Ear Infections - Symptoms

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Highlights	Symptoms	Medications
Introduction	Diagnosis	Surgery
Causes	Prevention	Resources
Risk Factors	Treatment	References
Complications	Home Remedies

If an infection of the mastoid air cells cannot be controlled with antibiotics, surgery may be needed.

Other Possible Complications

Meningitis. In rare cases, bacteria from a severe ear infection can spread to the tissues surrounding the brain.

Facial Paralysis. Very rarely, a child with acute otitis media may develop facial paralysis, which is temporary and usually relieved by antibiotics or possibly drainage surgery. Facial paralysis may also occur for patients with chronic otitis media and a cholesteatoma (tissue in the middle ear). Surgery is often necessary to correct this condition.

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Review Date: 05/03/2011
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).