When to seek medical advice

- Discharge of blood or pus from the ear
- Fever above 101 F (38.3 C)
- Pulling or scratching at the ears, except as an observed self-soothing habit
- Not responding normally to sounds
- Impaired or decreased speech
- Sleeplessness and painful crying in infants during or after a cold or upper respiratory illness
Seek medical care if your child has an earache that lasts longer than a day or is accompanied by:
Mayo Clinic Health Manager
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