Ear Infection 101: Vital parenting information from Eyewitness News

Babies and young children cry for a variety of reason's. But sometimes it's the tell-tale sign of an ear infection. Doctors don't usually see them in babies until they are six months old. The trouble starts with a cold. Then a day or two later, a fever erupts. Then the small tube that connects the ear to the throat could swell, blocking the fluid.

Dr. Joe Matusic, MD/Pediatrician
The child usually wakes up in the morning with ear pain or in the middle of the night. The barometric pressure shift through the evening will often raise or lower the pressure in the ear and that will make it hurt more.

Dr. Matusic says it's rare but sometimes children don't complain about the ear pain, and that could lead to long term health problems. When fluid doesn't properly drain out of the ear canal, permanent hearing damage is a possibility. Often the pain associated with inner ear infections is so severe, there's no way for a child not to express the feeling. And if that happens in the middle of the night, Dr. Matusic has some recommendations for over-the-counter remedies.

Dr. Joe Matusic
There are some OTC products, you warm them and put them in the ear. The warmth helps. Try a heating pad on the ear and give the child Motrin. I think that is better than Tylenol. But you could do both. That will get you through until the next day when you can see the doctor, if it's the middle of the night.

In some cases minor surgery is needed to put tubes in the ears. Your doctor will help you decide if that's necessary. Also, nasal steroids help in preventing ear infections, as does the prevnar vaccine. It is given at two, four and six months and at one year. It's a standard vaccine that has cut back the number of cases of ear infections by up to 25-percent.