If your child is pulling at their ear or cheek, it could mean a couple of different things. It could be a sign of an ear infection, or it could mean teething. When teeth erupt they can cause pain that spreads across the cheeks and ears. If this happens, a trip to the doctor may be needed to rule out an ear infection.
Is pulling on ear a sign of teething?
Ear pulling or tugging can also sometimes be a sign of a middle ear infection or external ear infection. Teething is often blamed for ear pulling, but it isn’t clear whether there’s a link between teething and pulling.
How do I know if my baby has an ear infection or teething?
Classic ear infection symptoms
The difference between a teething fever and a fever response to an infection, though, is that teething fevers are usually low-grade and short-lived. An ear infection fever will probably be a lot higher and quite stubborn to treat.
Can teething affect ears?
Teething pain can look a lot like an ear infection in a baby. This is because the nerves around the teeth and mouth go all the way to the ears. One difference is that an ear infection usually happens during or right after your baby has a cold or the flu and may be accompanied by a fever.
Can a 5 month old have an ear infection?
Ear infections are common in kids, especially babies between ages 6 and 18 months. One reason may be simple anatomy. The tube that drains fluid from inside each ear is much shorter in children than in adults.
How do I know if my 7 month old has an ear infection?
Ear Infection Signs and Symptoms
- Tugging or pulling the ear.
- Crying and irritability.
- Difficulty sleeping.
- Fever, especially in younger children.
- Fluid draining from the ear.
- Loss of balance.
- Difficulty hearing or responding to auditory cues.
How can I tell if my 7 month old has an ear infection?
Ear Infection Signs
- Tugging at the ear. Children may tug at their ears for many reasons, and one of these reasons could be an ear infection. …
- Difficulty sleeping or lying down. …
- Ear drainage. …
- Crying more than usual. …
- Difficulty hearing. …
- Fever. …
- Loss of balance. …
- Diarrhea, vomiting, reduced appetite.
What are the first signs of teething?
Teething symptoms
- their gum is sore and red where the tooth is coming through.
- they have a mild temperature of 38C.
- they have 1 flushed cheek.
- they have a rash on their face.
- they’re rubbing their ear.
- they’re dribbling more than usual.
- they’re gnawing and chewing on things a lot.
- they’re more fretful than usual.
Can a baby have an ear infection without a fever?
Fever may come with an ear infection, but not always, Shu says. Parents might spot other symptoms, such as earaches, ear drainage, trouble hearing or sleeping, ear tugging, poor appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea. But “for many children, it’s just fussiness, crying more than usual, being clingy,” Shu says.
Is teething pain worse at night?
Teething becomes more intense at night, pediatricians confirm, because children feel the symptoms of pain and discomfort most acutely when they have fewer distractions, and are exhausted. It’s the same reason adults feel more chronic pain at night.
How early can babies get ear infections?
Middle ear infection is the most common childhood illness (other than a cold). Ear infections occur most often in children who are between age 3 months and 3 years, and are common until age 8.
When should I take my baby to the doctor for an ear infection?
Watch closely for changes in your child’s health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse call line if:
- Your child has new or worse discharge from the ear.
- Your child is not getting better after 2 days (48 hours).
- Your child has any new symptoms, such as hearing problems, after the ear infection has cleared.
How do you soothe an earache when teething?
Keep their gums cool: Give your baby a chilled (not frozen) teething ring to suck on. The cool temperature can be soothing to their gums. Try an over-the-counter remedy: If your baby seems particularly fussy or uncomfortable, consider giving them infant pain medication recommended by your Pharmacist.