Ear Infection
One of the most common illnesses in children is an ear infection. This can occur in any age of child, from the smallest infant to a teenager. The reasons for the increased incidence in children are numerous, but the most common reason is that the ear tubes in children have not fully developed and this makes them more susceptible to ear infections. What is an ear infection?
An ear infection is one of the most uncomfortable health problems you can have. Having had one as an adult I now understand why they cause children to cry and fuss so much. Being able to verbalize the problem helps, but in and of itself doesn't make the infection go away.
An ear infection is when bacteria or germs get caught in the ear and begin to grow. This can occur when a child has a cold, because a cold can cause the ear tubes to swell, which can trap fluid in the ear and allow the germs to grow into an infection. When this occurs, the ear begins hurting, which can be very severe or mild. What are some of the other symptoms of an ear infection?
- Fever.
Most of the time, a child will run a fever when they have an ear infection, although it is possible to have an ear infection without having a fever. - Fussiness.
This may be the first sign that you see in an infant that they have an ear infection. Their lack of communication skills at this age makes it hard to gauge what is bothering them, but if your usually happy child starts to become fussy, then an ear infection could be the cause. - Pulling at ears.
This is another sign that infants and young child sometimes show to indicate that their ears hurt and they have an ear infection. Some children pull at their ears when the first find their ears, but if it is accompanied with fussiness or a fever, then this could indicate an ear infection. - Nausea and/or vomiting.
This symptom can indicate many different illnesses in children, but when accompanied with pain and other symptoms, may indicate an ear infection. - Dizziness.
Dizziness is a classic sign of middle ear problems and may indicate fluid in the ear and/or an ear infection. If your child is complaining of dizziness, this could be a symptom of an ear infection or other illness.
The causes of ear infections in children include the lack of development of the ear tubes, but other things can make your child more susceptible to an ear infection. This can include exposure to cigarette smoke, bottle feeding, and being exposed to many different illnesses at day care, including colds. An upper respiratory tract virus can lead to an ear infection, as well as the common cold, so keeping your child as healthy as possible can cut down on the number of ear infections that they have.
The cures of an ear infection somewhat depend on whether it's an inner- or outer-ear infection. One goal of treating an ear infection is to relieve pain, though of course healing the infection is primary. Since most ear infections will heal without antibiotics, leave them for the last-ditch effort. You can choose from home remedies to medical remedies. Some home remedies involve dripping solutions that dry the Eustacian tube include garlic juice and rubbing alcohol into the ear canal. Then warm olive oil with lobelia extract, warmed mango leaf juice, or colloidal silver will help kill the infection. A more western-medicine approach includes over the counter pain relief ad prescription ear drops.
Winter is the most common season for ear infections, although they can occur any time of the year. Swimming can cause them during the summer or winter, and colds and other respiratory illnesses can cause them during the winter. Keeping your child's immune system as healthy as possible by making sure that they get all of the vitamins that they need, as well as rest and exercise, can help to decrease their chance of getting an ear infection and other illnesses.
Avoiding an ear infection is the best approach ultimately, but that doesn't always work. When in need, act to relieve the pain and cure the infection.
