Ear infections in children

Ear infections can be annoying for you as well as your child. There are many ways you can prevent your child from receiving ear infections. At least reduce their frequency.

Children are prone to ear infections because they have trouble draining the substances present in their ear. The substances may promote the growth of bacteria. Because children have trouble draining their ears it is important that if you bottle-feed your child to sit them in an upright position during feeding. This prevents fluid from accumulating around the ear area. Never allow your child to fall asleep with the bottle. Not only does this promote ear infections, but also responsible for nursing bottle decay. This causes your child's teeth to rot. Breastfed infants do not have to be fed upright.

Smoking also increases your child's chance of an ear infection. If any family member smokes, try telling them to only smoke outside or not smoke around your home at all, because it is putting your child's health at risk. It will also be helpful to avoid smoking areas of you restaurants.

If possible, limit your child's contact with people who have colds. When a child get a cold their ears begin to swell which limits the ear ability to drain causing bacteria to accumulate. If you can't limit your child's contact with these children encourage proper hygiene. Encourage your child to wash their hands before eating, after playing, after they nose blowing and after coughing. Also, encourage children to keep his or her hands away from their face to avoid giving themselves a cold. You may want limit your child's contact with other children during the cold weather months.

You can also prevent ear infections by avoiding water in their ears. If they go swimming or play in water, encourage the use of earplugs to avoid fluid accumulation. Be careful. Avoid getting any water in their ears during a bath or when shampooing their hair. You may find it helpful to put a cone around their head when you are shampooing their hair.

How do I know if my child has an ear infection?

Children indicate that they have an ear infection by constantly pull their ears. They may get a fever or runny nose. They also may continuously cry and become irritable. You may also notice that your child may be struggling to hear you. If they are old enough, they must complain to you about the pain or ringing in their ears. All of these are indications that they have contracted an ear infection. You may also notice that a discharge may be accumulating his or her ear. For more information, you may want to contact your child's physician. If your child has a cold or sore throat, look for the previous symptoms because they are more at risk for developing an ear infection.

If you are unable to prevent your child's ear infection, here are some tips for how to treat their condition. The first step should be to treat your child's pain. Give him or her children's strength ibuprofen (DO NOT give your child aspirin before the age of 12). You may find that applying heat to the ear may comfort an ear infection. Use a warm washcloth or towel to apply heat. Avoid putting warm substances in your child's ear. You may also find it helpful to elevate your child's head a couple of inches. This may promote draining of fluid from the ear. Provide you child with plenty of fluids and allow him or her to get some rest.

Contact the pediatrician if it lasts longer than 12 hours: he or she may prescribe antibiotics. It is important to discuss the pros and cons of antibiotics. There is an ongoing debate about the overuse of antibiotics. Be sure to get both sides of the issue before you decide. If you child's ear infection is left untreated for a long period of time it may result in permanent hearing loss, therefore be alert to the symptoms and treat them as soon as possible.