The following symptoms and complaints may indicate otitis media (middle ear infection):
- Ear pain (otalgia), especially behind the auricle (young children exhibit an urge to reach for the affected ear; this is not specific; only 10% of all children with an urge to reach suffer from acute otitis media!)
- Throbbing noises in the ear
- Conductive hearing loss
- Fever
- Possible vomiting, which is not prolonged (possible symptom in younger children).
- Redness and swelling of the mucous membrane of the ear.
- Swelling behind the auricle
- Paralysis of facial muscles, becomes noticeable by “distorted facial expressions”
- Leakage of fluid from the ear (otorrhea), due to a spontaneous perforation of the eardrum (this is usually associated with an immediate regression of pain; the tear usually heals together again without consequences)
- Diarrhea (diarrhea) (in smaller children possible symptom).
