They May Have Trouble Sleeping
Its not too surprising that with pressure building up in the middle ear due to bacteria that your child may get fussy or even throw a tantrum about going to bed. Children with ear infections often toss and turn and feel worse when they lie down. If your little one suddenly starts crying when they lie down this could be a sign of an ear infection.
What To Do If Your Baby Has Repeated Ear Infections
It can be very stressful if your baby has repeated ear infections, though this is also common in childhood. If the infections are very frequent or if they are causing temporary hearing loss for your baby, your doctor may want to intervene.
The most common intervention for repeated ear infection are small tubes that are placed in your babys eardrum. These tubes are left in for six to nine months and decrease the fluid buildup as well as improve air flow quality. Frequent check ins with your doctor are necessary if your baby has ear tubes.
If tubes dont help solve the problem, sometimes doctors will suggest surgically removing your babys adenoids, especially if they are swollen, enlarged, and seem to be contributing to your babys ear infections.
How Do Ear Infections Happen
A middle ear infection usually happens because of swelling in one or both of the eustachian tubes . The tubes let mucus drain from the middle ear into the throat.
A cold, throat infection, acid reflux, or allergies can make the eustachian tubes swell. This blocks the mucus from draining. Then, or grow in the mucus and make pus, which builds up in the middle ear.
When doctors refer to an ear infection, they usually mean otitis media rather than swimmer’s ear . Otitis media with effusion is when noninfected fluid builds up in the ear. It might not cause symptoms, but in some kids, the fluid creates a sensation of ear fullness or “popping.”
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How To Use Ear Drops
Stay lying down for 5 minutes so the drops do not come out.
How Long Does An Ear Infection Last In Toddlers
It entirely depends on the extent of the ear infection. Pediatric experts state that some toddlers show improvement, without treatment, within 24 hours while in some cases the infection can last for a week. In most cases, the doctor will wait for 72 hours before administering antibiotics to see if the condition improves on its own .
Remember, ear infections may cause a lot of pain to the toddler, but it is also easily preventable through precautions. If treated early, it is not dangerous. Do not hesitate to consult your doctor right away if you suspect an ear infection. Timely treatment and some home care are all that your toddler would need to come out healthy from an episode of ear infection.
If you have any more preventive tips against ear infections in toddlers, then tell us in the comments section below.
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Check If It’s An Ear Infection
The symptoms of an ear infection usually start quickly and include:
- discharge running out of the ear
- a feeling of pressure or fullness inside the ear
- itching and irritation in and around the ear
- scaly skin in and around the ear
Young children and babies with an ear infection may also:
- rub or pull their ear
- not react to some sounds
- be irritable or restless
- be off their food
- keep losing their balance
Most ear infections clear up within 3 days, although sometimes symptoms can last up to a week.
| Inner ear infection | Middle ear infection | Outer ear infection |
|---|---|---|
| Can affect both children and adults | Usually affects children | Usually affects adults aged 45 to 75 |
| Caused by viral or bacterial infections | Caused by viruses like colds and flu | Caused by something irritating the ear canal, such as eczema, water or wearing earplugs |
| Affects parts of the inner ear like the labyrinth and vestibular system, and can lead to labyrinthitis | Affects the eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the back of the nose | Affects the ear canal |
Differences Between Middle Ear Infection And Outer Ear Infection
| Middle ear infection | Outer ear infection |
|---|---|
| Middle ear infection Usually affects children | Outer ear infection Usually affects adults aged 45 to 75 |
| Middle ear infection Caused by viruses like colds and flu | Outer ear infection Caused by something irritating the ear canal, such as eczema, water or wearing ear plugs |
| Middle ear infection Affects the middle ear | Outer ear infection Affects the ear canal |
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When Should I Return To My Healthcare Provider For A Follow
Your healthcare provider will let you know when you need to return for a follow-up visit. At that visit, you or your childs eardrum will be examined to be certain that the infection is going away. Your healthcare provider may also want to test you or your child’s hearing.
Follow-up exams are very important, especially if the infection has caused a hole in the eardrum.
