Playing with His Ears Low Grade Fever No Ear Infection?

Yes, my youngest has had this problem pretty consistently. They say he's got fluid in his ears all the time. My eldest had too many infections and when he was 20 months old he got tubes in his ears. That really did the trick. The following summer he was a little fussy but he outgrew the problem after that and hasn't had an issue in over a year thank goodness. My youngest: he hasn't had the "infections" that my eldest had, but he goes in just as often, I swear. Fluid (I think from his sinus?) backs up in there and causes him pain. It gets especially bad because he has allergies and can get a sinus infection easily too (that has caused his fevers). I have to give him children's zyrtec (the pediatrician told me the dose for his age/weight) and that does help. We're looking into getting tubes in his ears though; we're scheduled to do a hearing test for him with the pediatric ENT because he's also a little delayed on speech. He can understand us, but when the doctor asked me to talk to him, she showed me how I emphasize the last word (let's go get a DIAPER or time to go to BED) and that he may just be getting that last word. She says too much fluid for too long could make us sound like we're talking underwater, which could hinder his speech as well as cause him discomfort, and she advised to just get the tubes. (This is for a chronic issue that we've had with him though). Someone mentioned that infections can change fast, and that's true. Fluid without treatment can end up being an infection overnight.
Another thing: little ones, if teething (especially a molar) may pull on their ear, get a fever, even break out in little baby acne.

how old is your son? my first thought if no ear infection was teething. could be getting molars in. those can be painful and babies can feel them in thier ears to.

My youngest tugged at her ears when she was tired, teething, generally didn't feel well or had an ear infection. Some times it's just hard to tell exactly what's going on.

it could be teething.
when the teeth toward the back come in they put pressure on the ear canal and sinuses.
Also I've had a sinus infection that bothered my teeth.

There are actually a set of molars that erupt right around 3 yrs old.
http://www.bearcanyondentistry.net/Portals/62/Primary%20T...

I thought my ears were infected last week! Turned out it was a really bad sinus infection, which I knew I had too but my ears hurt so badly I thought for sure I had an infection or fluid but the doc said my ears looked great. Hope your son feels better.
FYI I had my daughter to the docs on a Monday for a fever and congestion. They said it was a virus. By Wednesday when she was not improving I took her back to the docs where she had 2 severe ear infections w/ bulging ear drums and a sinus infection. Ugh!

It definitely could be sinus pressure and the congestion. Just because he is playing with his ears, doesn't necessarily mean ear infection. Just keep an eye on it, if it gets worse have the doc look at it again. It may just be bothersome now and hopefully it will get cleared up. Most meds aren't safe for young kids still and the doc isn't going to give you something if it's not infected. Also, believe it or not, most of the time ear infections don't need to be treated unless causing severe pain! I know, I know, they do most of the time!!

Could be teething. The pressure of back teeth can put pressure on the ears.

I have also had a doc say to me once that ear infections or lack there of can change fast, so he may not have one right now, but if his symptoms continue for another day or two, you may want to take him in for a re-check. An ear infection may be developing and just had not quite happened at that point. You could take him in tomorrow and he could have an infection. Give him tylonal and.or motrin to reduce the pain and pressure.

It is possible to have kids play with their ears when they are congested. They feel the increased pressure. The low-grade fever could be from allergies- which would also explain the congestion- or he could be trying to develop an infection. They should have told you to try a decongestant to relieve the pressure and to keep the fluid from becoming infected. It's not uncommon for allergy-induced congestion to lead to a secondary infection. All that said, you know your kid better than anyone, and if your mommy-radar is going off, listen to it.

Did they mention is he had fluid from the congestion? When my youngest has any type os sinus issues his ears hurt rarely an infection usually just fluid that bothers him. Benedryl does wonders for it.

How old is he? Is he teething? Sometimes teeth can mimic ear infection symptoms since the nerves in the gums and jaw extend up through the mandible and go past the ears, if their teeth (especially molars) are bothering them it hurts/buzzes their ears. Low grade fever also seems to go hand in hand with teeth.

Yes. I've heard of it. It might head towards an ear infection eventually or it might not.

Let's have a look at some ear anatomy:
http://www.everydayhealth.com/ears-nose-throat-pictures/a...

See the Eustachian tube (3) that's behind the ear drum and connects to the throat?
When that tube gets blocked, either from swollen sinuses or fluid or mucous, pressure builds up behind the ear drum. It can get very uncomfortable, and kids will pull at their ears. Kids have very small passages and they get blocked easily, but most will grow out of it eventually.
It's easy for an adult to swallow, chew gum or pop their ears which just forces the Eustachian tube open a short time to allow air pressure to equalize.
If the blockage is there long enough, bacteria can grow and THEN you'll have an ear infection.
So, what can we do to keep the Eustachian tube from getting blocked?
Keep mucous as thin as possible (keep well hydrated, use a humidifier, steamy showers, use an expectorant, etc).
You should also see an allergist to see if you can determine if there is an allergy that gets the sinuses irritated. Perhaps Clariten or something like that might help but a doctor should figure out what the triggers are.

In some cases, the tonsils and adenoids (which are glands that usually help fight infection) become infected themselves and become a source of reoccurring infections like strep. If that happens, having the tonsils/adenoids out gets rid of the source of infection and many kids have no further ear problems after they are out.

I think an allergist and an ear nose throat doctor should be able to help your son the most.
They do grow out of it eventually, but it's very hard when it seems like it's nothing but one ear infection after another.
Good luck!

There is still so much junk going around that it may not be an ear infection when you took him in but it can still occur 2 -3 days from now regardless how hard you tried for him not to get another double ear infection.Has he been seen by an ENT yet?Is he going to get another set of tubes?Keep on eye on him you did what you had to do but sometimes things will still occur ear infection being one of them it has happened to me i'll take them in for a fever,congestion,couging,playing with the ears,& other sypmtoms of an ear infection in my kids but nope not an ear infection till days later it is full blown.I don't know what kind of situation your in with the insurance issues or ENT shot me a PM keep me updated