Can an ear infection change a child's sleeping pattern?

[bellem04]

My daughter (2 years old)  has got her days and nights mixed up.  It started around the time that she developed an ear infection.  When she gets extremely tired she will start pulling at her ear.  She has always done that as a baby.  I would mention it to the doctor and sure enough she will have an ear infection.  
But, would an ear infection change your child's sleeping pattern?

[bellem04]

Thanks!
I will call her doctor and get her ears checked out.  We are already enforcing the hands washing.  I really haven't noticed if she puts her fingers in her ears.  But, whenever she hears a loud noise she will put her hands over her ears.  Even when the noise isn't that loud.  Maybe, it is nothing.  

[ingridv]

Up until my daughter was 4, she had cronic ear infections. She also seemed very tired and was aways putting her finger in her ear. Since her body was fighting infections and because the pain would sometimes keep her awake at night... her sleeping pattern would become completely thrown off.

Fortunately, the solution for preventing her type of ear infections was relatively simple. We eventually taught her to keep her hands clean and NOT to put fingers (and germs) into her ear... even when it itched. She hasn't had an ear infection in four years now and her sleeping pattern is completly normal.

Hope this helps.