Ear pain after a cold: why have the eardrum examined?

Get urgent help for a child who struggles to breathe, responds poorly when stimulated or seems very unlike their usual self. Call 15 or 112 for respiratory distress. A baby under three months with fever needs urgent medical assessment.

Acute middle-ear infection often follows a cold. It affects the space behind the eardrum, distinct from the outer ear canal. Pain alone does not show which area is affected or which treatment is appropriate.

Pain, a blocked-ear sensation, reduced hearing or discharge can be signs. In a baby, refusing feeds, crying or a change in behaviour may be more noticeable than pain itself. Mention these signs during assessment.

A doctor examines the nose, throat and eardrum with an otoscope. They look for findings including fluid behind the eardrum. Examination distinguishes types of ear infection and guides care according to age and symptoms.

An antibiotic prescription is not automatic. It depends on the examination and the situation, particularly in children. Do not choose a treatment solely from the label “ear infection” or reuse the treatment from a previous episode.

Note when pain began, the temperature, any discharge and products already taken. Seek reassessment if symptoms remain beyond two to three days or worsen, sooner for warning signs. General prevention can be discussed after the necessary care.