“There are two general types of ear infections. There’s an outer ear infection, which is most commonly called a swimmer’s ear. You get it from swimming, and it’s pain in the outer ear. There’s also a middle ear infection, or otitis media. That’s when there’s an ear infection in the middle ear, which often causes fever and pain. The middle ear infection often needs to be treated by antibiotics. However it depends on the age of the child and how sick they are. The outer ear infection is often treated with ear drops. In order to determine the difference, the best thing to do is to schedule an appointment with a pediatrician who can take a look in your child’s ear. Often times, there is no infection. Sometimes there’s just fluid in the middle ear, which causes pain. Or a lot of babies will often pull at their ears from teething, and it is not, in fact, an ear infection.”
Stephen Turner, MD is a board-certified pediatrician and Medical Director at Mount Sinai Doctors Brooklyn Heights. He has a particular interest in child development and is a proponent of childhood vaccinations, making sure that all his patients have the most accurate information regarding medical decisions. He offers free prenatal consultations every month. Mount Sinai Doctors Brooklyn Heights is a two-floor practice with a walk-in urgent care center and more than 35 specialties. Located at 300 Cadman Plaza West, the practice is situated on the 17th and 18th floors.