There are several different types of ear infections. The ear canal, extending from the eardrum to the outside, becomes inflamed and swollen. Symptoms can include slight fever, discharge from the ear, and pain, often severe and throbbing, that worsens when the earlobe is touched or pulled. Impacted wax that traps water in the ear canal is often the culprit. The site of this infection is behind the eardrum, where the small bones of the ear are located.
Children often pull at their ears in an attempt to relieve the pressure.
High altitudes and cold temperatures increase discomfort and can worsen an infection. A severe middle ear infection can cause perforation of the eardrum. If this happens, it can actually cause a sudden reduction in pain. A perforated eardrum results in hearing loss and a discharge of bloody fluid from the ear. Frequent middle ear infections, or recurrent otitis media, affect 30 percent or more of children under the age of six.