When Else Are Antibiotics Needed
Antibiotics can be the right treatment for kids who get a lot of ear infections. Their doctors might prescribe daily antibiotics to help prevent future infections. And younger children or those with more severe illness may need antibiotics right from the start.
The wait-and-see approach also might not apply to children with other concerns, such as cleft palate, genetic conditions such as Down syndrome, or other illnesses such as immune system disorders.
Tea Tree Oil Garlic And Mullein
- Peel and mince one garlic clove.
- Chop ½ a fresh mullein leaf.
- Mix garlic and mullein with 2/3 cup of olive oil.
- Pour solution into air-tight, transparent container and leave in the sun for 10 days.
- Use a clean, dry cotton cloth to strain the mixture.
- Stir in 5 drops of tea tree oil.
- Use a dropper to pour 5 drops into infected ear.
- Leave in 10 minutes, then drain and repeat process with other ear.
- Repeat 4 times a day until infection is gone.
What Type Of Ear Infection Is It
There are two common types of ear infections:
- Otitis media: This ear infection affects the middle ear . Middle ear infections are common in kids and tend to cause trouble hearing, fevers, and pain without much outward signs such as ear drainage or swelling.
- Otitis externa: This infection affects the ear canal, and is commonly known as swimmers ear because water exposure is a risk factor for it. Swimmers ear is painful, too, and tends to have more visible signs such as a swollen ear canal or pus drainage.
There are several home remedies for earaches, says Dr. Nguyen-Huynh. Try these for the first two or three days if symptoms are mild.
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What Is An Ear Infection
An ear infection of the middle ear, medically known as acute otitis media, can be caused by a bacteria or virus. Most often, ear infections occur in the middle ear, which is the air-filled space between the eardrum and the oval window of the ear. The middle ear is responsible for transmitting sound from the outer ear to the inner ear.
In addition to a middle ear infection, its also possible to have an outer ear infection like swimmers ear or an inner ear infection. Labyrinthitis is a serious inner ear infection that affects hearing and balance. People with labyrinthitis often experience vertigo and some hearing loss.
If a middle ear infection is bacterial, its most likely the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae causing the infection. A virus can cause also cause ear infections. A a cold or allergies can cause congestion that blocks the Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the back of the throat. This congestion can lead to a buildup of fluid and pressure and provides an environment for bacteria or viruses that have traveled up the Eustachian tube into the middle ear to flourish, resulting in an ear infection.
Even the CDC recommends breast-feeding children exclusively for the first six months of their lives and continuing until they are at least 1 year old. Injury to the ear, climate changes, altitude changes, pacifier use, family history of ear infections, and exposure to cigarette smoke are other risk factors.
Ear Infections And Kids Anatomy
Its their anatomy that makes them particularly susceptible.
Older children and adults have a more efficient system for clearing colds. The fluid that builds up in the ear during and after an upper respiratory illness drains down the Eustachian tube, the canal that links the ear to the nose and throat.
In children younger than age 7, the Eustachian tube is shorter and more horizontally positioned, so the fluid takes longer to drain. The build-up can press on the eardrum, causing pain that is especially noticeable to kids when they lay down, breastfeed or suck on a bottle.
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How I Treat Ear Infections Naturally In My Home
The first thing I do when I suspect an ear infection is grab the hydrogen peroxide.
For the first and second days, I administer peroxide up to four times daily.
I also rub lavender oil behind the ear and down the neck to provide pain relief since we dont have over-the-counter pain killers in our house.
If my child isnt back to her old self by the end of the second day, I call the chiropractor and schedule an adjustment for the third day.
I still continue the peroxide 3 or 4 times a day.
If Im on the third or fourth day of the infection and it shows no sign of improvement at all, Ill pull out the garlic oil and colloidal silver and alternate them, while still using essential oils for pain relief.
Ear infections are VERY rare in our family, but this is the protocol Ive used each time and neither of my kids have taken an antibiotic in over 10 years.
These 5 natural home remedies for ear infection work quickly for adults and children! I hope youll feel empowered to reduce antibiotic use in your home and give some of these remedies a try next time youre faced with an ear infection!
Do Alternative Therapies Work
Alternative ear infection treatments abound on the internet and in books and magazines. They include chiropractic adjustments, homeopathy, herbal eardrops and others.
Perhaps you’re seeking alternative treatments for your or your child’s ear infection because you’re concerned about using antibiotics or because your doctor has recommended watchful waiting. You may turn to alternative treatments to ease discomfort.
In most cases, however, researchers haven’t studied alternative ear infection treatments adequately using widely accepted scientific methods. For this reason, alternative ear infection treatments aren’t generally recommended for use in children.
Some alternative ear infection treatments have been studied with mixed results.
