What are the symptoms of ear infections?

Ear Infections Symptoms

First of all, it is important to note that there are three overall types of ear infections:

• Outer Ear Infection
• Mid Ear Infection
• Inner Ear Infection

Symptoms of Outer Ear Infection

Outer ear infection is any infection that occurs on the outer ear or in the ear canal. The symptoms of outer ear infection are:

• Painful ear
• Often tender to touch
• Occasionally pus or fluid
• Red appearance
• Swollen ear or ear canal

Outer ear infections can be bacterial, fungal or viral in nature. Most ear infections that affect the outer (such as swimmer's ear, otitis externa, or outer ear infection) are mild and go away within one to two weeks. However, if the infection is a fungal infection, shifting it may take a little longer.

Symptoms of a middle ear infection

A middle ear infection is any infection that occurs within the middle ear cavity. The symptoms of a middle ear infection are:

• Pain
• Fever
• Pressure or fullness in the ear
• For a child, tugging or pulling at the ear
• Hearing loss
• Puss or fluid draining from the ear canal
• Headaches

Middle ear infections can be bacterial or viral in nature. Most ear infections that affect the middle ear are mild and go away within one to two weeks.

Symptoms of an inner ear infection

An inner ear infection is any infection that occurs within the cochlea or inner ear. The symptoms of an inner ear infection are

• Dizziness
• Spinning sensation
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Problems with balance or walking
• Hearing loss
• Earache or ear pain
• Ringing in the ear (tinnitus)

Inner ear problems may not be caused by an infection, they may actually be something like labryntithis, nflammation or irritation of the parts of the ear responsible for balance and hearing called labyrinthitis. Less commonly, an inner ear infection is a true infection caused by a virus or bacteria.

You can read more about ear infections on our page "Everything You Need To Know About Ear Infections"