When do I need to call the doctor about my child's earache?

When do I need to call the doctor about my child's earache?

Scott Cohen (Pediatrician, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center) gives expert video advice on: How can I tell if my child has an earache?; How do I treat my child's earache?; How do I treat my child's swimmer's ear? and more...

Any time your child complains of earache, it is worthwhile to have it checked out. There are many different types of reasons why children complain of earache. In young children they may just be exploring and finding out about that body part. Earache may also be referred pain from teething, or they may have an actual outer or inner ear infection. The other reason children complain of earache is if they have a really stuffy nose, as they feel the pressure of that congestion in their ears, just like when we go on a plane and that can cause earache too. But in general, if your child complains of earache, the only way we can tell if it's an infection or not is by looking at it. So you should bring them in when they complain of earache, so we can look in their ears.