Ear Infections Sometimes Tricky to Diagnose

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, next to the common cold, an ear infection is the most common childhood illness. In fact, most kids have had at least one ear infection by the time they are three years old. Young children can be more prone to ear infections because of the size and shape of their eustachian tubes. Luckily, most ear infections clear up without causing any complications. But, if your child has ever suffered through an ear infection you know how painful it can be!

It is easier to determine if a three-year-old has an ear infection because he or she is old enough to tell you about it to some degree. It is a lot tougher to figure out if your three month old is silently suffering from infection. Symptoms of ear infections in pre-verbal children require parents to pay closer atention to body language and subtle "tells". Most common symptoms can include fever, fussiness, tugging at ears, recent cold symptoms (runny nose, cough), shaking of the head, and an unwillingness to suck on a pacifier. However,doctors say using these symptoms to diagnose an ear infection is usually only about 50 percent accurate. In other words, children who have ear infections may have the above symptoms, but not all kids with those symptoms have ear infections. The only way to diagnose an ear infection is to have your health care provider get a look inside the ear.

No one particular symptom is specific for ear infections. A good rule of thumb is to seek help from your physician when it seems your child's symptoms are numerous, severe or lasting longer than you might expect.