KidsHealth reports that more than 75 percent of all children get at least one ear infection by the age of 3. Ear infections can cause pain, irritability and even hearing loss, but the condition can be easily remedied with a course of antibiotics. Ear infections have several distinct visual signs.
Redness
An ear infection is an inflammation of the middle ear and ear drum, and most forms of inflammation in the body take on a red hue. Your doctor will examine your ears with an otoscope, an instrument that allows him visual access to the ear drum. Ear infections can often be the result of a prolonged cold or congestion due to allergies, so the redness seen in the ear may also extend to the throat.
Drainage
Visual signs of an ear infection can include several forms of drainage. Just as yellow or green nasal secretions can be an indication of a sinus infection, these symptoms can also precede an ear infection, according to the AskDrSears.com. Drainage from the ear itself may appear in the form of a clear fluid, yellowish pus or a bloody discharge. You are more likely to see ear drainage if the intense pressure on the ear drum during an infection has caused the drum to rupture.
Ear Pulling
Kids who have ear pain, even some who are old enough to verbalize their discomfort, may touch, cup or pull on their painful ear, giving a visual clue that something is not right. AskDrSears.com notes that babies who pull on their ears are less likely to actually be diagnosed with an ear infection than older children. Babies who are younger than a year old generally play with anything that is new to them; learning that they have ears can be exciting and take the place of a new toy. Older children who are able to distinguish the location of their pain may consciously or unknowingly display visual signs through touching that their ear hurts.
