Ear pain in newborns

Ear pain in newborns: How to suspect the problem

Acute otitis media (inflammation of the middle ear) is one of the most common childhood infections, but in newborns (children up to 3 months) it occurs much less frequently than in older infants. This is because in the first months the child is protected by maternal antibodies, and has less contact with viruses. However, otitis at this age is possible, and its diagnosis is complicated by the nonspecific nature of the symptoms.

Why can otitis develop in a newborn?

The mechanism is the same as in older children and is related to the anatomy of the eustachian tube. Any viral infection that causes cough and a runny nose can lead to swelling of the eustachian tube. This disrupts drainage from the middle ear, where fluid accumulates and bacteria multiply. This causes inflammation and pressure on the tympanic membrane, resulting in severe pain.

How does a newborn signal ear pain?

Since the baby cannot point to the source of pain, parents should pay attention to a cluster of symptoms, especially against the background of a cold:

• Sudden irritability and piercing crying, that is hard to soothe.
• Increased crying when lying horizontally: The baby may be soothed while held upright but starts to cry as soon as placed in the crib.
• Disturbed sleep and appetite: Pain interferes with sleep, and sucking and swallowing change pressure in the middle ear, increasing discomfort, leading to refusal to eat.
• High fever.

The symptom of "tugging at the ear" in newborns is not reliable, as they often do it accidentally. Only a pediatrician can make the diagnosis using an otoscope. For ear pain in older children, read the article "Ear pain in children 1-3 years old".