“Can an ear infection be a sign of something more serious?”
My son has an ear infection. I am really worried. Can an ear infection be a sign of something more serious?
2 Answers
Typically, an ear infection is not a sign of something more serious. Ear infections are very common in children. Ear tube placement is the most common procedure performed in the US for ear infections. Sometimes, ear infections in older children (over the age of 4) can be a sign of enlarged adenoids. Yes, more serious problems can happen related to ear infections (such as mastoiditis), but such problems are quite rare.
You don't tell me much about your child. Age? Other medical conditions? How many ear infections and only in one ear or both? Infection of the middle ear or of the ear canal? Let's assume it's only one infection and your child is less than 10 years old and that it's only one ear infection. The likelihood of it being due to an underlying serious condition is extremely remote, whether it's the middle ear or it's the ear canal. Nothing to lose sleep over.
