Baby ear infections are quite common among children below two years of age. The types of infections that can affect them are outer and middle ear infections. The medical term for an ear infection is otitis media, which, in Latin, literally means inflammation of the middle ear. It is imperative to look for symptoms of ear infection in infants as they are not able to express pain verbally. Treatment is necessary to prevent further complications.
What causes ear infection? Ear infections are most often caused by bacteria and viruses or by fungal pathogens. The infection that causes a common cold can also lead to an ear infection, damaging the normal defense system in the upper respiratory tract. Another reason baby ear infections is bacteria that affects the Eustachian tube and leads to infection of the middle ear. Some other factors that trigger ear infections in infants are exposure to an elder who smokes in the house or to too many children, like in a day care center, or lying down while feeding from a bottle. Ear infections are not common in babies who are breastfed.
Most ear infections cause sticky fluids to fill the middle ear, resulting in earaches as pressure is formed in the ear drum. At times, they also rupture affecting the hearing. The fluids are absorbed by the body in three to four days, after which hearing returns to normalcy. Outer ear infections or otitis externa are caused when water gets into the ears, causing infection and inflammation. It could also be due to external particles in the ears, dermatitis, and eczema. In babies, the causes of ear infections could be common cold, sore throat, teething, runny nose, excess ear wax, or air pressure changes in the ears.
How do I know if my baby has an ear infection? The signs that your baby will show if he/she has an ear infection include: tugging at the ears all the time, fever, and irritability. If your baby has a common cold, he/she is more likely to get an ear infection. Baby ear infections can also be identified if your child finds it difficult to swallow. Ear infections in infants also can make them unwilling to lie down flat; they tend to be very fussy and often remain awake through the night. Visible sings include pus or blood draining from the ear. This means that the eardrums have ruptured. However, there is no cause to worry; with proper treatment, the eardrums will heal and the pain will subside.
How to treat ear infection babies? When you recognize ear infection in infants, call the doctor to be sure of the infection and give your baby the necessary medication as recommended. The doctor generally observes the baby before going for ear infection treatment. The doctor will check for any inflammation or damage in the inner ear by using an auriscope. This helps to diagnose the reasons and the condition of the ear infection in infants. For inner ear infection treatment, antibiotics are generally given to babies. However, mostly babies get better even without medication. Sometimes, the bacteria that causes the baby ear infection may become resistant; your pediatrician may then have to give a higher dose of antibiotics for ear infection treatment. Antibiotics to fight bacterial infection may also be given.
Can I rely on natural remedies? There are few things one can do to prevent ear infection in infants. Firstly, it is important to keep the surrounding areas clean. Ear infections are not contagious, but common the cold that triggers it is, so it is essential to use disposable tissues while blowing your nose. Also, if anyone in the family has a cold, he/she should keep away from the infant. It is important to wash all the baby's toys with hot soapy water and not their share toys if they put it in their mouths. While feeding the babies with a bottle, keep upright to reduce chances of infection. Keep infants away from smoke and keep them as well as all their belongings clean in case they go to a day care centre. Warm clothing can also be placed on the ear if you live in a cold climate. Few drops of garlic, olive or vegetable oil can be put in the ears as natural remedies for ear infections. They help relieve pain and also clear fluids or wax from the ears. Few drops of onion juice or several drops of hydrogen peroxide can also be sued as good natural remedies for ear infections.
answered by a