Is an Ear Infection Contagious? Symptoms, Causes & Treatments
Parents often ask “Is an Ear Infection Contagious?”. Ear infections are one of the main reasons children see a doctor, and adults can get them too. When a family member gets an ear infection, people at home may wonder if they will get an infection too. This article covers if ear infections can be passed from person to person, the symptoms, the causes, how they are treated, and when to get medical care right away.
Are Ear Infections Contagious?
Ear infections are not contagious. You can’t “catch” an ear infection. Nor can your child “give” an ear infection to a friend at school. While ear infections aren’t contagious, many of the viruses and bacteria that cause the cold and flu are. Some of these can lead to an ear infection.
Blockage of the eustachian tube by swelling caused by a cold or the flu allows fluid to build up behind the eardrum. This fluid can become infected. This infection is confined to the ear and is not transmitted to other people.
Ear infections are not contagious; however, the upper respiratory infections that cause them are.
The cold and flu germs that lead to ear infections spread through:
- Coughs and sneezes
- Hands that touch the nose or mouth and then touch other people or surfaces
- Shared cups, spoons and toys
- Close contact at home, school or daycare
When several kids at daycare get ear infections at the same time, they usually shared the same cold, not the ear infection. For children with a high fever or severe ear pain, pediatric emergency care is available 24 hours a day.
Are Some Types of Ear Infections Contagious?
Ear infections themselves are generally not contagious. They can vary based on their location and the underlying causes behind them.
| Type of ear infection | Where it happens | Is it contagious? | Common cause |
| Middle ear infection (otitis media) | Behind the eardrum | No | A cold, flu or allergies block the eustachian tube |
| Outer ear infection or swimmer’s ear (otitis externa) | Ear canal | No | Water stays in the ear and lets bacteria grow |
| Inner ear infection (labyrinthitis) | Deep inside the ear, near the balance nerves | No, but the virus behind it can spread | Usually a virus |
| Viral ear infection | Usually the middle ear | No, but the cold or flu virus can spread | The same virus that caused the cold |
| Bacterial ear infection | Middle or outer ear | No | Bacteria growing in trapped fluid |
| Fungal ear infection | Ear canal | No | Moisture, or long use of antibiotic ear drops |
| Bullous myringitis | Blisters on the eardrum | No, but the cold behind it can spread | Often follows a cold or flu |
Some medical textbooks define myringitis as a contagious inflammation of the eardrum. Contagious here means that the condition is brought on by a contagious infection. The infection can spread from one person to another. The blisters that are formed do not spread from one person to another.
Are Ear Infections Contagious in Adults?
With all age groups the infection is localized to the ear. Colds and the flu which are the more common infections are the ones which are contagious.
Adults get middle ear infections less, because their eustachian tubes are longer and are therefore better at draining fluid. If an ear infection occurs and it is causing any of the following you should see your doctor.
- It doesn’t resolve after the infection is treated.
- It occurs repeatedly.
- It occurs only in one ear.
Middle ear infections can also affect your balance and cause muffling of sound.
If you have a cold which is also infected, it is considerate to cover your coughs and wash your hands to protect others.
Common Symptoms of Ear Infections
Ear infections can cause different symptoms depending on age, the type of infection, and how severe it is. Common signs include:
- Ear Pain: Pain in one or both ears, which may feel worse when lying down.
- Fluid Drainage: Clear, yellow, or cloudy fluid may drain from the ear. It may sometimes look like pus or contain a small amount of blood.
- Irritability in Children: Young children may become fussy, have trouble sleeping, or tug and pull at their ears.
- Hearing Issues: Fluid behind the eardrum can make hearing sound muffled for a while.
- Fever: A fever may occur with an ear infection, especially in babies and young children.
Causes of Ear Infections
Most ear infections begin in the middle ear after an upper respiratory infection (i.e. the common cold or flu) or allergy inflammation. The eustachian tube drains fluid from the middle ear and transports it to the back of the throat. If this tube becomes inflamed, it will not allow the fluid to drain. The fluid becomes a medium for bacterial or viral growth.
Children get more ear infections because their eustachian tubes are shorter and flatter. Sinus infections, allergies and tobacco smoke can also cause swelling in the eustachian tube.
