OVERVIEW
An ear infection is usually caused by bacteria or viruses.
Ear pain and fever are common symptoms. Less commonly, there may be drainage of fluid from the ear or hearing loss. Most ear infections go away on their own. Some require antibiotics.
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
An integral symptom of acute otitis media is ear pain; other possible symptoms include fever, and irritability (in infants). Since an episode of otitis media is usually precipitated by an upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), there are often accompanying symptoms like a cough and nasal discharge.
Discharge from the ear can be caused by acute otitis media with perforation of the ear drum, chronic suppurative otitis media, tympanostomy tube otorrhea, or acute otitis externa. Trauma, such as a basilar skull fracture, can also lead to discharge from the ear due to cerebral spinal drainage from the brain and its covering (meninges).
PAIN AREAS: in the ear
WHOLE BODY: fever, loss of appetite, or vertigo
EARS: inflammation or ringing
ALSO COMMON: crying, headache, nasal congestion, or nausea