What Are The Home Remedies For Ear Infection In Toddlers
The treatment of an ear infection is only possible through prompt medical treatment. However, you may try these ways to reduce the intensity of pain:
- Sleep with the sore ear up. It is helpful particularly when the toddler has an infection in only one ear. Let the toddler sleep with his infected ear up that is sleep on the side opposite to his sore ear. The middle ears fluids trickle into the nasal cavity due to gravity thus relieving pain and pressure . Avoid drinking milk from a bottle while lying on the back.
- Use warm compresses. Placing a moist warm cloth on the ear is certainly effective at cutting down the intensity of the pain.
- Keep the toddlers nose clear. If the toddler has an ear infection as a result of cold, then he is quite likely to have a runny nose. The nasal secretions could carry more bacteria from the nose to the middle ear. Therefore, it is essential to keep the nose clear of mucus. For younger toddlers, use a nasal suction bulb to suction out mucus. In case of older toddlers, you can use a handkerchief to squeeze out mucus from the nostrils gently.
Remember, experts, recommend against the use of any herbal or natural remedy to treat ear infections in toddlers. Also, do not pour tea tree oil or hydrogen peroxide into the toddlers ear canal or insert earbuds with the objective of curing the pain. Use pain relieving ear drops only after consulting the pediatrician .
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Their Ears Might Drain
Another telltale sign of an ear infection in your little one is the presence of fluid or pus draining from the ear. If there is the presence of blood in the fluid this might be a sign of a ruptured eardrum. While the eardrum will heal on its own, its still a good idea to see your pediatrician if pus or fluid is draining from your childs ear.If your child is displaying symptoms of an ear infection, or if youre concerned about your childs recurring ear infections, its important to talk with your pediatrician. A pediatrician will be able to dispense the proper medication and discuss other ways to reduce your childs risk of developing future infections.
Causes And Symptoms Of Ear Infections
Ear infections are the most common ailment among babies and young children. Seventy-five percent of children will have at least one ear infection before their third birthday.
There are two common types of middle ear infections:
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Seattle Children’s Urgent Care Locations
If your childâs illness or injury is life-threatening, call 911.
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They Tug At Their Ears
While a toddler wont be able to tell you that their ear hurts, they can show you. You may be able to discern whether your child could have an ear infection by whether or not they are tugging and pulling at their ears. Again, the pressure inside the ears can be incredibly uncomfortable and even painful, and children might fidget with their ears to minimize the discomfort.
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Should I Take My Baby To The Doctor
Even if you are unsure if your baby is experiencing an ear infection, it’s better to err on the side of caution and call your doctor.
If they do not believe there is an issue, they may tell you to stay home. However, since baby ear infections are so common, its likely they will have you come in for an exam. There is no harm in getting things checked outthe worst that will happen is that your baby doesnt have an ear infection and you can feel some relief.
Signs Of An Ear Infection
Ear infections are common in babies, and it is helpful to know the classic signs to watch out for:
- Crying and irritability: Your babys ear is most likely painful, so expect crying and irritability. You may notice more crying when your baby lies down. This is because the ear pressure increases with lying down, leading to an increase in pain and discomfort during an ear infection.
- Tugging at the ear: Because your baby is too young to tell you that their ear hurts, look for signs such as tugging on the affected ear.
- Difficulty feeding: The act of sucking and swallowing causes changes in ear pressure and is usually uncomfortable during an ear infection. You may notice that your baby is hungry and seems eager to eat, but stops right away.
- Trouble sleeping: Expect a restless night or two when your baby has an ear infection. Because lying down is painful, your little one will probably wake throughout the night.
- Ear drainage: Its possible for your baby to develop ear drainage with an ear infection. The drainage will appear different than normal ear wax, which is orange-yellow or reddish-brown. Infected drainage may appear white, green, yellow, or blood-tinged and have a foul odor.
- Fever: Its estimated that about 50% of babies and children will develop a fever with an ear infection.
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When Should You Call A Healthcare Provider
If your child develops signs of an ear infection, such as tugging on the ear and crying while lying down, call your healthcare provider. Your pediatrician will most likely want to examine your childs ears and may prescribe an antibiotic right away. Seek emergency treatment if your childs temperature goes above 104 F or if they develop neck stiffness, muscle weakness, or bleeding.
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A high temperature can be a symptom of COVID-19.
