Is this normal for a ‘mild’ toddler ear infection?

[PipL91]

My little boy is 3yo and had mild cold symptoms Saturday/Sunday.

Monday morning he said he had headache but again seemed okay. By Monday afternoon he was wailing in agony, couldn’t move his head. Neurofen helped for a few hours but went quickly downhill way before next dose due. We ended up seeing an out of hours GP who said he had a mild ear infection in one ear and gave him antibiotics. Currently his symptoms are -

• very stiff neck/head especially on the side of ear infection
• very pale
• off most food
• unable to sleep and wailing after 20-30 minutes
• mostly just wants to lay down with tiny bits of playing
• sporadic blood in snot

He doesn’t seem to really have a fever which is odd, I’m just confused how he can seem so unwell with a mild infection, we’ve had bad infections in the past where he’s seemed overall less ill.

That doesn't seem right - I would want him seen again tbh

My DS had this recently. Doctor was concerned about possible meningitis and sent us to A&E. Wasn't that, was just an ear infection and not a severe one, but his lymph nodes were swollen which made his neck very stiff and painful. Intravenous antibiotics worked wonders in a few short hours.