Could it be an ear infection?
It isn’t always as easy as you might think to spot the warning signs and symptoms of an ear infection, particularly in young children. Ear infections are quite common and while they often aren’t a cause for concern, some can be intensely painful and even cause temporary or permanent hearing loss if not properly treated by our Glendale, AZ, otolaryngologist Dr. Ravi Agarwal and Dr. Daniel Bos. Is it an ear infection? Here are the top five warning signs,
Ear Pain
This is probably the most common sign of an ear infection. While not all ear infections will cause pain, pain is often a sign of a middle ear infection. The pain may be sharp and stabbing or achy and throbbing. If your ear pain is severe, you should turn to our Glendale, AZ, otolaryngologist right away to treat the possible infection.
Muffled Hearing
Another sign of an ear infection is that you suddenly notice muffled or minimized hearing in the affected ear. This can occur when fluid builds up behind the eardrum, which causes inflammation and swelling. While mild ear infections may clear up on their own if your hearing is impacted you should turn to our Glendale, AZ, ENT doctor as soon as possible, as some untreated infections can lead to permanent hearing loss.
Drainage
Whether you’re dealing with an ear infection or you suspect your child might have one, one of the telltale signs of an ear infection is drainage coming from the ear. Fluid or pus may drain from the ear when there is a tear in the eardrum. It is also fairly common to have discharge coming from the ear when you have a middle ear infection.
Tugging at the Ear
This is more a sign of ear infections in young children. Infants and toddlers might not be able to verbalize that they have an ear infection or earache, but they can certainly show you. If you find that your child keeps pulling or tugging at their ear, is suddenly more fussy than usual, or becomes irritable when lying down or going to bed these are all signs that they might have an ear infection.
If you or your child is experiencing symptoms of an ear infection, call our Glendale, AZ, otolaryngologist Dr. Agarwal or Dr. Bos at Westside Ear, Nose & Throat at (602) 938-3777 to find out if you should come in for a medical evaluation.