How To Keep Your Ears From Getting Infected

Why You Need To Clean Your Babys Ears

No one likes dirt. Including your little one.

Contrary to what you may think, you dont need to clean inside your babys ear. All youve got to do is clean the little patch of skin behind his/her ear as well as the outer ear.

Medical experts around the world agree that it is unsafe to stick anything, including cotton swabs, inside your babys ear. Nevertheless, cleaning the outer ear and the skin around your little ones ear is just as important as cleaning every other body part during a bath.

Now, lets talk about how to clean your childs ears during a bath.

How To Keep Newly Pierced Ears From Becoming Infected

Getting your ears pierced can be the start of an exciting new fashion adventure. It is often symbolic of a new phase of growth and maturity, and it can be exciting to take on the new responsibility. No matter how old you are when you get your ears piercedbaby, young child, teen, or adultit can almost feel like a ceremony of sorts. It is a time to celebrate you and a way to mark a beginning or a special event. You may look forward to buying new earrings to match your wardrobe or even getting a gift box for earrings.

Even though there is so much buzz around the actual moment of piercing, and excitement about the fun new jewelry options, the most important part of the whole process is the aftercare. Being diligent about caring for your new piercings will help you avoid painful irritation or infection that could lead to scarring. Sometimes, an infection will get bad enough that you have to remove the earring and let the hole close, but if you take the care of your piercing site seriously, you set yourself up to enjoy a lifetime of fabulous accessories.

What Increases Your Risk

Some things that increase the risk for middle ear infection are out of your control. These include:

• Age. Children ages 3 years and younger are most likely to get ear infections. Also, young children get more colds and other upper respiratory infections. Most children have at least one ear infection before they are 7 years old.
• Birth defects or other medical conditions. Babies with cleft palate or Down syndrome are more likely to get ear infections.
• Weakened immune system. Children with severely impaired immune systems have more ear infections than healthy children.
• Family history. Children are more likely to have repeat middle ear infections if a parent or sibling had repeat ear infections.
• Allergies. Allergies cause long-term stuffiness in the nose that can block one or both eustachian tubes, which connect the back of the nose and throat with the middle ears. This blockage can cause fluid to build up in the middle ear.

Other things that increase the risk for ear infection include:

Things that increase the risk for repeated ear infections also include:

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How Common Are Infected Ear Piercings

Millions of people get their ears pierced, and most of them have no serious complications. Mild irritation and infections are common, however, for new piercings. In most cases, infections arent serious and clear up quickly.

The earlobes are fleshy and fatty, with strong blood flow. They heal quickly, reducing the risk of an earlobe infection. The upper ear is cartilage, a thick, stiff tissue with less blood flow.

Piercings in the upper ear are more likely to become infected, and infections in the upper ear are sometimes serious.

Inner Ear Infection Treatment

If youre experiencing any of these symptoms and they dont resolve in a few days , see a doctor. And by a doctor, we dont mean an emergency room doctor .

A doctor can look into your ear with an otoscope. They will be able to see whats abnormal and decide on a treatment for you.

This may include medications like steroids, antibiotics, antivirals. They may be in pill or ear drop form.

Avoid trying to take care of it yourself with home remedies, as this could result in worsening the issue. Untreated ear infections may lead to permanent hearing loss, so its important to see a medical professional.

Your ear should be better anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on severity. Inner ear infections sometimes take up to 6 weeks to heal, but it all depends on how bad it is and the treatment you get.

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Ready For A Swim How To Prevent Dog Ear Infections

Swimmers ear and summer go hand-in-hand for you and your canines. Dog Ear infections were the second most common reason why dogs visited the vet in 2013, reported by Veterinary Pet Insurance. If you cant keep your dog out of the water and from swimming during the hot months of summer, keep reading to learn more about preventing painful dog ear infections.

Dog Ear infections result from an overgrowth of bacteria or yeast. When water becomes trapped in a dogs ear canal, the perfect storm of darkness plus wet creates a painful ear infection. Even with doggie paddle swimming, water still splashes into the ears. And those dogs that love to submerge themselves to fetch their favorite toy? The chances of an ear infection are even greater! Floppy-eared dogs are at the greatest risk because water-logged ears cannot naturally dry out.

Other Problems That Ear Infections Can Cause

Ear infections can cause hematomas in your Goldendoodles ears. Ear infections tend to make your dog itch their ears and shake their head often.

When your dog is shaking and itching their ears, they can easily rupture the blood vessels that are in the ears. When this happens, blood will fill up in between the two pieces of cartilage in your Goldendoodles ears. This makes the ear look like a big pillow.