Before your child uses an alternative ear infection treatment, be sure to:
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Natural Ways To Combat Swimmers Ear
Do your children suffer from chronic earaches? Earaches can be very painful, making it tough for children to sleep or participate in day-to-day activities. Find out what you can do to naturally treat and prevent earaches all without medicine.
Swimmers Ear or Ear Infection?
The first thing you need to determine is what type of an earache you are dealing with. Most earaches fall into one of two categories: swimmers ear or middle ear infections.
Swimmers Ear
Swimmers ear is an infection or irritation of the skin lining the ear canal. It happens when the ear canal gets wet and stays wet, creating an ideal environment for the growth of bacteria
Swimmers Ear Symptoms
- Leakage of clear fluid from the ear
- Itching inside the ear canal
- Ear feels clogged
- The pain inside the ear canal increases when the ear is moved
- Pain worsens when you push on the tab of tissue in front of the ear
- Redness and/or swelling of the outer ear tissue
Tips to Prevent Swimmers Ear
- After swimming, bathing, showering, or washing hair, tilt your childs head to one side to let water drain from the ear
- Dry the inside of the ear with a hair dryer set on cool and low
- Use a solution of alcohol to dry up the inside of the ear
Middle Ear Infection
- Middle Ear Infection Symptoms
- Tugging at or pulling at one or both ears
Acupuncture for Earaches
Chiropractic Adjustments for Earaches
Looking for a Natural Doctor in Huntersville that Treats Earaches?
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of An Inner Ear Infection
Ear infections can happen anywhere in your outer, middle or inner ear. The symptoms can be very different depending on where the problem is located. If the infection is in your inner ear then it can have a particularly dramatic effect on your senses of balance and hearing. Read on to learn more about inner ear infections and how they can affect you.
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How To Use Them
The dosage, type, and frequency of doses depend on the type of medication, the age of the person, their weight, and other mitigating factors such as medical history.
If a child is under age 2 or has never taken this medication before, contact their healthcare provider before administering it.
For children and adults, follow the directions on the package carefully.
What Does It Mean If You Have An 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.
Chronic otitis media- This is a middle ear infection that does not go away, or happens repeatedly, over months to years. The ear may drain . It can often be accompanied by a tympanic membrane perforation and hearing loss.
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Where Is The Middle Ear
The middle ear is behind the eardrum and is also home to the delicate bones that aid in hearing. These bones are the hammer , anvil and stirrup . To provide the bigger picture, lets look at the whole structure and function of the ear:
The ear structure and function
There are three main parts of the ear: outer, middle and inner.
- The outer ear is the outside external ear flap and the ear canal .
- The middle ear is the air-filled space between the eardrum and the inner ear. The middle ear houses the delicate bones that transmit sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear. This is where ear infections occur.
- The inner ear contains the snail-shaped labyrinth that converts sound vibrations received from the middle ear to electrical signals. The auditory nerve carries these signals to the brain.
Other nearby parts
- The eustachian tube regulates air pressure within the middle ear, connecting it to the upper part of the throat.
- Adenoids are small pads of tissue above the throat and behind the nose and near the eustachian tubes. Adenoids help fight infection caused by bacteria that enters through the mouth.
When To See A Doctor For An Earache
Sometimes no amount of self-care or over-the-counter medication can help an ear infection. Knowing when to see a doctor can help further complications from developing.
If your earache is severe or accompanied by other symptoms such as a fever or hearing loss, you should see a doctor. You might be referred to an ear, nose, and throat doctor.
In some cases, people with a chronic ear infection may need to have surgery. Doctors can put small tubes into the eardrum that will help prevent ear infections. The tubes allow air to flow into the middle ear and fluid to drain.
Leaving an ear infection untreated can cause the infection to spread or cause permanent problems with balance and hearing loss.
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The Reasons For Ear Infections
You will also want to cleanse the ears properly. Dont use earbuds in the ear. Cleaning the ears will help to remove wax, so it is nowhere for bacteria to build up. This is a highly common problem in children and adults and is also known as swimmers ear. It will feel like the ear is blocked and has water within it. You may also find that youre hard of hearing, as the wax blocks the ability for sound to travel through to the inner ear.
Middle ear infections can be due to an allergy or an actual infection. Of course, infections can be viral or bacterial, and antibiotics arent going to work on the viral infections!
Make sure you consider the reasons for the infection. Find out from your doctor about the type of infection you or your child haveasking about inner or outer ear infections. This will help you choose the best type of home remedy mentioned above. Remember if there is pus, then you need to avoid anything that goes into your ear.
If your home cures dont clear the infection up within a couple of days and you havent spoken to a doctor yet, make sure you book an appointment. If you have already spoken to a doctor, you will need to share the newer results with them to help them figure out the real reason for the infection.
