Generally no — ear pain in very young children usually requires an in-person visit, because diagnosing ear infections and related problems depends on a direct ear exam (otoscopy) that can’t be done over telemedicine.

👶 When in-person care is recommended

Children — especially under 2 years old — should typically be seen in person if they have:

• Ear pain, tugging at ear, or fussiness with fever

• Fluid or pus draining from the ear

• Trouble sleeping or feeding due to pain

• Recent cold or upper-respiratory infection

• Persistent symptoms > 24 hours

• High fever or appearing unwell

An in-person exam allows the clinician to:

• Look at the eardrum for infection or perforation

• Check both ears (often infections are bilateral)

• Measure temperature, oxygen, and overall appearance

• Decide whether antibiotics are needed — or not

Telemedicine alone cannot reliably make this decision.

👍 When telemedicine may still be helpful

A virtual visit can be useful for:

• Triage — helping decide whether urgent care or next-day visit is best

• Pain-control & fever-management guidance

• Reviewing prior history or frequent infections

• Follow-up after an in-person diagnosis

But for initial evaluation in very young children, an in-person ear exam is usually necessary.