Unfortunately, it s not that easy. A doctor has to look in a child s ear to diagnose an ear infection. Even if the child has ear pain, it s not always due to a middle ear infection. But mom and dad have an important role too. Doctors rely on information provided by parents to help determine the cause of the illness.
Parents know best when their child is acting out of the ordinary.
Fluid and bacteria get trapped in the middle ear, causing an infection. The eardrum then becomes irritated and swollen. That s why it hurts so much. Ear infections can be triggered by a cold, and doctors will go ahead and prescribe an antibiotic if that happens. But most of the time that won t happen, and there is little danger in waiting.