Many times, you will have to take your Goldendoodle to the vet if you notice this. Your vet will drain the pocket and give your dog some medication to reduce the swelling.

Sometimes this continues to fill right back up, and your vet will have to do surgery to open this pocket and suture the two pieces of cartilage back together.

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When To See A Doctor

• Stiff neck
• Severe ear pain
• A fever over 104 degrees F . Note: A baby under three months of age who has a temperature over 100.4 degrees F is an emergency situation and needs immediate medical attention, even if no other symptoms are present.
• acts sluggish, looks or acts very sick, or is crying and cannot be soothed
• Walk is not steady
• Signs of facial weakness
• Bloody or pus-filled fluid draining from the ear
• You feel you or your child needs immediate medical attention

• Symptoms are not better or have gotten worse after two to three days
• You feel you or your child needs to be seen by a healthcare provider
• You have any questions or concerns

Theres An Infection Now What

Dog Ear infections are easily treatable, if caught early. If left untreated, the infection could possibly lead to permanent hearing loss or deafness. You should always seek veterinarian help if you suspect an ear infection. Once an infection has taken hold in the ear canal, it will not resolve itself on its own and will become more severe, possibly chronic and without a doubt cause your dog unnecessary pain. Your vet will treat the infection with a professional cleaning and prescribe topical and/or oral medicine. For severe or chronic cases, surgery may become necessary.

Always keep in mind that dogs tolerate more pain than their human counterparts. If your dogs behavior suddenly becomes aggressive, anxious or they wont let you touch their head, these could all be symptoms of an ear infection. Call or see your vet immediately.

With some consistent and careful ear care, you and your dog can enjoy a safe summer of fun, sun and water!

Reviewed and Approved by Dr. David L. Roberts, DVM

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When To Go To A Doctor

Make that call if any of these things are happening with your child:

Fever: Keep a watchful eye for high temperatures. Take action if:

• Your child is younger than 3 months and shows a fever of 100.4 F or more
• Itâs above 104 F for any child at any time
• A fever lasts more than a day in a toddler younger than 2
• It lasts more than 3 days in kids 2 and older

Strong pain: Your child is really hurting and pain medicines such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen are not helping.

Discharge: Pus or blood is leaking from your childâs ear.

How Is It Treated

Most ear infections go away on their own, although antibiotics are recommended for children younger than 6 months of age and for children at high risk for complications. You can treat your child at home with an over-the-counter pain reliever like acetaminophen , a warm cloth on the ear, and rest. Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than 18. Your doctor may give you eardrops that can help your child’s pain. Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.

Your doctor can give your child antibiotics, but ear infections often get better without them. Talk about this with your doctor. Whether you use them will depend on how old your child is and how bad the infection is.

Minor surgery to put tubes in the ears may help if your child has hearing problems or repeat infections.

Sometimes after an infection, a child cannot hear well for a while. Call your doctor if this lasts for 3 to 4 months. Children need to be able to hear in order to learn how to talk.

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When Do Children Need Tubes In Their Ears

If your child has frequent ear infections, or if he has trouble hearing because of ongoing fluid in the middle ear, he may need a tube inserted through the ear drum and into the middle ear. The tube helps to keep air pressure normal on both sides of the ear drum and helps fluid drain from the middle ear.

Putting tubes in requires a brief operation by an ear, nose and throat surgeon. Children usually go home the same day.

Dont Go For What You Cant See

While cleaning your babys ears, reach for only what you can see.

As we mentioned earlier, youre only expected to clean what you can see and touch . Dont bother about what you cant see . This bit of info is really important because the last thing you want is to damage his/her eardrums due to what should have just been a regular cleaning session.

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How To Clean Your Childs Ears

Its really simple.

First, you need the following items:

• A washcloth
• Warm water
• A cotton ball

In all cases, water is the most important item on this list. It has to be at the right temperature because if its too cold it wouldnt get the job done, and too hot water would scald your babys skin.

Once youve got all the necessary materials, what you have to do is:

• Dip the washcloth or cotton ball in warm water
• Wring the washcloth or ball out completely
• Wipe your babys outer ear and the patch of skin behind his/her skin

As you do this, it is important to make sure that the washcloth, cotton ball, or your finger does not get inside your babys ears during the entire process.

Heres the fact: Your child has a really short eardrum. As a result, excess pressure or foreign objects can actually damage this delicate organ. To avoid this, medical experts recommend that you should only focus on cleaning the outer ear and behind the ears.

If you notice that your child is uncomfortable or expresses pain/discomfort after cleaning his/her ears, please consult your pediatrician immediately. This way, youre certain your little one does not have an ear infection.

