Fever and an ear problem
Fever and mild ear stuffiness, discomfort, or pain commonly occur during a viral respiratory illness, such as a cold. Other cold symptoms, such as a runny or stuffy nose, congestion, and cough, also may develop. Fever usually subsides or disappears after these symptoms appear.
Fever and ear pain are more significant symptoms when:
- The fever occurs with moderate to severe pain.
- The fever lasts more than 4 days.
- There is redness or swelling of the ear or around or behind the ear.
- There is drainage from the ear, other than earwax.
- Cold symptoms have been present for longer than 10 to 14 days.
- Fever and ear pain continue after other cold symptoms have cleared.
- Fever and ear pain occur without cold symptoms.
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS | Last Updated: February 13, 2008 |
| Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine Donald R. Mintz, MD - Otolaryngology | |
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