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Fever and a Possible Ear Infection

It is not uncommon for a viral upper respiratory infection, such as a cold, to be present with a fever that lasts for 24 to 48 hours. Fever that occurs on day 3 or 4 of an upper respiratory infection may be caused by an ear infection. This is especially true if your child has other symptoms, such as fussiness, sleeplessness, or decreased appetite.

Fever may be a sign of an ear infection when:

  • Other symptoms, such as ear discomfort, ear rubbing, or pulling at the ears, are severe or do not go away.
  • Cold symptoms cleared up but other symptoms, such as fever and ear pain, are still present.
By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Last Revised January 13, 2012

Last Revised: January 13, 2012

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine

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