Ear Infections In Children
Signs, Symptoms, Prevention and Treatment
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Ear Infections are Common in Children under 2 Years
When your child becomes ill
with a fever, is irritable and complains of pain in the ear you should suspect
ear infection. Children especially under the age of two are more likely to
suffer ear infections than any other age group. Ear infection is usually a
complication resulting from a Cold or Flu. Ear infections are not contagious but
the colds that cause them are highly contagious. Colds are spread when germs are
released from the nose or mouth during coughing or sneezing.
Always seek
medical help to properly diagnose and ear infection. Ear infections can be very
painful and to help relieve pain give the child a pain reliever that does not
contain aspirin such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen and see a doctor within about
one day.
Two main
types of ear infections are common in children, outer ear infections and middle
ear infections.
Outer ear
infections usually occur when water gets in the ear, which may lead to
inflammation and infection. This type of ear infection is sometimes called
swimmers ear. The symptoms of this type of ear infection are a pain in the ear
which worsens when the child’s earlobe is touched. There may be a discharge from
the ear and the child should not have a fever.
Upper
respiratory tract infections can cause inflammation which in turn causes fluids
to accumulate behind the eardrum. If this fluid gets infected it can cause pain
fever and of course irritability especially in children. This type of ear
infection is a Middle Ear Infection. Doctors can tell if a middle ear infection
exists by looking inside the ear at the eardrum. With an ear infection, the
eardrum will look inflamed and can be bulging because of pus building up behind
it.
Middle ear
infection will typically leave fluid behind the eardrum which will not clear up
for one to three months even after it has been treated. The fluid will
eventually on its own.
How Do I Get an Ear Infection?
There is a tube between the
middle ear and the throat called the Eustachian tube. The Eustachian tubes keep
pressure in the middle ear the same as the atmospheric pressure by letting by
allowing air to move in and out. Eustachian tubes in children are very narrow
and are not very effective in keeping germs and bacteria out. That is why
children usually two years and younger are more likely to get middle ear
infection than adults. Colds and flu’s will often lead to ear infections because
the irritation that results from colds and flu’s can lead to blockage of the
Eustachian tubes resulting in an accumulation of germs which get into the middle
ear. People with allergies are also more susceptible to ear infection.
How to
Prevent Ear Infections
•Remember
that anything that can reduce the spread of germs will help reduce ear
infections.
• Simple hygiene is the key to preventing most ear infections in children.
Washing your hands always is the number one line of defense. Do not
underestimate this one. We get in contact with many infectious germs from
handshakes door handles, stair rails just to mention a few. If you wash your
hands regularly you will protect yourself and your children from ear infection
as well as other diseases.
• Fruit and
Vegetables are a source of essential vitamins and minerals that help protect
children and adults alike from disease. Encourage your child to eat fruits and
vegetables. Let them eat them raw if possible. Vegetables and fruit can greatly
boost your child's immune system and help fight off infections.
•Tissues
must not be re-used, Dispose of them properly after blowing your nose or
sneezing in them.
• Watch and make sure that your children don’t share toys, cups or other
utensils that they put in their mouths. Children love their toys so they will
always touch them eat or bring them in contact with all kinds of surfaces. If
not kept clean, toys can harbor numerous germs that cause common infections
including ear infection. Always Wash dirty toys in hot, soapy water before other
children play with them. If they are of a type that can be soaked, use a steam
cleaner to disinfect them.
• Avoid
bottle feeding your baby while lying down. There is a tube that connects the
middle ear to the mouth called the Eustachian Tube. Bottled milk can cause the
irritation the Eustachian tube which can make it more susceptible to ear
infections. Remember you are less likely going to have this problem you breast
feed.
• Keep the
nose clear. You child cannot blow their noses like adults when they have a runny
nose. Nasal congestion is therefore a bigger problem in children especially at
the onset of a cold. Do your best to keep the nasal passage clear. You can use
steam, saline nose drops and suctioning in young children. A simple nose suction
tool can be bought from your pharmacy or department store.
• Regularly
wash and disinfect all surface areas especially where the children like to play.
• In
addition, an immunization called Prevnar can help protect against infection of
the bacteria that commonly causes of ear infections. It is recommended that all
children younger than 2 get this vaccine, and you should especially consider it
if your child is prone to ear infections or other family members get recurrent
ear infections.
Treating
Ear Infections
If however your child’s ear is
already infected there are treatments available at you health care providers.
Antibiotic ear drops are usually effective against this Outer Ear type of ear
infection. Middle Ear infection will typically be treated using oral antibiotic.
The broad-spectrum antibiotic levofloxacin (Sold under the trade name Lavaquin)
is highly effective against the bacteria that typically cause ear infections in
children. Always see a doctor for the best diagnosis. If your doctor has given
you an antiobiotic, it's very important to keep taking the medicine for as many
days as the doctor instructs - even if your ear stops hurting. If you don't take
all the medicine, the infection could come back and your ear will start hurting
again.
A Natural Remedy for Swimmers Ear
Tea Tree oil
is known to be effective for the treatment for swimmers ear. Its potent
antibacterial and antifungal properties have made it a favorite among natural
treatments for outer ear infections. The Tea Tree oil in its pure form may be
too strong for the ear and can be uncomfortable if used in its pure form. You
can get it in a form of healing oil which is usually a mixture of Tea Tree oil
with some other vegetable oil. If you can’t find the healing oil you can make
you own. Take 1 or 2 parts of tea tree oil and then add parts olive oil in a
small bottle and mix. Soak some cotton in the mixture and coat the infected ear
heavily (have the child lay down with that ear up so it seeps down in). Then put
cotton in the ear to keep it in there. Tea Tree will slowly but effectively
eliminate the infection. This method will save you a lot especially if you like
to swim a lot and are prone to ear
infections.
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