A-Z Child Health Ear Infections Ear infections are a common problem for many babies and young children. Most ear infections occur when the child develops a cold and infection from the nose travels up through the eustachian tube, which is a direct passage from the nose to the middle ear. If your child is old enough to talk, he or she will probably be irritable and complain of an earache. Babies may keep pulling or rubbing their ears and cry in pain for long periods of time.
Fever is also a symptom of ear infection.
If your child has these symptoms, you should contact your doctor as quickly as possible. Typically, doctors prescribe antibiotics to battle the infection and aspirin substitutes to reduce pain and fever. Aspirin should not be given to children under the age of 16 without a doctor's recommendation due to the risk of Reye's syndrome . In some children, the fluid in the middle ear does not drain away even after the infection is gone. This can interfere with the child's hearing and lead to recurring ear infections that can be severe.