Skip Navigation
Book Now! Find care near you Find care near you Find care near you
wellstar-logo
Wellstar Go Back
Go to MyChart

Questions? We can help!

Call (770) 956-STAR (7827)

Monday - Friday, 7 AM - 4:30 PM

Contact Us
For Patients & Families For the Community For Providers About Us Careers
  • Start Your Care

  • Find a Doctor
  • Find a Location
  • Our Services
  • Virtual Visits
  • Planning

  • Accepted Insurance
  • Hospital Payment Planning
  • Financial Assistance
  • Pricing Information
  • Before Your Visit

  • Sign Up for MyChart
  • Visitation Guidelines
  • While You're Here

  • Support & Entertainment
  • Join an Event
  • After Your Visit

  • Pay Your Bill
  • Get Medical Records
  • Contact us
  • COVID-19 Support

  • COVID-19 Information
  • Vaccines
  • Testing Information
  • Foundation Relief
  • Community Care

  • In the Community
  • Health Highlights
  • Community Health Needs Assessment
  • Latest News
  • Center for Health Equity
  • Wellstar Find Help
  • Events & Programs

  • Events Calendar
  • On-Demand Classes
  • Support Groups
  • Give

  • Wellstar Foundation
  • Donate
  • Ways to Give
  • Thank a Caregiver
  • West Georgia
    Health Foundation
  • Volunteer

  • PeopleCare Advisory Council
  • For Adults
  • Care

  • Transfer a Patient
  • Cures Act
  • Refer a Patient
  • Lab Test Directory
  • Request to Conduct Research
  • Connect

  • Physician Relations
  • Request Imaging Services
  • Wellstar Clinical Partners
  • Wellstar Medical Group
  • Mayo Clinic Care Network
  • Medical Staff Services
  • Provider Recruitment
  • Log In

  • EpicCare Link
  • Lawson Connect
  • MyID Password Reset
  • Citrix Access
  • Leadership

  • Authority Board
  • Board Of Trustees
  • Foundation Board
  • Regional Health Boards
  • Executive Leadership
  • Awards, Recognition & Safety

  • Accreditation & Certifications
  • Awards & Recognition
  • Safety First Program
  • Nursing
  • Careers at Wellstar

  • Apply now
  • Upcoming virtual events
  • Why Wellstar?
  • Nursing Careers

  • Nursing (Direct Care)
  • Nursing Leadership
  • Nursing (Non-bedside)
  • Nursing Support
  • Physician, APP & Clinical Careers

  • Advanced Practice Providers (APPs)
  • Allied Health Professionals
  • Homecare & Hospice
  • Physicians
  • Support Team Careers

  • Administrative & Clerical
  • Coding, Compliance & HIM Systems
  • Facility, Environmental & Nutrition/Food Services
  • Information Technology & Systems
  • For Patients & Families
  • For the Community
  • For Providers
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Search Search Search
  • MyChart MyChart MyChart

Start Your Care

Find a DoctorFind a LocationOur ServicesVirtual Visits

Planning

Accepted InsuranceHospital Payment PlanningFinancial AssistancePricing Information

Before Your Visit

Sign Up for MyChartVisitation Guidelines

While You're Here

Support & EntertainmentJoin an Event

After Your Visit

Pay Your BillGet Medical RecordsContact us

COVID-19 Support

COVID-19 InformationVaccinesTesting InformationFoundation Relief

Community Care

In the CommunityHealth HighlightsCommunity Health Needs AssessmentLatest NewsCenter for Health EquityWellstar Find Help

Events & Programs

Events CalendarOn-Demand ClassesSupport Groups

Give

Wellstar FoundationDonateWays to GiveThank a CaregiverWest Georgia
Health Foundation

Volunteer

PeopleCare Advisory CouncilFor Adults

Care

Transfer a PatientCures ActRefer a PatientLab Test DirectoryRequest to Conduct Research

Connect

Physician RelationsRequest Imaging ServicesWellstar Clinical PartnersWellstar Medical GroupMayo Clinic Care NetworkMedical Staff ServicesProvider Recruitment

Log In

EpicCare LinkLawson ConnectMyID Password ResetCitrix Access
About Wellstar

Our patients are the center of everything we do. We're nationally ranked and locally recognized for our high-quality care, inclusive culture, exceptional doctors and caregivers, and one of the largest and most integrated healthcare systems in Georgia.

