Earache

Possible Symptoms:

• pain in or around the ear
• an itchy ear
• poor hearing
• discharge from the ear
• fever
• sore glands around the ear or in neck
• pain when the ear is tugged

Ear infections can occur in the ear canal or behind the ear drum. Ear canal infections may develop after a day of swimming or water play (sometimes called swimmers ear). The ear canal may become irritated and infected more often if you use cotton-swabs to clean the ear canal. Infections behind the ear drum, called middle ear infections, may develop during viral infections such as the cold or flu. During a cold there can be swelling and congestion which blocks the normal drainage through the Eustachian tube.

Please answer the following questions if you have an earache that you feel may require medical care.

Questions

Do you have a temperature greater than 39.5C (103F) Rectal or 39C (102F) Oral?

or

Do you have a severe headache, or severe pain on moving your neck?

or

Is there a discharge from the ear?