What Is An Infected Ear Piercing

An ear piercing is a hole through your earlobe or the cartilage in your middle or upper ear. An infected ear piercing may be red, swollen, sore, warm, itchy or tender. Sometimes the piercing oozes blood or white, yellow or greenish pus.

A new piercing is an open wound that can take several weeks to fully heal. During that time, any bacteria that enter the wound can lead to infection.

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What Is A Middle Ear Infection

Middle ear infections are one of the most common childhood problems. Let’s start by talking about infections. An infection happens when germs like bacteria and viruses get inside the body and cause trouble. Germs can get into your ears. The ear is divided into three parts: outer, middle, and inner. When the germs bother your outer ear, it’s called swimmer’s ear.

The middle ear is a small pocket of air behind the eardrum. You have a middle ear infection when germs get into the middle ear and the area fills up with fluid , which contains germ-fighting cells. When the pus builds up, your ear starts to feel like a balloon that is ready to pop, which can really hurt.

Preventing Ear Infections In Your Goldendoodle

If your Goldendoodle has reoccurring ear infections, it is best to set up a weekly ear cleaning schedule. This will help prevent any infection in your Goldendoodles ears.

If your Goldendoodles ear infections are because of allergies, you can easily manage these with antihistamines such as Benadryl or prescription allergy medication.

Your vet may even recommend a good medicated ear cleaner for you to use or other preventative maintenance for your Goldendoodles ears.

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Otitis Media In Adults

Otitis media is another name for a middle ear infection. It means an infection behind your eardrum. This kind of ear infection can happen after any condition that keeps fluid from draining from the middle ear. These conditions include allergies, a cold, a sore throat, or a respiratory infection.

Middle ear infections are common in children, but they can also happen in adults. An ear infection in an adult may mean a more serious problem than in a child. So you may need additional tests. If you have an ear infection, you should see your healthcare provider for treatment. If they happen repeatedly, you should see an otolaryngologist or an otologist .

What are the types of middle ear infections?

Infections can affect the middle ear in several ways. They are:

Who is more likely to get a middle ear infection?

You are more likely to get an ear infection if you:

• Smoke or are around someone who smokes
• Have seasonal or year-round allergy symptoms
• Have a cold or other upper respiratory infection

What causes a middle ear infection?

The middle ear connects to the throat by a canal called the eustachian tube. This tube helps even out the pressure between the outer ear and the inner ear. A cold or allergy can irritate the tube or cause the area around it to swell. This can keep fluid from draining from the middle ear. The fluid builds up behind the eardrum. Bacteria and viruses can grow in this fluid. The bacteria and viruses cause the middle ear infection.

Treating Middle Ear Infections

You may be prescribed antibiotics. Some antibiotics may be taken orally. Others can be applied directly to the site of the infection with ear drops. Medications for pain, such as over-the-counter pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs may also be used to manage your symptoms.

If youre still experiencing cold or allergy symptoms, you may be advised to take a , nasal steroids, or an antihistamine.

Another helpful technique is called autoinsufflation. Its meant to help clear your eustachian tubes. You do this by squeezing your nose, closing your mouth, and very gently exhaling. This can send air through the eustachian tubes to help drain them.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Inner Ear Infections In Adults

By Coastal Urgent Care Ruston

We heard your ear is bothering you. Are you wondering if its an inner ear infection?

Its important to recognize the signs of an ear infection so that you can seek treatment. Sometimes, they go away on their own, but if symptoms persist, it can lead to damage or hearing loss.

Keep reading to find out about the symptoms of inner ear infections in adults so you can stay happy and healthy.

How To Prevent Ear Infections

This article was co-authored by Payam Daneshrad, MD. Dr. Payam Daneshrad is a board certified Otolaryngologist, a board eligible Facial Plastic Surgeon, and the Owner and Director of DaneshradClinic in Los Angeles, California. With over 19 years of experience, Dr. Daneshrad specializes in adult and pediatric Otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, packing-less nasal surgery, minimally invasive sinus surgery, and snoring treatment. He also uses the newest surgical ENT techniques for tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, thyroidectomy, and parathyroidectomy. Dr. Daneshrad graduated with a BS and the highest honors from the University of California, Berkeley. He earned his Doctor of Medicine from Tulane University School of Medicine, where he was accepted into the AOA, the medical honor’s society, and the Tulane University School of Public Health. Dr. Daneshrad received his medical training from the University of Southern California, where he currently serves as an Associate Clinical Professor. Dr. Daneshrad is the Otolaryngologist and Facial Plastic Surgeon for the Los Angeles Sparks and the athletic teams of Loyola Marymount University.There are 15 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 10,593 times.

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