What are the symptoms of outer ear infections?
Outer ear infections cause ear pain, which tends to increase when touching the ear, lying down on it or chewing food. If your child complains of ear pain, gently grab the outer ear and wiggle it. If the discomfort increases, an outer ear infection is likely. Outer ear infection can also cause itchiness in the ear, a feeling that the ear is plugged up or hearing problems. You may notice pus or bloody fluid draining from the ear or on your child’s shirt or pillow. Fever is rarely involved. How are outer ear infections diagnosed? If you think your child might have an outer ear infection, take him to the doctor. The doctor will examine his head and neck, gently wiggle his outer ear and look in the ear with an otoscope. Depending on how much swelling and pus is in the ear canal, the doctor may try to clean it out to help get the ear drop treatment into the canal and check for a ruptured ear drum or middle ear infection, which might require a different treatment. How are outer ear infections