About Us

Leadership

Authority BoardBoard Of TrusteesFoundation BoardRegional Health BoardsExecutive Leadership

Awards, Recognition & Safety

Accreditation & CertificationsAwards & RecognitionSafety First ProgramNursing

Careers at Wellstar

Apply nowUpcoming virtual eventsWhy Wellstar?

Nursing Careers

Nursing (Direct Care)Nursing LeadershipNursing (Non-bedside)Nursing Support

Physician, APP & Clinical Careers

Advanced Practice Providers (APPs)Allied Health ProfessionalsHomecare & HospicePhysicians

Support Team Careers

Administrative & ClericalCoding, Compliance & HIM SystemsFacility, Environmental & Nutrition/Food ServicesInformation Technology & Systems
Questions? We can help!

Call (770) 956-STAR (7827)

Monday - Friday, 7 AM - 4:30 PM

Contact Us
Close
  • Schedule With This Provider
  • Schedule At This Location
  • Schedule With This Provider
  • Schedule At This Location
  • Urgent Care
  • Primary Care
  • Virtual Care
  • Emergency Care
Close Close Close Book Now Menu
  • Schedule With This Provider
  • Schedule At This Location
  • Schedule With This Provider
  • Schedule At This Location
  • Urgent Care
  • Primary Care
  • Virtual Care
  • Emergency Care

Introducing

Wellstar Virtual Care

Access Wellstar healthcare providers
wherever you are.

Get started

Warning Warning Our "Book Now" feature should not be used for life threatening conditions such as heart attack, severe injury, poisoning, chest pain, or stroke. If you are experiencing such conditions, STOP and CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY or visit your nearest Emergency Department.

I Understand

Pediatric Ear Infection

  • Home
  • Medical Services
  • Health Conditions and Diseases
  • Pediatric Ear Infection
  • Overview
  • Prevention
  • Diagnosis
  • Treatment
  • Ongoing Care

Pediatric Ear Infection Overview

Ear infections are very common among children—especially babies and toddlers—with only the common cold being diagnosed more frequently by pediatricians. There are two main types of ear infections: the outer ear infection, also called otitis externa or “swimmer’s ear,” which occurs when your child gets water in their ear, leading to inflammation; and middle ear infection, called acute otitis media. Outer ear infections are marked by pain when the outer earlobes are touched or massaged, and sometimes by discharge coming from the ear. Middle ear infections, which occur behind the eardrum, are marked by pain, fever and irritability—caused by an infection in the Eustachian (eu-sta-chian) tube, that connects the middle ear to the nose.


Symptoms

Even though ear infections are common among children, pediatricians need to examine them to make sure what looks like an infection actually is an infection. Symptoms of middle ear infections include:

  • Pulling and tugging on the ear (typically among babies and toddlers)
  • Earache
  • Decreased hearing
  • Fever
  • Irritability or difficulty sleeping especially when lying down
  • Discharge from the ear
  • Accompanying upper respiratory infection symptoms

Risk Factors

There are numerous risk factors associated with middle ear infections, typically tied to either the unique health profile of your child or environmental factors. Health risk factors include:

  • Age
  • History of seasonal allergies
  • Frequency of upper respiratory illness
  • Presence of enlarged adenoids—a clump of tissue in the back of the nose
  • Bottle-fed
  • Pacifier use

Environmental risk factors include:

  • Smoking in the household
  • Daycare attendance

Pediatric Ear Infection Prevention

Although researchers are not sure why some children have chronic ear infections and others don’t, there are some clear environmental and biological factors that have been found to reduce ear infections. From breastfeeding to not smoking, parents can make a difference in reducing or eliminating their children’s chances of contracting ear infections.

