What Do You Do If Your Child Gets An Ear Infection?

Every year, millions of children suffer from ear infections. At times, parents can be in limbo on decision making. Some parents do not know what to do or how to treat them. This can be a large and dangerous problem for the child.

Ear Infections are very common in children

There are many different types of ear infections that a child can suffer from, but the most common is called Otitis Media, which is a middle ear infection. This is when there is inflammation in the middle ear behind the ear drum. There are also inner and outer ear infections, but the middle ear infections are the most common in children. In middle ear infections, there are bacteria and viruses which can take over the middle ear if the fluids get trapped inside of the Eustachian tube, which leads to the passages in your nose.

The child may have a small episode of the flu or a bad cold that can go away without treating it and without the need to see a doctor. This can be quite common, but, if the child is experiencing an earache which comes with high fever as a side effect, you should contact your family doctor immediately. The doctor has the ability to examine and diagnose the condition professionally, and if needed can also prescribe antibiotics or advise on recommended treatment. In some case, small children would resist medication and antibiotics, so it is important to be creative or use more children friendly solutions, such as the Eardoc.

Infants normally suffer the most from ear infections because their Eustachian tubes are not fully developed yet. The Eustachian tubes of infants are much shorter and can easily become blocked. They can become blocked because of a cold, secondhand tobacco smoke or the glands inside the throat became infected. All of these can lead to a middle ear infection. Getting water inside of your ears will not lead to a middle ear infection, but to an external ear infection. Middle ear infections are behind the ear drum, so don’t try to clear them with Q-Tips or other external treatments - they won’t really help.

How do you know if your child has an ear infection or an ear ache?

If your child has an ear infection or an earache, he or she may complain to you about discomfort in the ears by rubbing or tugging on them. They may also start to cry and will be in a lot of discomfort. It is very important that if you notice that one of the ears is draining pus, you contact a doctor immediately. This could mean that your child has a ruptured ear drum.

Unfortunately, millions of children suffer ear infections on a daily basis. If left untreated they can become dangerous. If pain and fever persists, don’t hesitate to call a doctor. Early treatment of any infection, and ear infections in particular, can be substantial to your child’s recovery from the illness. To read more about available treatments for ear infections, check out our article: 15 alternative remedies to ear infections.