Your GP will explain that antibiotics probably won’t cure to your child’s symptoms and may instead cause side-effects such as diarrhoea, vomiting or a rash.
Sometimes, your GP may give you a delayed or back-up prescription. This is a written prescription for use only if your child’s symptoms last longer than three days or get significantly worse at any point.
Your GP may prescribe antibiotics straight away if your child:
- has a very severe infection
- has already had symptoms for three days and isn’t showing signs of getting better
- is under two and both their ears are infected
- has a perforated eardrum (a hole or tear in their eardrum)
If your child is prescribed antibiotics, it’s important to complete the whole pack even if their symptoms get better. Read the patient information leaflet that comes with your child’s medicine carefully. If you have any questions about the medicine or how to take it, ask your pharmacist.
If your child is under three months and has a raised temperature, your GP may refer them to a hospital for further treatment.
Surgery
Most children with middle ear infections get better without any treatment. But if your child gets complications of middle ear infection (see our section on complications), your doctor may recommend surgery.
Surgery is usually one of two procedures.
- In a myringotomy, your doctor will make a small cut in your child’s eardrum and put in small ventilation tubes called grommets, to help drain the fluid. The hole in the eardrum will heal naturally within a few days or weeks.
- In a procedure called a tympanocentesis, your doctor will Insert a needle through your child’s ear to draw out the fluid from the middle ear. They’ll send this to a lab to see what has caused the infection.
If your doctor recommends surgery, they’ll explain exactly what will happen and what the benefits might be.
Complications of middle ear infection
Most children with middle ear infections get better without any lasting problems. But it’s not unusual for middle ear infections to lead to glue ear.
Glue ear
Glue ear is when fluid stays inside the middle ear after the infection clears up, which makes it difficult for your child to hear. This often doesn’t need any specific treatment and will usually go away on its own within about three months.
Burst eardrum
In some children, middle ear infections can cause the eardrum to burst (perforate) under the pressure of fluid building up. You may notice pus or fluid coming from your child’s ear. Fortunately, the eardrum usually heals quickly. But sometimes the eardrum doesn’t heal, which leads to a long-term infection of the ear. If your GP thinks your child may have a long-term infection, they may refer them to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist for treatment.
Mastoiditis
Very rarely, the infection can spread from the middle ear to surrounding tissues. An infection in the bone behind the ear is called mastoiditis. You may notice a soft, red lump behind your child’s ear, which is painful to touch. If your child has mastoiditis, your doctor will refer them to hospital because they’ll need to have antibiotics through a drip (intravenously). They may also have grommets (small tubes) put in to drain any fluid or pus in the middle ear. Sometimes, they may need to have an operation called mastoidectomy to remove the infected cells from the bone behind the ear.
Prevention of middle ear infection
You probably won’t be able to prevent your child getting a middle ear infection at some point. But there are things you can do to lessen their chance.
It’s important to make sure that all your child’s vaccinations are up to date and that your child isn’t exposed to tobacco smoke.
Breastfeeding reduces the chance of your baby getting middle ear infections. Breast milk contains nutrients and antibodies that will help your baby to fight infection. The way babies suck when breast feeding is different from when they are bottle fed. Bacteria may be less likely to get into the tube connecting the mouth to the middle ear (the Eustachian tube) when your baby breastfeeds. It’s also a good idea to keep your baby’s head up when they feed, rather than let them lie flat.
Consider limiting or not using dummies. For more information, see our FAQ on dummies.
It’s usually impractical to stop your child mixing with other children who may have coughs and colds. But if they’re old enough, it’s really worth teaching your child about good basic hygiene and regular hand washing.
Doctors aren’t sure. But sucking on a dummy may allow more fluids to get into the middle ear from your baby’s nose and throat. When they have a cold, this means the infection is more likely to spread to their middle ear.
You may be able to see certain symptoms and signs of an ear infection in your child. These can include fever and earache. While older children may complain of earache, younger children who aren’t talking yet may rub or tug at their ear. They may also be irritable and restless.
For more information, see our section on symptoms.
Symptoms of a middle ear infection will usually start to improve within 24 hours, and most children will recover within three days. For others it may take as long as a week. This is whether they’ve had any treatment or not. While they recover take some steps to ease their symptoms with painkillers, for example.
For more information on how to keep your child comfortable while they get better, see our section on treatment.
The best treatment is often to just relieve your child’s symptoms with painkillers until the infection clears up. Give them paracetamol or ibuprofen formulated for children to bring down their temperature – this is probably all they’ll need.
For more information on how to keep your child comfortable, see our section on treatment.
Fever in children
If your child’s temperature is 38°C (100.4°F) or above, then it means they have a fever.
Glue ear
Over-the-counter painkillers
Did our Ear infection in children information help you?
We’d love to hear what you think.∧ Our short survey takes just a few minutes to complete and helps us to keep improving our health information.
∧The health information on this page is intended for informational purposes only. We do not endorse any commercial products, or include Bupa's fees for treatments and/or services. For more information about prices visit: www.bupa.co.uk/health/payg
This information was published by Bupa's Health Content Team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been reviewed by appropriate medical or clinical professionals and deemed accurate on the date of review. Photos are only for illustrative purposes and do not reflect every presentation of a condition.
Any information about a treatment or procedure is generic, and does not necessarily describe that treatment or procedure as delivered by Bupa or its associated providers.
The information contained on this page and in any third party websites referred to on this page is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice nor is it intended to be for medical diagnosis or treatment. Third party websites are not owned or controlled by Bupa and any individual may be able to access and post messages on them. Bupa is not responsible for the content or availability of these third party websites. We do not accept advertising on this page.
- Otitis media – acute. NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries. cks.nice.org.uk, last revised January 2021
- Acute otitis media. BMJ Best Practice. bestpractice.bmj.com, last reviewed 3 October 2021
- Otitis media (acute): antimicrobial prescribing. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). www.nice.org.uk, published 28 March 2018
- Tympanic membrane and middle ear. Encyclopaedia Britannica. www.britannica.com, accessed 3 November 2021
- Acute otitis media. Medscape. emedicine.medscape.com, updated 25 September 2019
- Middle ear infections. The Royal College of Surgeons. www.entuk.org, accessed 4 November 2021
- Otoscopy. StatPearls. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, last update 16 November 2020
- Otitis media with effusion. NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries. cks.nice.org.uk, last revised June 2021
- Aspirin. NICE British National Formulary for Children. bnfc.nice.org.uk, last updated 6 October 2021
- Acute otitis media in children. Patient. patient.info, last edited 7 January 2016
- Amoxicillin. NICE British National Formulary. bnf.nice.org.uk, last updated 6 October 2021
- Mastoiditis. MSD Manuals www.msdmanuals.com, last full review/revision June 2020
- Frank NM, Lynch KF, Uusitalo U, et al. The relationship between breastfeeding and reported respiratory and gastrointestinal infection rates in young children. BMC Pediatr 2019; 19(1):339. doi: 10.1186/s12887-019-1693-2
- Bowatte G, Tham R, Allen KJ, et al. Breastfeeding and childhood acute otitis media: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Acta Paediatr 2015; 104(467):85–95. doi: 10.1111/apa.13151
- Common cold. NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries. cks.nice.org.uk, last revised September 2021