Children with fewer ear infections include:

  • Those who have been breastfed
  • Those in smoke-free homes
  • Those who are older than two years old
  • Those who have been immunized against the flu
  • Those in smaller daycare or home settings
  • Those who have been weaned off a pacifier

Pediatric Ear Infection Diagnosis

Ear infections cannot be diagnosed over the phone, no matter how frequently your child has experienced this illness. Your Wellstar pediatrician will want to carefully examine the ear, concentrating on the appearance and movement of the eardrum. With an ear infection, the eardrum will look red and will usually bulge because of the discharge—or pus—building up behind it. Often the eardrum will also be immobile, meaning your pediatrician will not see it move when they use their otoscope, a medical tool used to look inside the ear.

Pediatric Ear Infection Treatment

Until recently, all children with ear infections were routinely treated with antibiotics. But new research shows that most children will get better without those prescriptions, with no ill effects. This discovery has two benefits: it limits children’s exposure to antibiotics' side effects and it reduces the development of antibiotic-resistant infections. Your Wellstar pediatrician might recommend this "observation option" if your child is more than two years old and does not have discharge from the ear.

If an antibiotic is offered, take the medicine completely as directed by your pediatrician. He or she may also suggest a non-aspirin pain reliever, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to control your child's pain.


Ear Tube Surgery

Although most ear infections are easy to treat, some children will struggle with multiple ear infections that do not get better easily. These children might be candidates for ear tube surgery.

During this surgery, small drainage tubes are placed in one or both eardrums to keep the area behind the eardrum clear and keep the pressure equalized to the pressure in the middle ear.

This is one of the most common childhood operations. While the child is under general anesthesia, the surgeon cuts a small hole in the eardrum and inserts a small plastic tube in the opening.

Most tubing stays in place for six to 12 months and then typically falls out on its own. The hole then closes naturally within three to four weeks. In rare cases, a child might need the tubing put back in.


Adenoid Removal

This has been found to help some children who have repeat ear infections or fluid behind the eardrum. But doctors tend to suggest these surgeries only after tubes have failed to prevent repeat ear infections. Children younger than 4 don't usually have their adenoids taken out unless they have severe nasal blockage.

Ongoing Care for Pediatric Ear Infection

Wellstar offers long-standing, community-based pediatricians who are to home and trained to:

  • Help you determine healthy lifestyles for your child and useful ways to role model your choices.
  • Offer advice to prevent illness and injuries.
  • Provide early and appropriate care of acute illness to prevent its progression.
  • Treat life-threatening childhood conditions requiring intensive care.
  • Guide you in anticipating your child’s needs from newborn to adulthood.

Pediatric Emergency and Immediate Care Center

Certified nurses with pediatric advanced life support certification work with Wellstar’s board-certified emergency services physicians in the Pediatric EDs at Wellstar Cobb and Kennestone hospitals. The Pediatric Emergency Department at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital is open seven days a week, from 11 AM to 11 PM. The Pediatric ED at Wellstar Cobb Hospital is open seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

More Information

For more information, call our outreach line.

(770) 956-STAR

Back to Top
Branding illustration
Wellstar Logo
More than healthcare. PeopleCare.
Branding illustration
For Job Seekers & Team
Careers Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging Onboarding
For Students
Students Portal
Graduate Medical Education
Medical Residency Pharmacy Residency
For Business
Corporate Purchasing
For the Media
Media Room Community Health Needs Assessment
Help
Contact Us Pay Your Bill Policy & Privacy Information Hospital Transparency Information Price Transparency
For Job Seekers & Team
Careers Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging Onboarding
For Students
Students Portal

Graduate Medical Education
Medical Residency Pharmacy Residency
For Business
Corporate Purchasing
For the Media
Media Room Community Health Needs Assessment
Help
Contact Us Pay Your Bill Policy & Privacy Information Hospital Transparency Information Price Transparency

Copyright © 2025 Wellstar Health System. All Rights Reserved.

Wellstar does not discriminate on, exclude people or treat them differently on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity or expression or any other type of discrimination prohibited by law.

Cookie Preferences

We use cookies for booking and general analytics. Learn more about our internet privacy policy.