Normal vs Infected Eardrum: What the Doctor Sees During an Ear Exam
Doctors look at the eardrum with a lighted tool called an otoscope. The eardrum is the thin layer between the outer ear and the middle ear. Here is what a doctor looks for during an ear exam.
| Feature | Normal Eardrum | Infected Eardrum |
| Color | Pearly gray and see through | Red, yellow or cloudy |
| Shape | Flat or curved slightly inward | Bulging outward from fluid pressure |
| Fluid | No fluid behind it | Fluid or pus behind it, sometimes with bubbles |
| Movement | Moves when the doctor puffs a little air into the ear | Moves very little or not at all |
| Surface | Smooth and whole | May have a small tear with fluid draining |
You cannot see your own eardrum at home, so a doctor needs to check it to confirm an ear infection.
Can an Ear Infection Spread to Other Parts of the Body?
Most ear infections stay in the ear and clear up without problems. In rare cases, an untreated infection can reach nearby areas.
- The eye: Can an ear infection spread to your eyes? No, it does not travel into the eye. In young children, the same bacteria can cause pink eye and an ear infection at the same time. Unlike the ear infection, pink eye can be contagious.
- The bone behind the ear: A middle ear infection can spread to the mastoid bone. This is called mastoiditis.
- The brain and nerves: Very rarely, infection reaches the tissue around the brain or the nerve that moves the face.
- The neck: The glands in the neck may swell during an ear infection. Infection spreading deeper into the neck is rare.
Deaths from ear infections are very rare when treatment is available. The signs that these problems need emergency care are listed in the next section.
When to Go to the ER for an Ear Infection
Many ear infections get better with home care and medicine from a doctor. Some signs mean you need emergency room evaluation right away.
1. High Fever
A fever that stays high or keeps coming back, especially in a young child, can mean a more serious infection. A child fever with concerning symptoms may require prompt medical attention.
2. Severe Pain
Ear pain that is intense, keeps getting worse or does not ease with pain relievers from the store needs a doctor’s exam. Top Care ER offers ear pain treatment for patients of all ages.
3. Drainage of Pus OR Blood
Pus or blood coming from the ear should be checked soon because it can mean a torn eardrum or a worsening infection.
4. Changes in Hearing
Sudden hearing loss, or hearing changes along with dizziness, can point to a more complicated ear infection.
5. Swelling Behind the Ear
Redness, swelling or pain behind the ear, or an ear that is pushed outward, can be a sign of mastoiditis.
6. Stiff Neck or Severe Headache
These can mean the infection has spread beyond the ear and needs care right away.
7. Weakness in the Face
Drooping or weakness on one side of the face can mean the infection is affecting the facial nerve.
8. Fever in a Baby Under 3 Months
Any fever of 100.4°F or higher in a baby younger than 3 months needs emergency care.
Common Treatments for Ear Infection
Treatment depends on the type of ear infection and how severe it is.
- Pain relief: Pain relievers and a warm compress can ease pain while the body fights the infection.
- Watchful waiting: Many middle ear infections get better on their own. Doctors often watch mild cases for 48 to 72 hours before starting antibiotics.
- Antibiotics: A doctor prescribes them when a bacterial infection needs treatment.
- Ear drops: Swimmer’s ear is treated with prescription ear drops.
- Allergy care: Treating allergies or sinus problems can help keep ear infections from coming back.
How to Prevent Ear Infections
These steps lower the chance of an ear infection for children and adults.
1. Dry Your Ears After Swimming
Tilt your head to let water drain out and gently dry the outer ear with a towel after swimming or bathing. This helps prevent swimmer’s ears.
2. Manage Allergies
Treating allergies reduces the swelling that can block the eustachian tube.
3. Wash Hands Often
Washing hands and staying away from people who are sick lowers the chance of catching the colds that lead to ear infections, especially during cold and flu season.
4. Stay Up to Date on Vaccines
The flu vaccine and the pneumococcal vaccine protect against common causes of middle ear infections.
5. Avoid Tobacco Smoke
Smoke irritates the eustachian tube. Keep children away from secondhand smoke.
6. Keep Objects Out of the Ear Canal
Do not put cotton swabs or anything else in the ear canal. They can push wax deeper and scratch the skin.
7. Feed Babies Upright
Do not give a baby a bottle while lying down. Holding your baby upright during feeding helps keep milk away from the eustachian tube.
Conclusions
So, are ear infections contagious? No, but the cold or flu that causes them can spread. Most ear infections clear up with rest, pain relief and sometimes antibiotics. Watch for the warning signs listed above.
Prompt evaluation in the emergency room ensures that severe or complicated ear infections receive the attention and treatment they require, safeguarding ear health and overall well-being.
