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Ear, Pulling or Itchy

Does this describe your symptom?

 
  • A child repeatedly pulls, tugs, pokes or itches the outer ear or ear canal.
  • No crying or report of earchace.
  • Most younger children (under age 2 or 3) who pull or poke at the ear are unable to confirm or deny the presence of an earache. In a recent study, only 5% of these children had an underlying ear infection. It has been found that simple ear-pulling without other symptoms of an illness or infection has not been associated with ear infections.
Cause
  • Infants: Normal touching and pulling with discovery of ears. This behavior is usually not seen before 4 months of age.
  • Older Children: Mild swimmer's ear from: (1) water accumulation during swimming or showers, (2) soap or shampoo retention,(3) canal irritation from cotton-tipped swabs or (4) Some children are reacting to a piece of earwax in the ear canal.

If not, see these other symptoms

  1. Should I Call?
  2. Care at Home

Parent Care for Pediatric Symptoms. Copyright © 2000-2008. Barton D. Schmitt, MD
Reviewed/Modified: Sept 2008 by Intermountain Healthcare, Inc.


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