How contagious is an ear infection?

nsees · March 2011

Just found out that one of the kids from playgroup yesterday left my house, directly went to a doctor's appt, and was diagnosed with an ear infection. :-/

She did say she didn't have a fever but she couldn't sleep and was complaining about her ear so how bad are our chances?

Really irritated of course that she brought her knowing these things, especially since there's an 18 month old and 10 month old.

jennterrell · March 2011

i think it depends a lot on the cause of the ear infection, and how prone your kids are. A lot of times ear infections are brought on by colds (my son just had his first one with RSV), and sometimes even teething. And then there are some kids that just get them frequently for no apparent reason. If the sick child didn't have snot, I'd say you are likely safe.

danjou21 · March 2011

jennterrell:
i think it depends a lot on the cause of the ear infection, and how prone your kids are. A lot of times ear infections are brought on by colds (my son just had his first one with RSV), and sometimes even teething. And then there are some kids that just get them frequently for no apparent reason. If the sick child didn't have snot, I'd say you are likely safe.

This. I wouldn't be that concerned.

nsees · March 2011

jennterrell:
i think it depends a lot on the cause of the ear infection, and how prone your kids are. A lot of times ear infections are brought on by colds (my son just had his first one with RSV), and sometimes even teething. And then there are some kids that just get them frequently for no apparent reason. If the sick child didn't have snot, I'd say you are likely safe.

I hope so!

Thanks...that makes me feel better.

Valerie120408 · March 2011

Ear infections are not contagious, they are usually the result of fluid buildup after a cold. I wouldn't be too concerned. (there are different reasons for an ear infection, not just a cold, this is just a common cause)

nsees · March 2011

Valerie120408:
Ear infections are not contagious, they are usually the result of fluid buildup after a cold. I wouldn't be too concerned. (there are different reasons for an ear infection, not just a cold, this is just a common cause)

Good. Evan already has a cold of his own so I was hoping this wouldn't make him more likely to get one.

babyluv617 · March 2011

Valerie120408:
Ear infections are not contagious, they are usually the result of fluid buildup after a cold. I wouldn't be too concerned. (there are different reasons for an ear infection, not just a cold, this is just a common cause)

This. The actual ear infection is not contagious. The virus or cold that brought it on is. But, perhaps the kid got the infection from teething.

CABunny · March 2011

I wouldn't be too concerned, but seriously, if my kid had a dr. appt. for illness I wouldn't bring him to playgroup. Ugh.

blissfully_caffeinated · March 2011

Valerie120408:
Ear infections are not contagious, they are usually the result of fluid buildup after a cold. I wouldn't be too concerned. (there are different reasons for an ear infection, not just a cold, this is just a common cause)

This. I wouldn't worry.

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