With school about to begin again, parents and children will soon battle the most frequently diagnosed bacterial illness in young children in the United States: otitis media, more commonly known as an ear infection.

While an ear infection can occur at any time, it's most frequent in environments where children gather and spread germs, such as schools and day care centers.

"Most children have an ear infection by age 3," said Dr. Al Sacchetti of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), a medical society with more than 22,000 members who are specialists in emergency medicine. "Ear infections are one of the most common reasons people visit hospital emergency departments. However, ear infections can be effectively treated with a visit to the doctor's office, so it is important to watch your child closely and call your pediatrician at the first sign of illness. That way, you may not have to visit the emergency department in the middle of the night because the pediatrician's office is closed and your child is screaming in pain."

According to ACEP, the following conditions may indicate an ear infection:

• Pain: Usually, the first symptom is pain. Older children will tell you they hurt, but babies and toddlers may only fuss and cry. Watch to see if your child tugs on his ears or cries when lying down. You might notice irritable behavior during feedings because swallowing and sucking can cause painful pressure in the middle ear.
• Drainage: Look for yellow or white fluid draining from the ear. It could have a bad odor, and it will look different from normal ear wax.
• Fever: Although fever is not always present in an ear infection, check for a temperature ranging from 100 degrees Fahrenheit to 104 degrees Fahrenheit (37.78 degrees Celsius to 40 degress Celsius).
• Hearing Difficulty: Children sometimes have difficulty hearing during and after an ear infection-in some cases, for as long as several weeks. The hearing loss is temporary and is caused by fluid buildup in the middle ear.

An untreated ear infection can cause dizziness, imbalance, facial paralysis, permanent hearing loss or even an infection of the tissue around the brain and spinal cord called meningitis. If your child exhibits any symptoms of an ear infection, a trip to the pediatrician will help both you and your child get a better night's sleep.