Ear infections are very common in children, especially children under the age of 2. A parent should suspect an ear infection if a child develops a fever, is irritable, and complains of ear pain. Ear infections are not spreadable, but colds are caused by ear infections. Colds are transmitted when germs are released from the nose or mouth while coughing or sneezing.
When to see a Doctor in Case of an Ear Infection
A common reason your child sees a doctor is an ear infection, an infection that occurs in the space behind the eardrum. Ear infections occur when bacteria or viruses infect the eardrum and trap fluid behind the ear, causing pain and swelling/swelling of the eardrum. Treatments include antibiotics, pain relief, and ear tube placement. Doctors don’t use ear light scope directly on infants due to the sensitive skin of infants and harsh rays of the ear scope.
Parents should not be a Doctor at Home
Parent shouldn’t diagnose an ear infection on their own. A doctor must examine the baby. The baby should usually be seen within 24 hours. There is no need to go to the emergency room without your doctor’s advice. To control pain before seeing a doctor, you can give your child an aspirin-free pain reliever such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. It is good to have medical diagnostic tools at home but first prefer to check doctor in case of infants especially.
Types of Ear Infections in Infants
There are two main types of ear infections in children, outer ear infections and otitis media. Outer ear infections (also known as swollen ears) usually occur when water enters the ear, which can lead to inflammation and infection. Your baby will have ear pain symptoms that will get worse if the outer earlobe is touched. The baby may also have a discharge from the ear and should not have a fever.
Respiratory Infection is Root-Cause to the Ear Infection
Infections in the ear usually occur halfway to two weeks after an upper respiratory infection in the baby, which can lead to inflammation and fluid buildup behind the eardrum. This fluid can then become infected with bacteria, and the child is likely to develop a runny nose, fever and/or irritability. Your doctor can tell if you have otitis media by examining your eardrum. In the case of an ear infection, the eardrum appears red and can swell due to the formation of pus behind it. Most otitis media is considered viral, and your doctor may recommend observation if the ear infection is mild.
How Painful is Otitis Media and What to do to Get Relief?
After otitis media, the baby will usually have fluid on its back for a month or three. This is normal and the fluid usually goes away on its own. It is not an infection, and the fluid usually does not need antibiotics to clear it. For young children, a doctor will usually check a baby’s ears every 4 to 6 weeks until all fluid is gone.
In some children, if their ear infections do not go away with repeated antibiotics, if they have fluid in both ears for more than 3-6 months and their hearing is impaired, or if there is a diversion of them every 4-6 months ENT from 6 to 12 months – Consult a physician, specialist in ear, nose and throat medicine.
Since most ear infections occur in children under the age of 3, they are often preventable. Here are some things parents can do to prevent ear infections:
Steps
- Teach children that handkerchiefs should only be used once and then disposed of properly and that they should wash their hands after sneezing or coughing.
- Do not allow children to share toys, cups, or other utensils they put in their mouths.
- Feeding a baby in an upright position. If she lies down while bottle feeding, the milk can irritate the Eustachian tube, which can contribute to ear infections.
- Keep your nose clean. If you have a runny nose and start cold, do your best to keep your nose clean by using steam, saliva nasal drops, and suction on young children.
- Regularly wash and disinfect all surfaces and common play areas.
- Eat more raw fruits and vegetables. These can greatly strengthen your baby’s immune system and fight infections.
Final Thought
Additionally, a vaccine called Prevnar can help protect against infection from the bacteria that usually cause ear infections. It is recommended that all children under 2 years of age receive this vaccine. This should be given special attention if the child is prone to ear infections or if other family members have recurrent ear infections.
Rehan is a student of Masters at the University of Birmingham. He loves writing about business, finance, technology, and life. He believes that sharing knowledge with the public is the best thing that one can do for the world and humanity.