Ear infections in children and homeopathic treatments

Middle ear infections affect 75 percent of children by age 3, making it one of the most common illnesses of early childhood. Homeopathic remedies offer a mild, yet often effective way to treat these uncomfortable conditions.

Ear infections in children
Very young children who get ear infections may cry excessively, be unusually irritable, develop a fever, and have difficulty sleeping. These symptoms can be very trying for both parents and the child.

In cases of middle ear infections, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a wait-and-see approach for the first 72 hours for children who are older than 6 months of age, who are otherwise healthy, and who have mild signs and symptoms. That’s because most ear infections go away on their own without treatment within a few days.

Antibiotics do not help a viral infection, and about 80 percent of children who get middle ear infections recover without taking antibiotics. Many parents, however, want to offer their child some type of relief. That’s when some turn to homeopathic remedies.

Homeopathic remedies for ear infections
Homeopathic remedies are highly individualized, so you should consult a homeopath, who can determine which of the many different homeopathic remedies best match your child’s symptoms and constitution. Here are some of the many remedies from which he or she may choose:
• Chamomilla may be given if the child’s pain is worse when bending over, if the child is irritable and whiny, and the skin is hot and moist. This remedy also helps when the ear pain is associated with teething.
• Ferrum phosphoricum is helpful for pain and inflammation when symptoms first appear and the child is flushed with a fever and a is tired.
• Kali muriaticum may be given to a child who has swollen glands and nasal congestion with a blocked Eustachian tube
• Mercurius solubilis can help in cases that involve pus in the middle ear, shooting pain, drooling and sweating, and a puffy tongue.
• Pulsatilla is often recommended when an ear infection follows a cold or develops gradually along with a moderate fever. Children who benefit from pulsatilla are often tearful and clingy.
• Belladonna may help if the child has a fever and flushed face, staring eyes, is unusually sensitive to touch, and is excitable