How To Tell What Type Of Ear Infection Your Dog Has
Different types of ear infections can appear in three parts of the ear.
Otitis externa: Inflammation or infection of the external part of your dogs ear .
Otitis media: This is inflammation or infection of the middle ear parts. In about a sixth of dogs with otitis external, the infection can spread into otitis media. This is a problem in more than half of dogs who have chronic otitis externa. It can also mean a foreign object has penetrated the ear drum.
Otitis interna: This is inflammation or infection of the inner ear. Unresolved otitis media can spread to become otitis interna. It can lead to loss of balance and deafness.
Can You Manage Ear Infections At Home?
That depends on the type of infection. You can easily manage otitis externa at home. For deeper ear issues , some of the home remedies well recommend can help. But you may need to ask your holistic vet if youre not sure which type of infection your dog has.
What Happens If Ear Infections In Dogs Are Untreated?
Otitis externa can progress to otitis media, and in some cases, that could develop into otitis interna. So its important to deal with ear infections promptly before they become more serious. In severe cases, your dog could develop facial paralysis, deafness, or symptoms of vestibular disease.
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Use Breast Milk If Youre Still Breastfeeding
Trying to find remedies for babys whose immune systems are still developing is hard. Doctors dont want to prescribe medication if they can help it. Your breasts will have the best cure for your baby. Yes, breast milk is a powerful treatment option. Its one of the big reasons why doctors recommend mothers breastfed their babies for the first 12 months .
If you are breastfeeding, consider expressing some of your breast milk for a natural cure for ear infections. The breast milk is full of antibodies that are completely made by you. These antibodies will speed your childs natural healing process. Youre not fighting the infection, but youre encouraging the babys immune system to kick start and get rid of the infection instead.
The breast milk also has some anti-inflammatory properties. Youll find that the swelling goes down, boosting the healing benefits.
This works best when the milk is dropped straight into the ears. You can also rub it gently around the ears, although the sensitivity due to the inflammation may be too much for your child to allow the touch on the ears. You can use this remedy every few hours.
Breast milk isnt just good for children. It can be used on adults if you choose to. Its also good for other minor wounds and some eye infections!
Hot Salt Wrapped In A Cloth
Salt is one of the most readily available home remedies for dealing with pain in the ear. All you have to do here is take a small cup of salt, heat it properly, then wrap it in a cloth and seal the end of the cloth by tying a knot.
Now, lay down and place the cloth with hot salt on the affected ear for a couple of minutes .
Repeat this process a few times daily to relieve you from the pain and swelling in the ear. Alternatively, you could also use rice in place of salt for the same purpose.
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Complications Of Middle Ear Infection
While middle ear infections going out of hand is often rare, it does happen sometimes. When it happens, it can lead to serious problems.
These complications occur when the infection spreads to other parts of the ear or even the head. For instance:
- The membranes providing a protective surrounding for the brain and spinal cord may become infected too. This will lead to meningitis.
- The infection could spread to the inner ear causing labyrinthitis.
- The infection could spread to the bones behind the ear.
Fever In Young Infants
If a baby younger than 3 months old has a rectal temperature or forehead temperature of 100.4 F or higher, they need to go to the emergency room, even if there are no other symptoms.
For infants age 6 months or older, toddlers, and older children: Acetaminophen or ibuprofen are options.
Never give children aspirin, as it puts them at risk of a rare but serious condition known as Reye’s syndrome.
For adults: Acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen can help. Neither aspirin nor naproxen should be given to children unless directed by a healthcare provider.
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Homeopathic Remedies For Dog Ear Infections
You can use homeopathic remedies for acute or minor ear flare-ups. Choose the remedy below that best matches your dogs symptoms. Use a 30C potency.
Belladonna Use Belladonna when the ears are very hot and inflamed. Your dog may be impatient and irritable.
Pulsatilla This remedy is helpful for acute flare-ups. Often with sensitivity and redness, along with a yellowish discharge. Pulsatilla animals like to sit near open windows, hate getting their paws wet and wont go out in the rain. They also tend to have a very sweet disposition.
Hepar Sulphuris Hepar sulph is useful for irritable animals who dont like to have their inflamed ears touched.
Follow the acute dosing instructions in this article.
Apple Cider Vinegar With Warm Water Ear Drops
- Mix equal parts apple cider vinegar with warm, not hot, water.
- Apply 5 to 10 drops in each affected ear using a clean dropper bottle or baby syringe.
- Cover your ear with a cotton ball or clean cloth and lean on your side to let drops enter and sit in the ear. Do this for about 5 minutes.
- Repeat this application as often as desired to treat an outer ear infection.
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