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Ten million children a year suffer from ear infections in the United States. Ear infections are usually a complication of a cold or virus. The eustachian tube becomes clogged with mucus and the pressure in the ear rises and the ear becomes infected. There are treatments to make a child with an ear infection more comfortable and how to prevent them in the future.
Ear infections are most common in children under the are of three because the eustachian tube is so small. The shape and direction of the eustachian tube in infants is more horizontal than vertical and this makes drainage difficult. Fluids collect and block the eustachian tube and this will contribute to the growth of bacteria in the ear. Most children outgrow ear infections as the structure and shape of their ear canal changes allowing fluids to drain easily.
Sometimes it is difficult for a parent to know if their child has an ear infection, especially if the child can’t talk yet. Older children will say, “My ear hurts” and babies and toddlers will indicate they have an ear infection by pulling or patting on their ear while crying. In both cases the child will probably be irritable and may have a fever.
A child with many ear infections will have a lot of pressure and fullness in the ear. Many times there will be a decrease in hearing. Usually this hearing loss will go away after the ear infection is gone, but if the ears are infected repeatedly this can cause scarring and permanent hearing loss. If a child’s ears are always clogged and blocked while they are developing their speech, this will most likely result in slow speech and learning development problems.
Sometimes a child’s diet can be contributing to frequent ear infections. Some children are allergic to dairy foods which thicken and increase mucus in the head and this makes it difficult for the infected ear to drain.
Do not give a bottle to a baby while laying down. The ear is at such an angle that the fluid drains into the middle ear drum and can cause ear infections. A babies head needs to be at a 30 degree angle while nursing or bottle feeding.
Children that are exposed to cigarette smoke on a daily basis show a higher tendency to get ear infections. If your child gets a lot of ear infections and you smoke some other smoking arrangement might need to be made.
If a child with a lot of allergies is continually getting ear infections try to avoid the allergens such as pet dander, dust mites or dairy products.
Massaging the ear of a child who gets frequent ear infections can help clear fluid out of the eustachian tubes and keep them clear. Using a gentle hand push and release the flap of skin in front of the ear several times. Use your thumb and gently massage a line along the back of the ear and down the back of the jaw bone. Massage gently directly in front of the ear on the sides of the face in a circular motion.
Doctors will usually prescribe an antibiotic such as amoxicillin, augmentin or pediazole to a child with ear infections. If your child is not a frequent ear infection problem many physicians are saying that your should wait 48 hours before you begin the antibiotic treatment to allow the child to fight it off first. There have been studies done in the Netherlands that indicate that children were able to clear up the infection through their own immune system. But other times antibiotics are needed and it is a good thing to have them available. Make sure you finish the entire course of antibiotic and go in for an ear recheck to make sure the fluids are gone from the ear canal. Give the child acidophilus tablets to keep them from getting yeast infections from the antibiotics.
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