A sore throat can also cause earache.
If there is no fever or temperature, the earache may be caused by a wax blockage or glue ear. Glue ear is where the empty middle part of the ear canal fills up with fluid.
Sometimes the pressure can cause the eardrum to burst and fluid may come out of the ear. Do not worry if this happens. Keep the ear dry and contact your GP.
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How Does A Doctor Diagnose A Middle Ear Infection
The first thing a doctor will do is ask you about your childs health. Has your child had a head cold or sore throat recently? Is he having trouble sleeping? Is she pulling at her ears? If an ear infection seems likely, the simplest way for a doctor to tell is to use a lighted instrument, called an otoscope, to look at the eardrum. A red, bulging eardrum indicates an infection.
A doctor also may use a pneumatic otoscope, which blows a puff of air into the ear canal, to check for fluid behind the eardrum. A normal eardrum will move back and forth more easily than an eardrum with fluid behind it.
Tympanometry, which uses sound tones and air pressure, is a diagnostic test a doctor might use if the diagnosis still isnt clear. A tympanometer is a small, soft plug that contains a tiny microphone and speaker as well as a device that varies air pressure in the ear. It measures how flexible the eardrum is at different pressures.
Diagnosing A Skin Rash
A doctor can sometimes diagnose a skin rash by visually examining the affected area and taking a medical history.
If a doctor isnt certain what may be causing the rash, they may take a swab or scraping of your skin and send it to a laboratory. A laboratory technician can then identify the bacteria, virus, or fungus that may be causing the rash.
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What Causes Ear Infections In Babies
Ear infections, medically known as acute otitis media, are infections of the middle part of the ear. They are caused by either a viral infection or a bacterial infection. These infections cause fluid to build up in the middle ear, as well as inflammation. In some cases, the eustachian tubes show signs of infection as well.
Adults can get ear infections, too, but babies and young children are most prone to them, especially children under the age of three. Five out of six children will have had an ear infection by the time they turn three,and 25% of children will experience repeat ear infections.
The reason babies and young children are more prone to ear infections include:
- Babies ear passages are different than adults: they are shorter, narrower, and more horizontal in orientation
- Babies are more likely to get colds and other viruses, which make them more prone to ear infections
- Babies immune systems are less developed than adults, so their reactions to virus are usually more intenseleading to complications such as ear infections
Rash Behind Ear: Causes Symptoms And Treatments
A rash behind the ears may be a common occurrence, but it can have the potential to become infected. Heres what you need to know about identifying the causes and types of skin rash behind the ear.
The delicate skin behind the ears is a common source of rashes. They can be hard to treat as you cannot see the affected area.
A rash behind your ears can be caused by many things, including skin irritation from haircare products and fungal infections.
Children and adults can get a rash behind their ears from viral infections or autoimmune diseases. Although some causes arent serious, like contact dermatitis or autoimmune diseases, there may be other more serious causes such as rubella.
We will be discussing the possible causes and treatment options for a rash behind your ear.
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Scrubbing The Area With Thin Fiber Washcloth
A thin, fiber washcloth should be used every day on the rash.
- Soften the crust and skin by wetting the rash area
- Press the crease behind the ear with the washcloth
- Scrub the crust and scales vigorously
- Pat dry with a clean towel
- Apply medicated cream
- Cool, damp washcloth
A cool, damp washcloth helps alleviate irritation and itching. It also cools down fever, which is the cause of the irritation.
What Causes Ear Infections In Toddlers
There are several reasons behind a toddlers ear infection. However, some reasons are far more common and widespread.
- Common cold is the leading cause for ear infection among toddlers . The cold virus can traverse through the eustachian tube along with the mucus and land in the middle ear, causing an infection.
- Allergies: A general allergy towards airborne irritants can cause inflammation of the sinonasal cavity. The inflammation traps mucus within the middle ear where the secretions can develop a bacterial infection .
- Accumulation of milk in eustachian tube: If a toddler drinks from a bottle while lying on the back, the milk/formula can drain into the middle ear from laryngopharynx. The milk or formula accumulates, with superadded bacterial infection and causes middle ear infection along with pain and inflammation .
Some toddlers are at a higher risk than others in developing a middle ear infection.
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