Infants cry a significant amount of the time during the first year of life. Over time caregivers will learn to discern between the many different cries, including hunger and sleep cries. When an infant is not feeling well, crying may not be the only sign of an underlying illness like an earache. An earache is a potential sign of an infection but it can also be due to debris, such as dirt, being lodged in the ear.
Crying
The National Institutes of Health identifies crying and irritability as the primary sign of an earache. Differentiating this crying from normal crying may be difficult. The infant with an earache will continue to cry even after their caregiver has offered comfort in the form of food, warmth, entertainment or cuddling, Inconsolable crying is a sign that something abnormal is wrong.
Fever
Many infants develop a fever when an earache is due to an infection. Their temperature may rise over 100 degrees F, which is a reason to seek medical attention for young infants.
Sleep Problems
Ear pain may be exacerbated when the infant is on her back. She may wake frequently or cry when placed on her back to sleep. This is a good sign that pressure is building in the ear, which can cause pain.
Redness
Discoloration around the ear--particularly redness--may indicate an underlying infection. Sometimes the ear can be warm to the touch or it may ooze pus or other liquids due to an infection.
Refusing to Eat
Swallowing may exacerbate an earache, making an infant more irritable when eating. She may refuse to eat all together or she may cry out between sucks.
Other Signs of Illness
When an earache is due to an infection the infant may show other signs of illness. FamilyDoctor.org points out that ear infections are often due to an illness like a cold or sinus infection. Symptoms of these illnesses may continue during the ear infection, including coughing, runny nose or generally appearing ill.
Ear Tugging
An infant may tug at the ear when pain is experienced. The NIH points out that while parents often assume ear tugging is a sign of an ear infection, it is just as often prompted by general ear pain.
