Ear Infections in Children

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Ear Infections in Children

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Ear infections in children
When cold and flu cases are becoming prevalent everywhere, almost all children become
susceptible to ear infections. Many children all over the United States have been found to
be suffering from ear infections and this is the second most prevalent health problem after
the common cold. More than 75% of the children below the age of three have at least
oneyear infection.
!abies and toddlers are more susceptible to infections in the ear since their "ustachian
tubes are short and also hori#ontal. $he immune system of the child is also not
completely developed at this age. $he "ustachian tubes help in connecting the middle ear
to the bac% of the throat and this also creates a space for fluids when the baby swallows
or yawns. $he middle ear is also protected from germs, which will enter through the
throat, by the "ustachian tubes. $hey also help in regulating the air pressure, which is
very essential to let the child gain his balance later on. $he "ustachian tubes will become
triple their original si#e along with the growth of the child. $hey help in fighting ear
infections and they also aid in easy draining of fluids. !ut this process could ta%e a long
time and the baby could easily get a ear infection within that time.
&titis media is the most common form of ear infection, which has been diagnosed in
children. $his occurs as a result of bacteria, which have got built up in the eardrum. 'f the
"ustachian tubes become swollen due to some cold, allergy or sinus infection, then the
fluid will get bloc%ed in the middle ear. When the weather is warm, bacteria will multiply
and create pus, which will e(ert e(tra pressure on the eardrum. $his will ma%e the
eardrums bulge and this will cause the ear infection.
!tu fluids do not get accumulated in the ear only due to cold and allergies. 'f the baby is
held in a hori#ontal position while feeding, then this will prevent the fluids from being
drained. $hough the normal practice is to %eep the baby in a reclining position while
feeding, more fluid will enter the "ustachian tubes in this manner. Ma%e sure that the
position of the baby)s head is higher than the position of the feet during feeding.
Most children have at least one ear infection before they complete a year. *+,+% of the
children will have three or more ear infections. -luid will be present in the ears for at
least a month every time an infection occurs. -re.uent ear infections can result in some
loss of hearing and this could prove to be very difficult in a stage when a child is learning
different languages. /earing problems in a small child can be suspected when the child
does not surprised by loud sounds, does not ma%e baby sounds and does not react to the
voice of its parents, does not en0oy saying small words li%e )byebye) by the time he turns
one. !ut the symptoms of loss in hearing are not very prominent especially during the
first year and hence parents should ma%e sure that the hearing of the child is chec%ed
regularly during the first year.
When the child is suffering from an ear infection, he will start crying and be very
irritable, will not eat or sleep properly, he will %eep tugging on his ear, he will not react to
soft sounds. -luid will get drained from his ear because the eardrums have got ruptured.
/e will also e(hibit symptoms of a cold and flu li%e fever and vomiting. $he baby should
be ta%en to the doctor on seeing the first sign of an ear infection. $he doctor will e(amine
the child and depending on the status, he might prescribe some antibiotics. 'f the ear
infections %eep occurring fre.uently or if fluid stays behind the eardrums for more than
three months, then there might be some loss in hearing and the child might need ear tubes
later on.

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