Ear infections in infants and children
Ear infections in babies and young children are quite common, learn to differentiate them to treat them as soon as possible if necessary.
Ear infections in babies and children are more common than you might think, 9 out of 10 children will have at least one infection before they are 3 years old. An ear infection is inflammation of the middle ear, usually caused by bacteria, and occurs when there is a buildup of fluid behind the eardrum. This usually occurs after your baby has had a sore throat, a cold, or an upper respiratory infection.
If the upper respiratory infection is bacterial, the same bacteria can spread to the middle ear. However, if the infection is caused by a virus (such as a cold), the bacteria can pass into the middle ear as a secondary infection, which will later cause accumulation behind the eardrum.
We all have a channel called the Eustachian tube that connects the middle ear to the back of the throat, this helps equalize the pressure. The throat and nose provide a moist breeding ground for bacteria, and because your baby’s Eustachian tube is short, wide, and horizontal, any lurking germs can easily pass through it and get trapped in the middle ear. .
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TYPES OF EAR INFECTIONS
There are three types of ear infections you should know about:
– Acute otitis media. This is the most common ear infection. Parts of the middle ear become infected and inflamed, causing fluid to get trapped behind the eardrum. This build-up of pressure causes pain in the ear and may be accompanied by a fever .
-Otitis media with effusion. This can happen when fluid remains trapped behind the eardrum after an ear infection. Your baby may not have any symptoms per se, but the doctor will be able to see the fluid behind the eardrum using a specialized instrument.
-Chronic otitis media with effusion. This happens if the fluid remains trapped for a long period of time or if it reappears, even without infection. This can affect the baby’s hearing.
SIGNS OF AN EAR INFECTION
Parents are often unaware that their children have an ear infection because they are too young to express pain. For this reason, parents should take into account the most characteristic signs:
-The little one pulls his ear a lot
-He cries often
-He is restless
-Has difficulty sleeping
-He feels discomfort every time you touch his ear
-He has fever
-There is fluid coming out of the ear
Appears clumsy or has difficulty with balance
-Has trouble hearing properly (does not turn head toward noises, sounds, or voices)
WHEN DO YOU HAVE TO VISIT YOUR PEDIATRICIAN?
Not all ear infections need antibiotics, but the pediatrician will assess the status and severity of the infection. Children usually recover quickly from ear infection. On the other hand, if the earache has other symptoms you will have to see your doctor immediately:
-Swelling under or behind the ear
Sudden fever
-Your baby is lethargic
-Your baby has seizures
-If your baby is less than 6 months old, feels pain or has a fever while touching his ear, see your pediatrician.
In these cases, the pediatrician is likely to prescribe antibiotics, especially if the condition does not improve in two days or if the ear drains fluid.
There are some home treatments that you can consider while you go to your doctor or wait to see if the condition improves within a few hours. For example, for minor earaches, you can put a warm, wet compress on the child’s ear for 10 minutes.
What matters most of all, is that if you notice that your baby or young child is too upset, you will have to take him to the pediatrician to assess the state of the condition.
Dr. Tabriella Perivolaris, Sara's mother and fan of fashion, beauty, motherhood, among others, about the female universe. Since 2018 she has been working as a copywriter, always bringing to her articles a little of her experience and experience as a mother and woman.