Ear infections are fairly common in children. The middle ear or the outer ear may be infected.

Middle ear infections involve the area inside the ear drum. They are more common in winter months when colds and flu are more likely. Germs from common nose or throat infection may climb up the tubes that connect the ear to the nasal passages. Some children have slightly wider tubes or other differences that make this more likely. Another cause is blocked tubes. Blockage leads to fluid build up in the middle ear. If infections last too long or occur too often, the condition can become chronic. A chronic problem can lead to a rupture of the ear drum, scarring, or permanent hearing loss.

Symptoms of a middle ear infection include:
* signs of a cold, such as sneezing and coughing,
* severe, throbbing pain,
* fever,
* dizziness,
* nausea,
* vomiting, and
* hearing loss.

Most middle ear infections usually respond well to antibiotics. If the ear drum bulges too much, a doctor may make a small cut in it to relieve pressure. If the child has repeated episodes, the doctor may consider other treatments. One fairly common procedure is to place tiny tubes in the ear drum. The patient must then be careful not to get the ear wet in pools and baths. The tubes fall out by themselves in 6 to 12 months.

Outer ear infections in children are even more common. They occur in the canal outside the ear drum. One cause is water that stays too long in the canal. This why it is sometimes called "swimmer's ear". Another cause is putting a foreign object into the ear. Irritation from the object can lead to a boil. The entire canal could become blocked by pus. The outer ear may be tender to touch and there may be hearing loss.

The best way to prevent outer ear infections is to keep all objects out of the ear, including fingers. One should not clean the canal with a Q-tip. To dry the canal after swimming, put in a few drops of mixture of half rubbing alcohol and half water.

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