Sanjana Reddy Sanjana Reddy Asked 5 months ago

Can an infant have an ear infection without a fever?

My 8-month-old has been really fussy and pulling at his ear, but he doesn't have any fever. Usually, I associate infections with fever, so this has me confused. Is it possible for an infant to have an ear infection without running a temperature?

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7 answers

Deepika Sen Deepika Sen Joined Mar 2026 5 months ago
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My six-month-old daughter had a bad ear infection last month, but she never had any fever at all. She was just constantly pulling her left ear, crying during feedings, and refusing to lie flat on her back. We took her to her pediatrician, and they found a fluid buildup.

Pooja Hegde Pooja Hegde Joined Jul 2026 4 months ago

Yes, absolutely! My son just recovered from an ear infection and he didn't run a fever either. I only realized something was wrong because he was extremely fussy and kept waking up screaming at night. A quick trip to the doctor confirmed it was a middle ear infection.

Alok Chatterjee Alok Chatterjee Joined May 2026 5 months ago

Yes, infants can indeed have an ear infection without running a temperature. Common signs include irritability, difficulty sleeping, fluid drainage from the ear, or rubbing the head. It is always best to let a pediatrician examine the ear canal with an otoscope to confirm.

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Leela Krishnan Leela Krishnan Joined Jan 2026 5 months ago

Yes, and please don't wait for a fever to develop before seeing a doctor. We delayed my niece's treatment because she had no fever, and the infection got so bad her eardrum ruptured slightly. Get the baby's ears checked by a proper doctor immediately if they are crying continuously.

Suresh Trivedi Suresh Trivedi Joined Jan 2026 5 months ago

Babies have their own ways of keeping us awake all night without even needing a fever! Yes, an ear infection can absolutely happen silently. If they are pulling their ears and cranky, just skip the internet theories and visit your pediatrician.

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Aman Deep Aman Deep Joined Jan 2026 5 months ago

Yes bro, my little sister had this last year. No hot forehead or fever at all, but she was crying like crazy whenever we tried to bottle feed her. The doc said the pressure in the ear hurts when they swallow. Better get it checked by a doc.

Gurpreet Singh Gurpreet Singh Joined Jan 2026 5 months ago

Don't worry too much, this is quite common in small babies and easily treatable. A fever isn't always present during ear fluid buildup. Just keep the baby upright during feeds and take them to your regular doctor tomorrow to get some soothing ear drops or medicine.

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