Preventing ear infections

They say prevention is better than cure. Prevention of illnesses saves money and time, not to mention the pain. Here are some guidelines to prevent ear infections.

Preventing ear infections

• Avoid cigarette smoke and air pollution (in general) - Smoking irritates the nasal passage, which may result in Eustachian tube dysfunction (Eustachian tubes connect the middle ear to the back of the throat and allow the ears to drain fluid. They also help maintain correct air pressure in the ears). Children who live with smokers seem to be more susceptible to middle-ear infections than are those who live in smoke free homes. Cigarette smoke irritates the linings of the nasal passages and middle-ear cavity, which in turn interferes with the normal functioning of the Eustachian tube
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle - whole foods, and fruits and vegetables; these can greatly boost your child’s immune system and help fight off infections. Exercise is also recommended for overall health, whether sports or just playing outdoors.

Preventing ear infections for children

• Choose to breastfeed - There is research to support the claim that breastfeeding lowers a child’s chances of contracting ear infections.
• Lower the chances of them catching an infection - Simply put, the more people your child is in contact with, the higher the risks he or she will catch more infections. Enrolling them in smaller classes will lower this risk.
• Ensure their environment is infection-free - If your children are around children with infections, then it might be best to remove your child from their company till the infection clears up.
• Feed the child while he or she is upright - Avoid feeding the child who is lying on it’s back, because fluids can flow into the Eustachian tube, and create a breeding ground for bacteria or viruses. Not to mention, this irritates the Eustachian tube too.
• Keep the child’s chin up - this will keep the Eustachian tube draining into the back of the throat. A useful tip if your child’s ear is clogged.

Medical prevention for chronic or frequent ear infections

If your child is having frequent ear infections, consider more aggressive methods. Some suggestions are:

Antibiotics (preventive)
Usually taken as a course or regimen. They are preventive in nature, i.e. they allow you to avoid full dose courses of possibly stronger antibiotics. A potential downside is that it may lead to antibiotic resistance.

Immunization/vaccine
The purpose is to prevent the more serious infections. An example of a relavant vaccine is Prevnar.

Ear tubes
These are small tubes that an ENT (Ear, Nose, Throat) specialist inserts into the eardrum. They exist to provide an outlet for fluids accumulating in the middle ear to drain out, as it begins to collect (e.g. during a cold). This would help prevent full blown infections in the future. This is a long term solution, and usually stays in place for at least 6 months.

Warning signs

Stay alert for the telltale signs of infection. It is essential to get your child to the doctor as soon as you suspect an ear infection. If your child complains of ear ache, or a stuffiness in the ear, it could be an indication.

In a younger child who may not be able to convey his ear ache, you should watch for signs like include pulling on or rubbing the ear, trouble with hearing or balance, crying more than usual, or fluid draining from the ear. (Signs that an infection has taken hold include fever, crying, rubbing the ear, nausea, and vomiting.)