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Ear Infections

After a cold, ear infections are the most common illness seen in children. Most children will experience at least one ear infection before they reach the age of three years old. Most of these infections will appear in the middle chamber of the ear. A middle ear infection, also called otitis media, is the inflammation of the middle ear chamber that is recognized by the presence of fluid, pain, redness and sometimes a fever.

Children are more prone to ear infections because their middle ear chamber is leas developed than that of an adult. Their Eustachian tubes are more narrow, which allows bacteria to get trapped more easily and their immune systems are less developed, which makes it harder for their body's to fight infections. Some experts also state that children in day care setting, those exposed to cigarette smoke, and those that are bottle-fed, have a greater chance of developing middle ear infections.

Signs that your child may have an ear infection include…

• Ear pain. Younger children may tug at their ear or cry. Older children will verbalize the presence of pain.

• Reduced appetite. Pressure in the ear may make swallowing painful so children will less prone to eat.

• Trouble sleeping. Pressure in the ear may cause pain if your child is lying down.

• Attention problems. Fluid that is trapped in the middle ear may block out sounds and make it hard for your child to hear. This short-term hearing loss may make it hard for your child to pay attention at home or at school.

•Nausea

•Dizziness

If your child exhibits any of the above symptoms, it is best to schedule an appointment with your child's doctor as soon as possible, Although ear infections are not contagious, they can be quite painful and can cause more serious problems if left unattended.

The most common treatment for a middle ear infection is the prescription of a mild antibiotic. This treatment usually lasts 5 to 10 days and usually cures the infection, but has no real affect on the pain associated with ear infections. To treat the pain, most doctors recommend the use of an over-the-counter acetaminophen or ibuprofen. You can also use pain-relieving eardrops if your doctor says that it is ok.

Certain lifestyle choices can be used to help prevent ear infections or at least reduce the frequency of infections that your child has.

• Breastfeeding. Breastfed children have fewer episodes of ear infection. This could be due to the angle at which they are fed or to the antibodies that they receive from their mother.

• Proper bottle-feeding. If you do bottle feed, make sure that your baby is held at an angle. Never let your child feed while lying down.

• Hand washing. Germs are often spread from non-washed hands. These germs are likely to cause colds and upper respiratory infection, which can lead to ear infections in children.

• Immunizations. Make sure that your child's immunizations are up-to-date. Certain vaccines can help your child fight ear infections.

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