Dealing with infant ear infection can be a trying time for parents. Unlike older children, babies and infants can't tell the parent where the problem lies and usually it's a matter of looking for other factors.
A baby tugging on it's ears may be cause to suspect ear infection but studies have clearly indicated this is most often not the case.
Infant Ear Infections - Pain Is The Biggest Clue
Ear aches can come on very quickly and the accompanying symptoms will be pain and usually fever. Pain is obviously the biggest giveaway in toddler ear infections because make no mistake, they hurt!
This is one of the reasons if a child continually pulls on it's ear but appears to be in no discomfort at all that ear infection is usually ruled out. There could be a host of other reasons why the child is tugging it's ear such as teething, curiosity by the child, itching and yes, even habitual. A little like sucking the thumb. But what does an adult with their first child and no relative experience in this area do? The most obvious course of action is to head to the doctor.
Detecting Toddler And Baby Ear Infections
Children's eustachian tubes, the connection between the middle ear and the nose, are a lot shorter than those of adults. In fact, in babies, the Eustachian tube is at least one third the length of an adults so fluid drainage can become a problem.
Following a bout of cold and flu or allergy attack, babies can become more susceptible to developing an ear infection. The Eustachian tube can become blocked which leads to fluid gathering in the middle ear and not being released. Bacteria then breeds and if unchecked, swelling and pain, followed by fever, is usually the result.
If your baby suddenly displays a change in attitude such as becoming irritable and unco-operative, crys and screams often in short bursts then something is usually wrong and ear infection is usually one of the suspects.While there may be other reasons the child may be aggravated a visit to your doctor should be your first priority as they can quickly determine if there is infection present in the ear.
Although infant ear infections are common, they can be serious and without any diagnosis or treatment, ruptures to the eardrum are possible while in more serious cases, possible loss of hearing could be the result.
Did You Know?
In chronic cases of infant ear infection, a procedure which involves placing a small tube through the eardrum could be recommended. The tube helps prevent fluid build up and can reduce infection up to 50 per cent of the time. Essentially, the tube is designed to promote an effective drainage environment.
Recovering From Infant Ear Infection
There has been varied debate on the best course of action to treat toddler ear infections. While antibiotics are always an option, some believe over use of them could contribute to high incidence of recurring middle ear problems.
There appears to be growing support for treating the problem from a number of angles with a more rounded approach being taken. This includes diet and nutrition, the child's environment and emotional health. Preventing ear infection is not easy in children and you should discuss any preventative measures with your doctor.
Dean Caporella is a professional broadcaster. Have you considered what effect infant ear infection has on your child. We tell you more in this informative article plus, read the latest infection related news and reviews at:http://www.yourinfectionsite.com |
