Signs of an ear infection may include:

• Ear pain.
• Swelling, heat, or tenderness around or behind the ear.
• Redness of the ear, ear canal, or skin around or behind the ear.
• Drainage from the ear.
• Fever.
• Headache with a severe stiff neck, irritability, confusion, excessive sleepiness, or lethargy.
• Severe dizziness or sudden hearing loss.

An object that has been placed in the ear rarely causes infection, particularly if the object is removed within a few hours. The longer an object stays in the ear, the higher the risk of infection.

It is common for the ear to be tender after an object has been removed from the ear. This discomfort usually improves within 24 to 48 hours. Increasing pain, redness, dizziness, or fever may indicate an infection has developed.

Inflammation or infection most often affects the ear canal. Infection of the ear canal or external ear (otitis externa) may develop if an object scratches the ear canal when it is inserted into or removed from the ear.