Ways to know if your baby has an ear infection

Ear infections can be very discomforting for a baby and it may cause the baby to behave in such a way that the parents would feel more distressed than the babies in most instances. Due to their inability to express feelings and sensations, the babies would not indicate to an observer what is actually going on and thus it is the observer that needs to be aware and search for clues as to solve the riddle. Thus, this article expects to shed light on to some of the common manifestations of ear infections in a baby which would be useful to make an early diagnosis and theorefore make life less distressing for the baby as well as for the parents alike.

Excessive cry and irritability

When a child is inconsolable in his or her cry and behaves irritated, it can be a sign of an infection somewhere in the body and one probable place would be the ear. Therefore, it is necessary for the observer to search for other signs which may indicate a probable locus of infection in the child.

Discharge from the ear

A sure sign of ear infection would be the appearance of a yellowish or colorless ear discharge from the babies ear and in such instances, measures should be taken to seek medical advice even if the child looks ok when seen from outside.

Pulling and grabbing of the ear

In most instances, a child with ear infections would pull on the ear from time to time although they would do the same without any reason at all. As such, it is always better to be observant when it comes to such situations, especially in case there are other signs related to ear infections

Poor feeding

When a baby develops an ear infection, it is possible that they refuse feeds due to pain in swallowing and chewing, as well as due to abdominal discomfort pertaining to that particular infection.

Diarrhea

It is common for the organism or the virus causing the ear infection to also cause a gastro-intestinal disturbance and therefore it is rather common to see a baby with ear infection developing a diarrhea as well.

Fever

Another sign that will accompany these manifestations would be the fever and it can vary from a mild fever to a high fever with chills in severe ear infections with or without a discharge.

Thus, it is evident that, a diagnosis of an ear infection in a baby would require the observant to be extra vigilant and any of the above indications should be taken seriously in order to detect an ear infection early. 

From: www.helium.com